# Feeding your kid with hand is a crime in Norway?!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeding-your-kid-with-hand-is-a-crime-in-norway/609986
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [January 19, 2012, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeding-your-kid-with-hand-is-a-crime-in-norway/609986 "2012-01-19T07:47:29Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 6
### Author:  [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2012, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeding-your-kid-with-hand-is-a-crime-in-norway/609986/101 "2012-12-02T21:11:20Z")
> [@jjimm](#):
>
> The story in the OP puts me in mind of another case, a few years ago (from memory only so forgive me if I have anything wrong), coincidentally of a Norwegian woman recently immigrated to the States who left her baby in its buggy outside a store in Manhattan while she went inside to buy something. Normal practice, I read, in small-town Norway where she was from. However someone saw this baby alone in the street and called the cops, and the woman got busted for neglect by Child Protection Services.
Beat me to the post on this one - I was going to cite it as an example of how Scandinavian thinking about child raising may not be ‘better’ - just different.
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### Author:  [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2012, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeding-your-kid-with-hand-is-a-crime-in-norway/609986/102 "2012-12-02T21:32:26Z")
> [@Marley23](#):
>
> They’re not allowed to.
Not ever? How are the people to know whether their child protective services are, or are not, mad zealots?
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### Author:  [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2012, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeding-your-kid-with-hand-is-a-crime-in-norway/609986/103 "2012-12-02T22:27:08Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#):
>
> Not ever? How are the people to know whether their child protective services are, or are not, mad zealots?
In the US generally, the only ways are if another government agency conducts an audit/investigation and publishes a report (usually without identifying information except in the case of fatalities) or if there is a court proceeding of some sort , whether it be a criminal case against the parent or a lawsuit against CPS. I suspect many (maybe most) other countries have similar rules regarding confidentiality.
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### Author:  [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2012, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeding-your-kid-with-hand-is-a-crime-in-norway/609986/104 "2012-12-02T22:49:34Z")
> [@NitroPress](#):
>
> Beat me to the post on this one - I was going to cite it as an example of how Scandinavian thinking about child raising may not be ‘better’ - just different.
I’m not even sure it was Scandinavian thinking, rather than her own. I remember at the time a lot of Scandinavians said that yes, babies should sleep in the cold,fresh air , but on a balcony, front porch, courtyard etc .Not on a busy NYC street while the mother went into a restaurant to have a drink because it was chilly outside.
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### Author:  [@Grim\_Render](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grim_Render)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2012, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeding-your-kid-with-hand-is-a-crime-in-norway/609986/105 "2012-12-03T12:02:38Z")
As far as I know, it is not considered abnormal in any part of Scandinavia including the capitals.
A lot of people would consider being too afraid for your babys safety to leave it in the buggy to be over the top. I don’t know if it is a realty-based fear or not.
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### Author:  [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2012, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeding-your-kid-with-hand-is-a-crime-in-norway/609986/106 "2012-12-03T13:39:49Z")
Oh yeah in the year since this thread was posted I started going out with my son alone and have had a bunch of experiences in bizarre cultural baby memes. I’m from the USA now in Trinidad and my son is two and a half, a list:
Being scolded forever about shoulder riding.
There is apparently a poisonous substance called dew that rains from the sky with every drizzle or rain and every dusk. Now no I’m not walking in the pouring rain with him but yes I will walk around in drizzle, the temp hitting 70F is considered a freak cold snap! It rains everyday sometimes several times a day for half the year.
The floor is considered “unclean” or something, my son loves the wet noodle maneuver and my instinct is to ignore it if possible(in a food court etc a place safe to) but it will attract a crowd, people will pick him up! WTF? Wetwipes are proffered, it becomes a scene. I’m really sick of it, all people see when I am ignoring the wet noodle thing is a neglectful asshole letting his child wallow in a sewage canal or something.
Really funny the small stuff I never realized before experiencing it.
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### Author:  [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2012, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeding-your-kid-with-hand-is-a-crime-in-norway/609986/107 "2012-12-03T14:32:49Z")
> [@grude](#):
>
> The floor is considered “unclean” or something, my son loves the wet noodle maneuver and my instinct is to ignore it if possible(in a food court etc a place safe to) but it will attract a crowd, people will pick him up! WTF? Wetwipes are proffered, it becomes a scene. I’m really sick of it, all people see when I am ignoring the wet noodle thing is a neglectful asshole letting his child wallow in a sewage canal or something.
