The Surprising Parenting Habits That Are Totally Normal Abroad — But Rarely Practiced In The U.S.

Dannica Ramirez / BuzzFeed

Updated Tue, June 30, 2026 at 10:08 PM GMT+9

3 min read

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In the US, there are certainly norms surrounding pregnancy and child-rearing, but have you ever wondered how parents in other countries handle raising their kids? Here are some common pregnancy and parenting practices that parents abroad follow that might surprise Americans.

Note: Some responses were pulled from these Reddit threads: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

SanyaSM / Getty Images

"Swedish here. I think there's a lot of emphasis on breastfeeding, and cosleeping is common. Sleep training is a big no-no, and many see it as child abuse. Speaking of that, corporal punishment like spanking is forbidden by law and very socially unacceptable. Parental leave is very long (two years is not uncommon) and almost fully paid."

— joycatj

Dimarik / Getty Images

"In El Salvador, baby girls' ears are pierced before they leave the hospital. And you have to provide the earrings."

— casualogre762

Vera Livchak / Getty Images

"I live in New Zealand, but I am Turkish and speak to Turkish friends with babies a lot. In Turkey, they believe in having no pets near babies, extreme hygiene at all times, and sterilizing everything forever (although this applies to Turkish culture in general). This means keeping babies indoors as much as possible, and having minimal contact with nature because it's 'dirty.' Unfortunately, there's a perfectionist ideology, which puts immense pressure on new moms. Turks tend to be very judgy. Also, you have to occupy your kid at all times: reading, playing, teaching them something, or whatever else. There's less emphasis on independent play."

— eye_snap

r/mrsschott903

"I'm Indian and married to an American. I've tried to raise my child as close to how my mom and grandma did. One thing is that baby food is made from scratch. Everything is boiled a bit and pureed, including fruit. There are lots of foods that are discouraged because they make the baby congested or mess with digestion before a certain age."

— onlycalms

u/meena47

"France here. It's true: kids eat the same things as their parents at mealtime. There is no such thing as having 'kid-friendly' food. All the kids I know, including my own, eat absolutely everything, from veggies to snails to unpasteurised cheese, etc. The biggest difference between here and the US (I've lived in both) is that kids are treated like little humans rather than babied. They learn to sit still at the restaurant, go grocery shopping, and interact in public without putting a screen in front of them or throwing a thousand snacks at them so they shut up."

— rohonhonhon

Cavan Images / Getty Images/Cavan Images RF

"I'm an American living in Iceland. My son walks/bikes to school, usually in the dark for half the year, which is something I wouldn't trust in the US. Schools here are also more relaxed. The kids can take their shoes off, they sometimes learn while sitting on couches, and they learn basic life skills like sewing and cooking early. There's a BIG emphasis on group activities. Sports and social clubs are run by the municipality, and there's one for almost anything you can think of. Many kids here ride their bikes around town and take the bus to the city. I remember I went to a 'soccer' game in the summer, and there was a group of 10–11-year-olds there, unsupervised. I was shocked. Parents, half the time, don't know where their kids are. They just go over to whoever's house to hang out. It feels a lot like when I was a kid in the '80s and '90s. Lots of freedom."

— Kiwigirl80

MinoruM / Getty Images

"Here in Norway, the goal is to make the kids into functioning adults, so they get more responsibility gradually as they grow. They have to live alone at some point, and dumping the responsibility of that on them one day is just setting them up for failure. So, kids walk to school on their own around age 6–8. They have plenty of chores to do to help out at home, and we teach them how to cook and clean. They are responsible for their own homework and education from around 10, and so on."

— missTHora

Note: Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Non-Americans Reveal What Shocked Them Most About Visiting The US

Kelley Greene

Wed, July 1, 2026 at 8:31 PM GMT+9

8 min read

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The US has had its fair share of foreign visitors experiencing American culture for the first time this year, and seeing their heartwarming videos and reading their stories has been a real thrill for any of us who've been a little disillusioned with the country lately. Over on Reddit, EmployerNegative5653 asked, "Non-Americans who visited the US for the first time recently: what was the biggest 'What on Earth is going on here?' moment you experienced?" and these 29 responses are keeping the patriotic party going:

1. "I had spent a month or so in Boston in '18, got the Amtrak down to NYC for a few days before flying back to the UK. Walking out of the Madison Square Garden subway station to find myself at the bottom of a man-made canyon of skyscrapers was like nothing else I've experienced. It was almost a sublime experience."

Aerial view of a city skyline with tall skyscrapers under a cloudy sky — Alexander Spatari / Getty Images

2. "Wait staff at restaurants are desperate to try and keep a glass of water filled on your table constantly. I'm used to having to ask for water if I need it."

