Mothers and fathers can often confuse being attentive to a newborn or toddler's needs with smothering or spoiling the child. There is a widespread sentiment that too much warmth and affection will lead to a child who is too needy or 'clingy'. But according to experts, this notion is false.
One of the most serious risks that come from kissing babies is the transfer of fever blisters, also known as cold sores. HSV 1 causes fever blisters to form around the baby's mouth and can spread to other areas of the body, even their brain.
You can't spoil a baby. Contrary to popular myth, it's impossible for parents to hold or respond to a baby too much, child development experts say. Infants need constant attention to give them the foundation to grow emotionally, physically and intellectually.
Hugs Keep Kids Healthy
There are many health benefits of hugging and kissing your baby. Hugs can promote our physical health and help us heal. Oxytocin, released when hugging, is a hormone that has amazing power and benefits our bodies.
Babies who get constant cuddling tend to sleep better, manage stress more easily and exhibit better autonomic functions, such as heart rate.
Family and RelationshipsThe Importance of Hugging Your Child Every Day. Author and family therapist Virginia Satir once said, “We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth”.
The longer you hold your baby, the better. Any amount of time is good, but it is best to try for at least 1 to 2 hours each day.
Social etiquette expert Liz Brewer says she thinks that, while kissing a son or daughter on the lips is an "unusual practice," it should still be a parent's choice as to whether they consider it appropriate or not.
Say the no-kiss rule is only temporary.
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!” “Keep looking forward to the time when she's old enough to be snuggled!
Newborn babies have a weak immune system, which makes them easily prone to viral infections. The first month is pivotal, and therefore, it is best to prevent anyone from kissing the baby on the face (12).
As long as your baby's essential needs are being met and you actively engage them in a loving way, how much or how little you hold them is entirely up to you. If you want to hold them, do. If you want to put them down, even if they cry, that's fine as well.
Nonetheless, the study finds a warm hug is a powerful and effective means of expressing affection between parent and child: “Your baby loves to be hugged and loves how you hug your baby.
Research has shown that babies who are regularly held and cuddled sleep better than those who are not. One reason for this is that physical contact helps to stimulate the release of oxytocin. In addition, cuddling helps babies to feel safe and secure, which also encourages deeper and longer sleep.
As you kiss and cuddle your baby, their little germs go into your system, where your body then produces the antibodies to work directly against those little germs and bugs. Those antibodies then pass directly through your breastmilk to your child. This important process happens the entire time you breastfeed.
Kissing your baby has a lot of emotional benefits. When a mother shows her baby love by kisses, hugs and the like, it shows the baby that being sensitive to others needs and feelings is important. This in turn can help them relate as well as interact better with those around them.
The lip-restraining guidance is most pertinent to people outside an infant's household, experts told me, which can include extended family. Ideally, even grandparents “should not be kissing on the baby for at least the first few months,” Tan told me.
Care and caution need to be on everyone's mind. Dr. VanVleet says it is a good idea for parents to choose who will visit the baby early on and who won't. She says it might make sense to hold off on some visits until the baby is about 3 months (12 weeks) old to allow the baby to build up their immunities.
When your baby gazes into your eyes when they're in your arms, it's baby's way of expressing they're attracted to you, and want to get to know you even better. Babies will try to copy your facial expressions, test it out by sticking out your tongue when baby is gazing at you, they may well copy.
Your baby finds comfort in your arms
When an infant can be soothed by your voice or physical comfort, this is another way she shows she trusts you. Infants identify caretakers by sight, smell, and sound, and when any of these provide a level of comfort to a baby it is evidence of an established bond.
Anything that promotes emotional connectivity is good. It's certainly not inappropriate to kiss your child.” And Sally-Anne McCormack, another psychologist, was more forceful still. “There's absolutely no way that kissing a young child on the lips is confusing for them in any way,” Dr.
A 2017 study confirms what many parents already instinctively know: You should pick up babies every time they cry. The research from the University of Notre Dame found that it was impossible to spoil an infant by holding or cuddling him, according to an article at News.co.au.
As long as your baby cannot sit, you can leave him for a few minutes in his cot. As a newborn, he will not be able to see very far so you can keep him entertained with wrist rattles or a contrast cot lining for him to gaze at.
It's OK to let your baby cry if the baby doesn't seem sick and you've tried everything to soothe your baby. You can try to leave your baby alone in a safe place, such as a crib, for about 10 to 15 minutes. Many babies need to cry before they can fall asleep. And they'll nod off faster if you leave them to cry.