Any floor that people walk on with shoes that are worn outside is filthy. I wince when I see babies rolling around on floors in public places. It’s disgusting. Who the hell knows what they’re getting all over them.
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### Author:  [@Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Norse)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2012, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeding-your-kid-with-hand-is-a-crime-in-norway/609986/108 "2012-12-03T21:27:40Z")
Speaking of shoes… [Taking shoes off etiquette - In My Humble Opinion - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=598479)
(D&R)
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### Author:  [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2012, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeding-your-kid-with-hand-is-a-crime-in-norway/609986/109 "2012-12-04T05:42:41Z")
> [@Indian](#):
>
> Now, what constitutes parental abuse in Norway is not necessarily parental abuse in India.
That considers what said “abuse” is. Just because something’s not illegal doesn’t mean it’s not abuse.
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### Author:  [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2012, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeding-your-kid-with-hand-is-a-crime-in-norway/609986/110 "2012-12-04T05:49:46Z")
In India kids are some times caned gently by parents. No one consider it abuse, in Indian context. ( I am not talking of excessive punishment).
It is considered abuse in western countries.
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### Author:  [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2012, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeding-your-kid-with-hand-is-a-crime-in-norway/609986/111 "2012-12-04T05:54:29Z")
[Caning](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caning)? Seriously? Cultural relativism be damned – I definitely think of that as “excessive”.
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### Author:  [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2012, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeding-your-kid-with-hand-is-a-crime-in-norway/609986/112 "2012-12-04T06:00:11Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#):
>
> [Caning](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caning)? Seriously? Cultural relativism be damned – I definitely think of that as “excessive”.
Not those canes. ( they are bound to break a person’s bones)
This will be a small stick taken from a plant. It has been used for many years in Indian culture to discipline kids.
Caning is now banned in schools also ( due to excesses by teachers), by a court order.
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### Author:  [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2012, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeding-your-kid-with-hand-is-a-crime-in-norway/609986/113 "2012-12-04T06:09:08Z")
It’s generally called a “switching” here, then. Nope, it’s still considered abuse. It’s been a tradition here for years in the past. (“Go cut a switch off of the tree!”)
Sorry, I think it’s wrong. I don’t care how long it’s been used, or if it’s part of someone’s culture.
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2012, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeding-your-kid-with-hand-is-a-crime-in-norway/609986/114 "2012-12-04T06:14:07Z")
> [@Indian](#):
>
> In India kids are some times caned gently by parents
WTF? If that doesn’t work, are the children then mildly stabbed or softly shot?
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### Author:  [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2012, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeding-your-kid-with-hand-is-a-crime-in-norway/609986/115 "2012-12-04T06:19:01Z")
I am yet to hear kids getting stabbed or shot by parents as part of disciplining.
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2012, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeding-your-kid-with-hand-is-a-crime-in-norway/609986/116 "2012-12-04T07:10:33Z")
> [@Indian](#):
>
> I am yet to hear kids getting stabbed or shot by parents as part of disciplining.
Until tonight, I had never heard the term “caned gently”.
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### Author:  [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2012, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeding-your-kid-with-hand-is-a-crime-in-norway/609986/117 "2012-12-04T07:26:56Z")
😃
Switching (or whatever), not caning.
Canes are reserved for crowd control and law enforcement purposes.
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### Author:  [@StJoan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StJoan)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2012, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeding-your-kid-with-hand-is-a-crime-in-norway/609986/118 "2012-12-04T11:30:07Z")
> [@Indian](#):
>
> In India kids are some times caned gently by parents. No one consider it abuse, in Indian context. ( I am not talking of excessive punishment).
>
> It is considered abuse in western countries.
There is no such thing as a “gentle” caning. It is abuse, and many Indians will agree.
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### Author:  [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2012, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeding-your-kid-with-hand-is-a-crime-in-norway/609986/119 "2012-12-04T11:47:32Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#):
>
> WTF? If that doesn’t work, are the children then mildly stabbed or softly shot?
It was a common practice in British schools too until a couple of generations ago. Very unpleasant, likely abusive, but not quite the life-threatening attack you seem to think.
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### Author:  [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2012, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeding-your-kid-with-hand-is-a-crime-in-norway/609986/120 "2012-12-04T12:54:11Z")
Taking away kids be damned.
Norway should be in the gun sights for refusing to sell take away beer at supermarkets on Sunday. And only allowing low strength beer sales after 8 pm other nights (Take away).
Let’s cut to the chase.
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