—u/scope_creep

3. "A couple of years ago, I took my cousins from Naples on their first trip to America to Medieval Times because I thought it would be fucking hilarious, and it was. They had no idea what was going on, especially because they don't speak English, but they loved it."

Knights in armor on horseback compete in a medieval-themed arena with a cheering audience — Roberto Machado Noa / LightRocket via Getty Images

4. "Some years back, I was in my small hometown in central Pennsylvania, and a couch surfer from Bulgaria was staying at our house for a few nights. I decided to show him around town one afternoon, and the most perplexed question he asked the whole trip was why they were playing country music absolutely everywhere."

—u/natescape_navigator

5. "We took our Saudi exchange student to the State Fair, and the funnel cake was THE THING. He wanted video and to talk to the guy who made them... he was enamored."

Person holding a plate with a dessert topped with powdered sugar and fruit, with forks inserted for sharing — Patricia Marroquin / Getty Images

6. "My ex was Finnish, and she was so fucking shocked when two random girls we passed complimented her outfit. She was like, 'Why did they say that? What did they mean by that?' We just do that in the Midwest. That was the only time she was so confused she had to ask me about it. So, complimenting strangers."

—u/RaeSolaris

7. "In-laws from the UK and sister-in-law from Norway visited us in the US on the 4th of July one year ago. I turned on the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. Wonderful mix of disgust, confusion, and awe on their faces."

A person competes in a food-eating contest, surrounded by spectators holding scorecards — Adam Gray / Getty Images

8. "My in-laws freak the F out every time I turn right on red."

—u/PedanticTart

9. "Buc-ee's. We were driving down to Florida from NYC and were just looking for a quick snack, and nothing could've prepared us for that. At some point, the whole staff chanted because pork had been put on a board. I don't even know. Really clean toilets though, and I enjoyed the jerky they had and the lime fudge."

Inside a large convenience store, a well-lit food counter displays meats and sweets signs. Shoppers browse the aisles in a spacious, bright area — Neiu20001 / Getty Images

10. "Quoting my Japanese cousin who came to visit in Houston, Texas: 'I thought those giant trucks were only in movies. Everyone drives them here.'"

—u/Cheetodude625

11. "A friend flew home to Austin, Texas, with her boyfriend, who was from England and visiting for the first time. We picked them up at the airport and immediately took them to Ginny's Little Longhorn Saloon, home of chicken shit bingo. We dragged this poor man into the most Austin experience you could have at the time… a tiny bar on a Sunday with every person you can imagine in Austin: hipsters, cowboys, goths, frat dudes, etc. Everyone was grooving together while Dale Watson played, two-stepping on the tiny dance floor. In the corner was a crockpot situation with make-your-own chili dogs. American football was being played on the TVs. The place was packed. This was the day to come because Sundays are when they do chicken shit bingo."

Three chickens walk on a number grid with Euro symbols on some squares — Gaitanides / Getty Images

12. "Was in New York for the first time last year. The smell of weed on basically every corner was surprising to me, and I'm from the Netherlands."

—u/DePilsbaas

13. "The card aisle in supermarkets: condolences on the death of your cat, sympathy following your miscarriage, congratulations on adopting a puppy, etc."

Greeting card aisle displaying various Hallmark cards for different occasions, including congratulations and sympathy — Jeff Greenberg / Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

14. "Visited New York and Boston last year and honestly didn't find anything too out there. Bit bigger, maybe a wee bit more brash. Really nice people everywhere. Then I tried to watch a bit of TV at night in the hotel: holy fuck, there was an advert [commercial] lasting 15 minutes for every 5 minutes of programming. Don't know why anyone bothers."

—u/Readybrekthensex

15. "I saw two guys with cowboy hats on going through a drive-through. On horses. I had no words and still don't."

Cowgirl with a horse orders at a fast-food drive-thru window, while the employee serves them — Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspap / Houston Chronicle via Getty Images

16. "A friend from Latin America asked me where all of the dogs were. We don't normally have packs of roaming street dogs like they do."

—u/Javaman1960

17. "My husband was showing a new hire from Russia the warehouses at the grocery distribution center where they worked. When they got to the cat litter warehouse, the guy was perplexed. He said, 'You have a whole building of sand for sale, so your cat can shit in your house?'"

Various brands of cat litter and food displayed on supermarket shelves — Ben Birchall - PA Images / PA Images via Getty Images

18. "My grandparents from India came to visit and were walking around our mostly white suburban neighborhood. They came back stunned at the friendliness of Americans. They all said good morning and smiled as they passed. One car stopped near them and asked if they were tired and needed a ride home."

