You only have to glance around your local baby group to see how long the parenting spectrum is. While some parents are big on routine and control others are more than happy to simply go with the flow. If you think there is a huge array of parenting practices on display in your local community, just wait until you hear about these parenting practices from around the world:

1. Babe in arms

In Bali, babies are kept off the ground for the first few months of their lives. Babies are carried by their parents and helpful aunts, grandparents and neighbors for the first few months. When the time comes for the baby to touch the ground, a special ceremony is held to mark the occasion. The first few months of a baby’s life are believed to be sacred and this is why babies are not thought to be ready to touch Mother Earth until they are three months old.

2. Early potty training

In the US, children are often in diapers until around the age of three. In Vietnam, however, parents are much quicker to get their babies out of diapers. Instead of potty training their children, Vietnamese mothers simply tune into their babies’ natural desires from birth. Babies will often wriggle or appear uncomfortable if they need to pee whilst being held, but most of the Western world has learned to ignore these signals. In Vietnam, parents will follow the baby’s cues and hold them away from the body so they can pee. In Vietnam, it is common for babies to be out of diapers by nine months.

3. Independence

In the US, kids have much less freedom than they would have done a generation or so ago. Whilst it was once commonplace for kids to play out all day, come home late and explore at will, these things are dying out. These days, kids are more likely to be accompanied by a caregiver when out of the house and are less free to explore their local area. If you let your four year old ride the subway alone in the US, you’d expect to get a call from Child Protective Services, but in Japan, this practice is considered totally normal. Young children in Japan are given greater freedom than their US counterparts and often get themselves to and from school without parental help.

What do you think, should we adopt any of the customs mentioned above?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

Being a baby is tough. They can’t talk, they can’t walk, and their bums are forever at risk of being itchy. Diaper rash is a real threat to little ones, leaving them cranky and uncomfortable, completely at your mercy for relief.

But what causes diaper rash? And what can you do to help?

1. The Diaper: Seems simple enough, right? After all, they call it “diaper rash” – or “Nappy rash” in the UK – for a reason. (Actually, it’s called “diaper rash” because it occurs in the diaper area—but you get the point). Diapers can often be the cause of those itchy, red areas of skin your baby is suffering from. They may be experiencing a reaction to the chemicals used in the diapers, or they may just be getting a rash as a result of too much wetness. Chafing can also be an issue to contend with when diapers are in use.
2. Food Sensitivities: If it’s not the diaper, it could be that your baby is allergic to something he or she is eating. This may be especially true if the rash is also on other parts of the body.
3. Introducing Foods: But your child doesn’t have to be allergic to what they are eating for a diaper rash to result. The simple act of introducing new foods can have an affect on their bowel movements, which can result in a greater risk of diaper rash.
4. Infection: Did you know that babies are just as capable of getting infections down there as you are? A yeast infection could absolutely be to blame for a bad diaper rash.
5. Antibiotics: Antibiotics are sometimes necessary for getting healthy, but they have the downfall of destroying some of the good gut bacteria that usually keeps the bad at bay. If your baby has been on antibiotics recently, that could explain the rash.

Treating diaper rash is usually something you can do from the comfort of your own home. First, strip your baby down and let him or her go diaper free as much as possible while the rash is healing. Some parents find that putting some towels down on the ground for baby to roll around on, simply anticipating accidents will happen, can be worth the fresh air and all its healing qualities.

You should also have a good over-the-counter diaper rash cream on hand for at least the first two years of your baby’s life. You never know when that might come in handy! Avoid the use of zinc oxide diaper creams on broken skin, as it can further irritate raw skin.

Keeping baby clean and dry can help to prevent diaper rashes, and avoiding diapers and wipes with alcohol or fragrance in them can also help.

If you are dealing with a rash that seems particularly resistant to at home measures, make an appointment with your pediatrician. There may be an infection going on that requires stronger treatment.

Written by Leah Campbell, infertility advocate, adoptive mama, writer and editor. Find me @sifinalaska on Twitter.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general informational basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.