I¡¯ve learned this summer that part of the process of becoming a new parent in Japan is accidentally elbowing a realistic baby doll in front of a crowd that gasps in unison.
Thankfully, I¡¯m not the only one at the Suginami Health Center this particular afternoon in August learning how to give a newborn a bath ¡ª and plenty of other dads-to-be aren¡¯t exactly acing this challenge, either. That¡¯s why we¡¯ve all gathered here for a parenting class, after all.
There¡¯s plenty to prepare for ahead of having a kid. Most of the essential to-dos are the same in any country ¡ª from finding the right hospital to gathering the necessary products the newborn will need when they finally arrive home. Yet having a child in Japan presents specific issues to keep in mind alongside the rush to find the perfect car seat.
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