Asian parents still adhere to many traditional beliefs, says Lau, such as the assumption that pulling the third finger can ward off evil. Sometimes all a child needs to chase away bad dreams is a reassuring finger tug from mom. And it is usually mom. The male to female ratio is the same among customers at ebabyasia. The online discussions don't exactly shy away from details.
Asian parents are usually very private.
But privacy quickly loses its importance in a medium where anonymity reigns. Having the Internet as an intermediary helps break down barriers in traditionally conservative Asian societies, says Kenneth Tan, whose company, Eastern Publishing, maintains the website of Singapore's Motherhood magazine. For some Asian parents, who aren't usually open to talking about certain problems like mental illness, this can be very useful. With such a high premium placed on the right parenting information, it's little wonder that Asians have no shortage of online options. As the Internet furthers its reach in the region, parents will undoubtedly be among its most enthusiastic adherents.