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).
In their first two months, newborns are at the highest risk of infection, warns Dr. Hasson. So, it's advisable to avoid letting most people touch your baby and to avoid crowds, says the pediatrician.
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.
It is not wrong to kiss your baby but you should be wary of the risks involved not only for caution, but also so that you can advise visitors accordingly. Rule number 1 when it comes to kissing the baby is to never kiss a baby near its mouth. The risk of passing on germs and diseases increases by doing that.
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.
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.
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.
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).
During the first month of life, also ask visitors to avoid kissing around your infant's mouth and eye area.
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.
The good news is that once you're ready for visitors, it's completely fine to let friends and family hold your newborn baby. To be on the safe side, ask them to wash their hands before they hold your baby. This is so they don't pass on any germs.
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.
It's not just because they're cute! Science says maternal biology drives mothers to kiss their babies as a way to protect their new immune system! Parents often describe themselves as “totally smitten” with their new little one.
KISS stands for Kinetic Imbalances due to Suboccipital Strain, in other words, disorders in the symmetrical development of the baby that arise as a result of vertebrae disorders. The early signs of a blockage in the vertebra are highly varied. Many, though not all, babies cry a lot, sleep badly and are easily startled.
So ask politely, be firm and stick to your guns. Explain that your request for them to refrain from kissing their grandchild isn't one that will last forever, just until they are older and their immune system is stronger. Everyone who comes into contact with your baby should follow safe hygiene practices.
Caption: MIT neuroscientists have identified a specific signal that young children and even babies can use to determine whether two people have a strong relationship and a mutual obligation to help each other: whether those two people kiss, share food, or have other interactions that involve sharing saliva.
By about 4 to 6 months of age, babies become increasingly social and love to cuddle and laugh.
It's not just because they're cute! Science says maternal biology drives mothers to kiss their babies as a way to protect their new immune system! Parents often describe themselves as “totally smitten” with their new little one.
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.
By 6 or 7 months of age, your baby may need some things but want others. At that point, you may be able to resist their demands a little. It's not so much that you're spoiling them if you “give in” to their every wish, but it may be more beneficial to help them understand some limits (often for their own safety).
Your custody schedule should give your toddler frequent contact with both parents and provide both parents opportunities to feed, bathe, play with, read to, arrange playdates for, and put the toddler to sleep. Toddlers can be away from either parent for 2 or 3 days.
About Separation Anxiety
Between 4-7 months of age, babies develop a sense of "object permanence." They're realizing that things and people exist even when they're out of sight. Babies learn that when they can't see mom or dad, that means they've gone away.
The age and stage
The phase can start as early as six to eight months and continues until around age two – when object permanence is fully established.
9 to 12 Months
Now that your baby has developed object permanence, they may miss anyone (and anything) they have come to recognize fondly. This separation anxiety may continue through age 3, when they can start to understand the concept that you will be back after a set period of time.
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.