FEATURE: "Baby cafes" helping mothers and infants combat isolation in Japan

"Baby cafes" serving baby food are opening across Japan, giving new mothers a place to gather and combat postpartum isolation through shared meals and conversation.In early April, Baby Cafe Arida, run by a midwife clinic, opened in Arida, Wakayama Prefecture, that has a population of about 24,000. Ten parent-child pairs attended the first session. After finishing their meals, the infants played on the mats while the moms ate curry and chatted happily.The cafeteria at the facility in western Japan provides baby food free of charge for infants under 2 years old, and is open once a month from …READ FULL ARTICLE