—u/sassysashap

19. "My brother-in-law is from Italy, and his first time in the States, we took him to a house party in Oakland. It was basically a kegger. But there was also a band, a karaoke room, and a bunch of people smoking. His biggest takeaway? Those red cups are real — not just in the movies. Those were red SOLO cups, ladies and gentlemen."

People enjoying a party, smiling and holding drinks, including red cups and a bottle, in a relaxed, informal setting — SolStock / Getty Images

20. "American flags. EVERYWHERE."

—u/fleahag_

21. "Public toilets' lack of privacy. Why are there doors that close nicely, but leave gaps? I could only go to the toilet in my hotel room."

A beige-tiled public restroom with a row of closed stall doors and one open stall in the back — Catherine McQueen / Getty Images

22. "How big everything was: Cars, supermarkets, serving sizes, roads, parking spaces."

—u/ThinkEchidnas

23. "My Japanese wife was shocked that people buy Christmas trees and tie them on top of their cars to bring them home. She said it looked like they were 'stealing from the forest.'"

Four people secure a Christmas tree to a car roof in a snowy forest — Thomas Barwick / Getty Images

24. "We had a Spanish kid stay with us, and we made s'mores in the backyard. I told him never to eat more than three because he would get sick. He ate 10 and asked for them every day for the rest of the week."

—u/grenwill

25. "We had friends from England come to visit. At the time, my husband coached high school football, so I brought them to a game. The whole thing blew them away. The concessions, the stadium, the cheerleaders and mascot, and the half-time show. They said they thought it was only like this in the movies."

Football game in progress at a packed stadium. Players in red uniforms are on the field, with a large crowd in the stands cheering — Jason Clark / Getty Images

26. "This is a story from my dad in the '90s. We live in LA, and he worked at one of the Big Four accounting firms. Had someone from the India office come for a week-long business trip. My dad gave him a ride to the office and said they were doing 70mph down the 405. The whole time, his guest was holding on for dear life. My dad asked him what was wrong, and the guy replied, 'People follow traffic rules here?! In India, nobody does so nobody gets to drive this fast.'"

—u/nervosuu

27. "Soap was locked up in a pharmacy."

Store shelves with various deodorants and sale tags, some products secured with anti-theft measures — ANGELA WEISS / AFP via Getty Images

28. "My friend (from Ireland) moved to San Francisco in June. Her mom decided to come over and visit her in October. My friend had rented an apartment on a street called 'Folsom Street' near downtown SF. And guess what happens on Folsom Street one weekend in October? The Folsom Street Fair! (Here's a link for those unfamiliar.) Her mom landed on Friday night and got up bright and early on Saturday morning to take in the 'street fair' happening right outside her window. Needless to say, 'shell shock' would be an understatement."

—u/siskyouthrowaway

29. And finally..."The thing that consistently still catches me off guard, even after nearly three years here, is the pharmaceutical ads on television. It's just bizarre and seems completely unethical."

Skyrizi / Via youtube.com

Now I have to know — if you're not from the US, what was the most shocking thing to you upon visiting America for the first time? Let us know in the comments. And if you'd like to remain anonymous, you can use the form below.

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Don't Miss:

The Surprising Parenting Habits That Are Totally Normal Abroad — But Rarely Practiced In The U.S.

In the US, there are certainly norms surrounding pregnancy and child-rearing, but have you ever wondered how parents in other countries handle raising their kids? Here are some common pregnancy and parenting practices that parents abroad follow that might surprise Americans.

"In El Salvador, baby girls' ears are pierced before they leave the hospital. And you have to provide the earrings."

Read Next

Non-Americans Reveal What Shocked Them Most About Visiting The US

2. "Wait staff at restaurants are desperate to try and keep a glass of water filled on your table constantly. I'm used to having to ask for water if I need it."

3. "A couple of years ago, I took my cousins from Naples on their first trip to America to Medieval Times because I thought it would be fucking hilarious, and it was. They had no idea what was going on, especially because they don't speak English, but they loved it."

5. "We took our Saudi exchange student to the State Fair, and the funnel cake was THE THING. He wanted video and to talk to the guy who made them... he was enamored."

7. "In-laws from the UK and sister-in-law from Norway visited us in the US on the 4th of July one year ago. I turned on the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. Wonderful mix of disgust, confusion, and awe on their faces."

8. "My in-laws freak the F out every time I turn right on red."

10. "Quoting my Japanese cousin who came to visit in Houston, Texas: 'I thought those giant trucks were only in movies. Everyone drives them here.'"

12. "Was in New York for the first time last year. The smell of weed on basically every corner was surprising to me, and I'm from the Netherlands."

13. "The card aisle in supermarkets: condolences on the death of your cat, sympathy following your miscarriage, congratulations on adopting a puppy, etc."

