Japanese nighttime crying cafes are a relief for new mums

Imagine you are a new mother fighting post –partum in Japan and all your child does is keeps you awake whole night by crying. In normal cases, this would have crushed you even more, with nowhere to go, no one who understands you properly and no place to rest. But when in Japan, trust the Japanese parenting culture which understands that it does take a whole village to raise a child. While the country is very disciplined and everything wraps up by 10 pm latest, the rise of several nighttime crying cafes for late –night parenting support are portraying a different vision of the country. Keeping in mind that parenting needs can occur at any time of the day, or night, these new parent resources are on the rise.

Why are nighttime crying cafes popular in Japan?

In Japan nighttime crying cafes are the boon in infant care support that new mothers had never probably even envisaged. It is a safe space where like-minded people greet every mother who is in need for some support with their child. These mother and baby cafes not only lend physical support in taking care of the child but also looks into maternal mental health where people come together to share their experiences and stories. This reduces the burden and builds a positive community. There are three major ways in which these cafes offer community support for parents.

By just being there: Sometimes all you need is for a person to just be there. This helps in childcare assistance. Remember a new mother is also coping up with physical changes in the body and hormones. They also need their me-time or rest. When night time sleep is disrupted with sleepless nights, their body functions start wavering. In those moments, one often starts thinking only if there was someone else who understood them and was present for them. This newborn care support is what these cafes provide with changing rooms, nursing rooms, sleeping corners, and more.

Postpartum depression awareness: One of the major parenting challenges is dealing with postpartum depression. While in some individuals it manifests early, for some it takes time in visible manifestations but eats them up internally. In such situations, emotional support for mothers is prime. Though they can always talk to their loved ones, it is ideal for them to talk to new mothers who would best understand their situation. These safe spaces for mothers actually bring together shared lived experiences that help ease out the stress and tension among mothers.

Recreation and entertainment: Don’t think that these nighttime cafes only look after women’s health in Japan. They primarily do, but they also serve amazing food that is satisfying and delicious at the same time. With hands on baby duty, mother’s often push back making or consuming delicious food. The cafes take care of that aspect by offering simple yet holistic meals, even at odd hours of the night.

Thus, these nighttime cry cafes in Japan are emerging places where mothers can safely express emotions. Hokkaido now has one of the most popular ones. But several others are emerging in other prefectures, with different operational models, even though the end goal is the same.  

For more updates, join/follow our WhatsApp, Telegram and YouTube channels.