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| The babies who nap in sub-zero temperatures | The babies who nap in sub-zero temperatures |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| By Helena Lee BBC News | By Helena Lee BBC News |
| Would you put your baby or toddler outside in the freezing cold for their lunchtime nap? Most Nordic parents wouldn't give it a second thought. For them it's part of their daily routine. | Would you put your baby or toddler outside in the freezing cold for their lunchtime nap? Most Nordic parents wouldn't give it a second thought. For them it's part of their daily routine. |
| Daytime temperatures this winter in Stockholm have regularly dropped to -5C (23F) but it's still common to see children left outside by their parents for a sleep in the pram. | Daytime temperatures this winter in Stockholm have regularly dropped to -5C (23F) but it's still common to see children left outside by their parents for a sleep in the pram. |
| Wander through the snowy city and you'll see buggies lined up outside coffee shops while parents sip on lattes inside. | Wander through the snowy city and you'll see buggies lined up outside coffee shops while parents sip on lattes inside. |
| And if you are visiting friends and your child needs a nap, you may be offered the garden or balcony instead of a bedroom. | And if you are visiting friends and your child needs a nap, you may be offered the garden or balcony instead of a bedroom. |
| "I think it's good for them to be in the fresh air as soon as possible," says Lisa Mardon, a mother-of-three from Stockholm, who works for a food distribution company. | "I think it's good for them to be in the fresh air as soon as possible," says Lisa Mardon, a mother-of-three from Stockholm, who works for a food distribution company. |
| "Especially in the winter when there's lots of diseases going around... the kids seem healthier." | "Especially in the winter when there's lots of diseases going around... the kids seem healthier." |
| Her children have been sleeping outside since they were born. | Her children have been sleeping outside since they were born. |
| The youngest, Alfred, is two and she puts him outside in the pram to nap once a day, for an hour and a half. When he was younger he slept outside twice a day. | The youngest, Alfred, is two and she puts him outside in the pram to nap once a day, for an hour and a half. When he was younger he slept outside twice a day. |
| This isn't a recent fashion. Lisa's mother, Gunilla, now 61, says she also did it with Lisa when she was a baby. | This isn't a recent fashion. Lisa's mother, Gunilla, now 61, says she also did it with Lisa when she was a baby. |
| "Yes we were doing it back then as well… It was important for her to get fresh air and stay healthy," Gunilla says. | "Yes we were doing it back then as well… It was important for her to get fresh air and stay healthy," Gunilla says. |
| And Lisa's father, Peter, was put outside by his mother to sleep in a pram in the 1950s. Only when it got to around -10C (14F) did she bring him indoors. | And Lisa's father, Peter, was put outside by his mother to sleep in a pram in the 1950s. Only when it got to around -10C (14F) did she bring him indoors. |
| Nowadays most day-care centres in Sweden put children outside to rest. It's common to see rows of prams lined up in the snow at nap-time, with youngsters fast asleep inside. | Nowadays most day-care centres in Sweden put children outside to rest. It's common to see rows of prams lined up in the snow at nap-time, with youngsters fast asleep inside. |
| At Forskolan Orren, a pre-school outside Stockholm, all children sleep outside until they reach the age of three. | At Forskolan Orren, a pre-school outside Stockholm, all children sleep outside until they reach the age of three. |
| "When the temperature drops to -15C (5F) we always cover the prams with blankets," says head teacher Brittmarie Carlzon. | "When the temperature drops to -15C (5F) we always cover the prams with blankets," says head teacher Brittmarie Carlzon. |
| "It's not only the temperature that matters, it's also how cold it feels. Some days it can be -15C but it actually feels like -20C (-4F) because of the wind," she says. | "It's not only the temperature that matters, it's also how cold it feels. Some days it can be -15C but it actually feels like -20C (-4F) because of the wind," she says. |
| "Last year we had a couple of days with a temperature of -20C. On those days we brought the prams inside some of the time the children were sleeping, but most of their sleep they spent outdoors." | "Last year we had a couple of days with a temperature of -20C. On those days we brought the prams inside some of the time the children were sleeping, but most of their sleep they spent outdoors." |