15. "I saw two guys with cowboy hats on going through a drive-through. On horses. I had no words and still don't."

16. "A friend from Latin America asked me where all of the dogs were. We don't normally have packs of roaming street dogs like they do."

17. "My husband was showing a new hire from Russia the warehouses at the grocery distribution center where they worked. When they got to the cat litter warehouse, the guy was perplexed. He said, 'You have a whole building of sand for sale, so your cat can shit in your house?'"

18. "My grandparents from India came to visit and were walking around our mostly white suburban neighborhood. They came back stunned at the friendliness of Americans. They all said good morning and smiled as they passed. One car stopped near them and asked if they were tired and needed a ride home."

20. "American flags. EVERYWHERE."

21. "Public toilets' lack of privacy. Why are there doors that close nicely, but leave gaps? I could only go to the toilet in my hotel room."

22. "How big everything was: Cars, supermarkets, serving sizes, roads, parking spaces."

23. "My Japanese wife was shocked that people buy Christmas trees and tie them on top of their cars to bring them home. She said it looked like they were 'stealing from the forest.'"

24. "We had a Spanish kid stay with us, and we made s'mores in the backyard. I told him never to eat more than three because he would get sick. He ate 10 and asked for them every day for the rest of the week."

27. "Soap was locked up in a pharmacy."

29. And finally..."The thing that consistently still catches me off guard, even after nearly three years here, is the pharmaceutical ads on television. It's just bizarre and seems completely unethical."

Now I have to know — if you're not from the US, what was the most shocking thing to you upon visiting America for the first time? Let us know in the comments. And if you'd like to remain anonymous, you can use the form below.

Recommended articles

Don't Miss:

In the US, there are certainly norms surrounding pregnancy and child-rearing, but have you ever wondered how parents in other countries handle raising their kids? Here are some common pregnancy and parenting practices that parents abroad follow that might surprise Americans.

"In El Salvador, baby girls' ears are pierced before they leave the hospital. And you have to provide the earrings."

Read Next

2. "Wait staff at restaurants are desperate to try and keep a glass of water filled on your table constantly. I'm used to having to ask for water if I need it."

3. "A couple of years ago, I took my cousins from Naples on their first trip to America to Medieval Times because I thought it would be fucking hilarious, and it was. They had no idea what was going on, especially because they don't speak English, but they loved it."

5. "We took our Saudi exchange student to the State Fair, and the funnel cake was THE THING. He wanted video and to talk to the guy who made them... he was enamored."

7. "In-laws from the UK and sister-in-law from Norway visited us in the US on the 4th of July one year ago. I turned on the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. Wonderful mix of disgust, confusion, and awe on their faces."

8. "My in-laws freak the F out every time I turn right on red."

10. "Quoting my Japanese cousin who came to visit in Houston, Texas: 'I thought those giant trucks were only in movies. Everyone drives them here.'"

12. "Was in New York for the first time last year. The smell of weed on basically every corner was surprising to me, and I'm from the Netherlands."

13. "The card aisle in supermarkets: condolences on the death of your cat, sympathy following your miscarriage, congratulations on adopting a puppy, etc."

15. "I saw two guys with cowboy hats on going through a drive-through. On horses. I had no words and still don't."

16. "A friend from Latin America asked me where all of the dogs were. We don't normally have packs of roaming street dogs like they do."

17. "My husband was showing a new hire from Russia the warehouses at the grocery distribution center where they worked. When they got to the cat litter warehouse, the guy was perplexed. He said, 'You have a whole building of sand for sale, so your cat can shit in your house?'"

20. "American flags. EVERYWHERE."

21. "Public toilets' lack of privacy. Why are there doors that close nicely, but leave gaps? I could only go to the toilet in my hotel room."

22. "How big everything was: Cars, supermarkets, serving sizes, roads, parking spaces."

23. "My Japanese wife was shocked that people buy Christmas trees and tie them on top of their cars to bring them home. She said it looked like they were 'stealing from the forest.'"

24. "We had a Spanish kid stay with us, and we made s'mores in the backyard. I told him never to eat more than three because he would get sick. He ate 10 and asked for them every day for the rest of the week."

27. "Soap was locked up in a pharmacy."

29. And finally..."The thing that consistently still catches me off guard, even after nearly three years here, is the pharmaceutical ads on television. It's just bizarre and seems completely unethical."

Now I have to know — if you're not from the US, what was the most shocking thing to you upon visiting America for the first time? Let us know in the comments. And if you'd like to remain anonymous, you can use the form below.

Recommended articles

21. "Public toilets' lack of privacy. Why are there doors that close nicely, but leave gaps? I could only go to the toilet in my hotel room."