A Dutch daycare group has generated concerned comments on social media by placing photos of barefoot toddlers in the snow online.

The Hestia daycare group, which runs bilingual creches in Amsterdam and Amstelveen, says the snow walks are part of its policy and that parents are in agreement.

‘You sleep beter with cold, fresh feet,’ reads the text which accompanies the photographs in the original Facebook posting.

According to broadcaster RTL, the daycare group is a pioneer in the Kneipp method, based on the teachings of German priest and naturopath Sebastian Kneipp who claimed water had therapeutic effects. His treatments included ice cold baths and walking barefoot in the snow.

The creche children, who are dressed ready for their afternoon nap, count to 10 with their feet in fresh snow or cold water, and then go straight to bed.

The habit ‘stimulates blood circulation, reduces infections and children fall into a deeper and more restful sleep,’ the daycare centre says on Facebook.

By Thursday afternoon, over 9,000 people had commented on the photographs.