'Carry and walk' for 5 minutes, then hold in arms for 8 more

Oct 03, 2022 | News On Japan

Japanese research finds most effective way to put baby to sleep

TOKYO - If your baby is crying heavily, carrying the child as you walk for five minutes is an effective way to calm the infant and induce sleep, researchers led by Kumi Kuroda of Japan's national scientific institute Riken have found.

Letting that baby sleep in your arms for another eight minutes helps prevent the child from waking once put in bed, said the international research team, which experimented in search of the best way to put infants to sleep. The experiments were done with 21 babies, seven months or younger, and their parents in countries including Japan and Italy during daylight.

The procedure initially tested four different kinds of motions for 30 seconds and compared the babies' reactions. "Carry and walk" produced the best effect, while putting the baby in a buggy and moving it back and forth had low but positive results. The other two options, "Hold the baby and sit" and laying the baby in bed, had no effect.

The team then tested the length of the walk, finding that after five minutes all babies stopped crying and around half fell asleep. ...continue reading

Japan-US Leaders Hold Talks, Confirm Close Coordination on China

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and US President Donald Trump held talks at United Nations headquarters in New York in the early hours of September 23 Japan time, demonstrating the strength of the Japan-US alliance and confirming close cooperation on China ahead of an upcoming US-China summit.

Seven Dead, Five Missing as Japan Begins Typhoon Recovery

Typhoon No. 25 has left seven people dead and five missing in Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures, with rescue operations continuing on September 23 as the extent of devastating landslides and flooding across the Kanto region becomes clearer, while widespread power outages, disrupted rail services and submerged neighborhoods hamper recovery efforts.

Road to Imperial Palace's Otemon Gate Flooded by Typhoon

The road leading to Otemon Gate at Tokyo's Imperial Palace was flooded on September 22 after heavy rain from a typhoon caused water in the surrounding moat to overflow.

Japan Pushes India to Final Ball in Historic Sano Cricket Match

Japan came within two runs of producing one of international cricket's biggest upsets on September 22, pushing reigning T20 world champion India to the final ball before losing a rain-shortened match at Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture.

Japan Secures More Medals as Asian Games Day 4 Intensifies

Japan's Asian Games campaign continued across a packed Day 4 schedule on September 22, with the women's badminton team securing another medal, the women's basketball team completing an unbeaten group stage, and Japan adding a historic bronze medal in mixed air rifle shooting as several of the host nation's biggest medal opportunities moved into the evening.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Education NEWS

Ronald McDonald House Breaks Ground in Kyoto

A groundbreaking ceremony was held in Kyoto City on September 15 for Ronald McDonald House Kyoto, a residential facility where children undergoing medical treatment will be able to stay together with their families.

100 Million Yen Replica Teaches the Weight of Taxes

Elementary school students in Fukuoka got a hands-on lesson in the importance of taxes on September 11, lifting a 10-kilogram replica of 100 million yen as part of a class designed to show how public money supports society.

Raccoons Spread Into Osaka Raising Disease Risk

Raccoons are increasingly appearing in urban areas of Japan, including residential neighborhoods near Shin-Osaka Station, raising concerns over disease, attacks on people and agricultural damage that reached about 700 million yen nationwide last year.

Japanese Teens Spend Least Time on Social Media Among 24 Countries

Japanese 15-year-olds spend an average of 2.3 hours browsing social media during their weekday free time, the shortest amount among 24 countries surveyed, according to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Osaka Hospital Prepares Baby Hatch

Renovation work has begun at a hospital in Izumisano, Osaka Prefecture, as the city prepares to introduce a baby hatch for parents unable to raise their children and a confidential birth system that allows pregnant women to give birth without publicly disclosing their identities.

Beware Landslide Just 10 Minutes After Cracks Appear

A disaster prevention experiment has shown how quickly a rain-soaked slope can collapse once visible cracks appear, highlighting the need for people in landslide-prone areas to evacuate before conditions become critical as the risk of disasters remains elevated through early next week.

Japanese Students See Value in Cultural Understanding

Nearly 60% of Japanese high school students consider learning about different cultures "very important," the highest proportion among Japan, the United States, China and South Korea, according to a survey released by the National Institution for Youth Education.

Japan Prepares for Millions Aging Without Relatives

The number of elderly people in Japan with no relatives to rely on is projected to rise to 4.48 million by 2050, or roughly one in nine seniors, prompting the government to create a new system under revised social welfare laws to support people with daily needs, hospitalization and arrangements after death.

< 2 3 4 5 >