Parenting

by Lori Shannon
Parents in the United States are commonly advised against giving newborns pacifiers. If a baby is given a pacifier, parents are told to wean them off of it as soon as they can. It’s rare to see a toddler or small child running around sucking on a pacifier. Sitting in the piazza, I noticed several children that were at least five or six-years-old running around with a pacifier. Even while playing, they kept their pacifier encased firmly in their mouths.

Another difference in parenting styles is on smoking. If an American parent smokes, he or she is often judged and shamed. Mom or Dad may continue to smoke, but often refrain from doing it around their children. In Italy, parents smoke with little regard to how it may affect their children or anyone else sitting near them. Smoking in public is more acceptable and it seems like there are generally more smokers in Italy.