Dos and Don'ts: Kids

Feeding and Changing
Despite the general degree of openness regarding Czechs and body image, attitudes to breastfeeding are surprisingly the same as most other Western countries. It is tolerated, but not all will approve. From personal experience, mothers seem to be more reluctant to breastfeed at social gatherings than in Australia or the UK. Having said that Czech women were among those protesting FaceBook’s ban on photos of breastfeeding (the article is in Czech).

Baby Friendly
This phrase has been widely adopted into Czech, but it would seem that the notion, at least, is a part of the local character. Older people, especially older woman, will speak to little kids or peer into prams and comment – almost always positive. This practice is generally at odds with the more reserved nature of adult Czechs toward each other.

The Czech language has a whole series of words especially for babies and little kids, for example, ‘ham‘ for food and ‘spinkat‘ for sleep. It would seem that this terminology is expected, if not obligatory. From personal experience, I was corrected in the past for using ‘grown-up’ words, not just when talking with kids but also about them. Also, diminutives are used a lot when speaking with children. One of the beauties of the Czech language is that almost any noun can be a diminutive.

One habit that is fairly common in small towns and the burbs is that a mother will leave a baby in a pram while she goes into a small shop. This habit appears less common in Prague, especially in the center and in shopping malls.

Misbehaving / Punishments
When kids start misbehaving, it is customary not to get involved. In fact, saying anything to a parent chastising their child will be met with a reproachful look. One personal example: a woman was yelling at her kid and I called out to her. Oh, if looks could kill. Actually, I wasn’t intervening on the kid’s behalf. In her rage, she hadn’t noticed that the baby carriage had started to roll away from her. Even so, I wasn’t thanked.

Other Dos and Don’ts in the Czech Republic:
– Introductions
– Public Behavior

– Some More Behavior

– Czech Pubs

– Fashion
– Visiting
– Dating
– Shopping
– Public Transport
– Kids
– Dogs
– The Road

– Animal Sounds

– Culinary & Medicinal Customs

– Czech Superstitions

– Neighbors

– Visiting the Doctor
– Money
– Small Talk
– Going Out
– Swearing
– Names
– Camping
– Measurement