Parents Train Infants for Grueling Race

Madeline Holler — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 19:33:00 GMT

Uncovered: another bizarre annual tradition of exploiting babies for "good luck" or "fixed speech impediments" or, in this case, prizes. Where are the helmet-bearing, Purell-squirting American helicopter moms when the babies of the world need them?

MORE AFTER THE JUMP

These Lithuanian babies are taking part in an annual race to see which 9- to 12-month-old can crawl five meters the fastest. (What next? Toddler-fights?)

Moms wave toys and promise love to the child who gets to the finish line first. Parents deprived the entrants of cartoons and mornings at Gymboree in an effort to pack in arms and legs training, time trials and the like. The ill effects of this backward tradition show: just watch the winner's unbridled aggression during the awards ceremony. That bear didn't have a chance.

Indian Baby-Dropping

Bulgarian Baby-Dunking

Cop Nurses Earthquake Babies

Video: Reuters

No, They're Not Trying to Drown Their Kids

Madeline Holler — Thu, 15 May 2008 20:01:00 GMT

If that video of villagers dropping their babies from the roof of a temple in India disturbed you, you'll want to pass on this one. Parents at a mountain spring in Bulgaria force their kids underwater, you know, for their own good.

Wha ...?? The country's Alevi Muslims celebrate the coming of spring during "Hadrelez" by bathing in holy water. According to Reuters, they believe that the spring heals mute or stuttering children, but only for five minutes after midnight on the morning of 'Hadrelez'.

Huh. They're screaming, so I guess it works!

Video: Reuters

Strollerderby : strange traditions

Parents Train Infants for Grueling Race

No, They're Not Trying to Drown Their Kids