Ideally, even grandparents “should not be kissing on the baby for at least the first few months,” Tan told me. Within a home, siblings attending day care and school—where it's easy to pick up germs—might also want to sheathe their smackeroos at first.
In order to prevent serious health issues, anyone and everyone, including parents, should avoid kissing babies. Due to the rise in cases of RSV and other illnesses, it's extremely important for all individuals to be aware of the dangers of kissing babies.
Aside from the danger of germs passing across, a child needs to be aware that it is not normal for an adult to have such intimate contact with them.”
Most babies' immune systems will be strong enough for kisses after 2 to 3 months. Until then, it's healthiest not to kiss the baby, painful though it may be. “The baby will need your kisses in a few months!”
Be Polite But Firm
Let them know that you value their presence in your and your baby's life, and that are not trying to upset them, but that you do need to put your baby's health first. Express yourself as politely as possible, but stand firm on your decision.
2. Explicitly say “Please, don't kiss my baby” If speaking to people directly about your concerns feels too daunting, you can send a mass email or text to the entire family explaining your policy and that, out of an abundance of caution, you are requesting people don't kiss your baby on the face.
Also, their lungs are much smaller so any inflammation to their airways is exponentially worse when the baby is smaller. RSV is spread through contact with contaminated respiratory droplets. Kissing, sharing drinks, or transferring things from mouth to mouth can transmit RSV.
But there's no evidence to suggest that you should stop kissing your baby or stop friends and family from kissing her. Put simply, your baby will not be at an increased risk of SIDS from a kiss. What may increase the risk of SIDS however, is how your baby's immune system responds to infections.
Ideally, even grandparents “should not be kissing on the baby for at least the first few months,” Tan told me. Within a home, siblings attending day care and school—where it's easy to pick up germs—might also want to sheathe their smackeroos at first.
First, wash the kissed area immediately with soap and water. There's no guarantee this will prevent infection, but it doesn't hurt to clean the area of contact, just in case. Next, monitor the baby closely for unusual behavior or symptoms. Call your doctor for professional advice as well.
"Aside from the danger of germs passing across, a child needs to be aware that it is not normal for an adult to have such intimate contact with them.
If kisses are a normal greeting among relatives and friends, a child will think nothing of seeing his parents kiss hello or goodbye.” In a healthy parental relationship, children accept certain displays of affection between their parents. This demonstrated admiration can support a child's sense of well-being.
“Parents should show love and affection in front of their children. Simple things such as hugging, kissing and holding hands show that you care about that person.
Kissing someone else's baby exposes them to so much more than germs (though I will address that, too). During a baby's first year, but especially in the first three months of life, they are especially vulnerable to germs as their immune system is essentially non-existent yet.
You can kiss a newborn on the head, and the cases of any infection caused by a kiss are rare. However, staying away from the baby is better if you have a cold, cough, or any contagious disease or infection. You should not let any stranger kiss your baby (29).
During the first month of life, also ask visitors to avoid kissing around your infant's mouth and eye area.
Most of the time, it's totally fine to kiss your baby on the lips—unless you're dealing with a few very specific health issues, says the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The big concern, they say, is the herpes simplex virus (HSV).
Some parents hesitate because they uncomfortable to show affection in front of their children. The fact is — it's vital for kids to see how important connection and intimacy are in a marriage.
"It is normal and healthy to show affection for your children. You are communicating to your children that you love them," Martin explained to a local newspaper of Australia. She also claims that there is no documentation to prove that kissing your children on the mouth creates any problems later on.
It's perfectly fine to kiss your child on the lips, on the cheeks, on the forehead, etc.; affection is affection and it should occur naturally, spontaneously and wonderfully back and forth between parents and their children.
If your child starts crying as soon as you kiss or hug your partner, it is definitely a sign that your child wants more attention. This doesn't necessarily mean that you aren't giving your child enough attention already.
It is natural for young children to experience feelings of jealousy towards their new sibling. This is all perfectly natural, and is their way of expressing their feelings of frustration, and confusion about their role in your life and their place in the family.
The child may start kissing other people on the lips as an expression of sympathy. The child may start behaving the same way you taught them at home, but outside the family circle — kissing other children or adults on the lips as a way to express sympathy.
It's cultural and family-based
“It comes down to what your family dynamic is – just like any other cultural habit.” Khetarpal added that if you grew up kissing your parents on the lips this would be very normal for you, but if you didn't then it might seem unusual.
“It comes down to what your family dynamic is — just like any other cultural habit.” She adds if you grew up kissing your parents, family members and elders on the lips, there's nothing strange about kissing your own children on the lips.