| One group at the pre-school spends all its time outside, from 09:00 to 15:00 every day. Out in the fresh air they do everything children normally do inside, only going inside at mealtimes, or in unusually cold weather. | One group at the pre-school spends all its time outside, from 09:00 to 15:00 every day. Out in the fresh air they do everything children normally do inside, only going inside at mealtimes, or in unusually cold weather. |
| The theory behind outdoor napping is that children exposed to fresh air, whether in summer or the depths of winter, are less likely to catch coughs and colds - and that spending a whole day in one room with 30 other children does them no good at all. | The theory behind outdoor napping is that children exposed to fresh air, whether in summer or the depths of winter, are less likely to catch coughs and colds - and that spending a whole day in one room with 30 other children does them no good at all. |
| Many parents also believe their children sleep better and for longer in the open, and one researcher in Finland - outdoor napping is popular in all the Nordic countries - says she has evidence from a survey of parents to back this up. | Many parents also believe their children sleep better and for longer in the open, and one researcher in Finland - outdoor napping is popular in all the Nordic countries - says she has evidence from a survey of parents to back this up. |
| "Babies clearly slept longer outdoors than indoors," says Marjo Tourula. While indoor naps lasted between one and two hours, outdoor naps lasted from 1.5 to three hours. | "Babies clearly slept longer outdoors than indoors," says Marjo Tourula. While indoor naps lasted between one and two hours, outdoor naps lasted from 1.5 to three hours. |
| "Probably the restriction of movements by clothing could increase the length of sleep, and a cold environment makes swaddling possible without overheating," she says. | "Probably the restriction of movements by clothing could increase the length of sleep, and a cold environment makes swaddling possible without overheating," she says. |
| According to her research, -5C is the best temperature for an outdoor nap - though some parents she spoke to even put their children out at -30C. | According to her research, -5C is the best temperature for an outdoor nap - though some parents she spoke to even put their children out at -30C. |
| But do children who sleep outside end up catching fewer coughs and colds? | But do children who sleep outside end up catching fewer coughs and colds? |
| Paediatrician Margareta Blennow says reports from the Swedish Environmental protection agency show conflicting results. | Paediatrician Margareta Blennow says reports from the Swedish Environmental protection agency show conflicting results. |
| "In some studies they found pre-schoolers who spent many hours outside generally - not just for naps - took fewer days off than those who spent most of their time indoors," she says. | "In some studies they found pre-schoolers who spent many hours outside generally - not just for naps - took fewer days off than those who spent most of their time indoors," she says. |
| "In other studies there wasn't a difference." | "In other studies there wasn't a difference." |
| Martin Jarnstrom, head of one of the Ur och Skur group of pre-schools , is another big advocate of outdoor naps, though he emphasises that while the weather may be cold, the child must be warm. | Martin Jarnstrom, head of one of the Ur och Skur group of pre-schools , is another big advocate of outdoor naps, though he emphasises that while the weather may be cold, the child must be warm. |
| "It's very important that the children have wool closest to their body, warm clothes and a warm sleeping bag," he says. | "It's very important that the children have wool closest to their body, warm clothes and a warm sleeping bag," he says. |
| There is a Swedish saying that encapsulates this thought - "There is no bad weather, only bad clothing." | There is a Swedish saying that encapsulates this thought - "There is no bad weather, only bad clothing." |
| Another saying sums up what Swedes are likely to think when toddlers in other countries are kept indoors in sub-zero temperatures: "A little fresh air never hurt anyone." | Another saying sums up what Swedes are likely to think when toddlers in other countries are kept indoors in sub-zero temperatures: "A little fresh air never hurt anyone." |
| You can follow the Magazine on Twitter and on Facebook | You can follow the Magazine on Twitter and on Facebook |
| Have you tried giving your child an outdoor nap in cold weather? Did it work? Please send us your stories using the form below. |