Why You Should Avoid Kissing Your Baby on the Mouth

Surely you’ve seen mothers kissing their babies on the mouth before. And there are very affectionate mothers who love to express their love in this way.

But whether you have seen or done this yourself, you may have wondered if this is really healthy.

Of course, there has been some debate for and against this practice. If you have any doubts about it, the best thing you can do is educate yourself.

That is why we have provided you with everything you need to know about kissing your baby on the mouth below.

Kissing on the mouth: a way to show affection

Motherhood can be such a gratifying experience that we often tend to express our affection with great enthusiasm. And we often can’t think of anything more gentle and sweeter than giving our children a kiss on the mouth.

Seeing as babies happily accept our kisses, we are encouraged to continue with this practice over time, thus making a habit of kissing our children on the mouth.

But is this healthy?

Let us remember that, as human beings, our health is comprised both of emotional and physical health.

So, when we ask ourselves whether it is healthy to kiss our baby, we will have two answers right off the bat.

Physical Health

We may enjoy doing this, and physical contact with babies is recommended in order to reinforce the bond between mother and child. Yet this form of contact is not advisable because through kissing, harmful viruses and bacteria can be transmitted to the child.

Remember that our bodies are much stronger than theirs, since we have reached the necessary level of maturity in order to face different environmental threats.

This is why health professionals do not recommend kissing children on their mouths.

Hygiene Issues

It is possible to transmit many infectious diseases through kissing that can range from the flu to mononucleosis. It is even possible to cause medium and long term problems in the child’s gums with a simple kiss.

Don’t forget that we often lick our lips to moisturize and lubricate them, so this practice has the potential to transmit viruses and bacteria carried by adults which can turn into a catastrophe if they are passed to a baby.

There have also been cases of parents or guardians that have infected children with diseases such as megalovirus and other viral illnesses contracted through saliva, shaking another person’s hand, or from sneezing into one’s forearm.

Of all the illnesses that we are able to transmit through kissing, there is one in particular known as “the kissing disease,” which belongs to the same family as herpes.

Emotional Health

For babies, kissing is nice as it reminds them of the experience of breastfeeding. Contact with the lips is similar and produces a feeling of satisfaction for them. While this may seem positive, it really isn’t.

From a psycho-emotional point of view, mental health experts explain that it is not advisable to kiss children on the mouth as it can cause confusion throughout their childhood.

Remember that even though for us a kiss is an expression of tenderness and love, for the child, it can be somewhat confusing as they grow up, since they will realize that kissing is also an expression of affection between couples.

While in many cultures, kissing on the mouth between parents and children is normal, we must understand that while it is good to respect this tradition, ideally this custom should be abandoned little by little, so that we can prevent uncomfortable situations for our children.

Little ones can be confused and think that kissing on the mouth is something that is done with all the people in their lives.

For them, there is no separation and that is why we are there as parents, to teach them that affection can be expressed in various ways, and that kissing on the lips is a practice that is reserved for the most intimate relationships.

According to experts, kissing on the mouth can send the wrong message for children between 3 and 11 years old, sometimes developing a trauma that will affect them during their adolescence or adult life.

So I can’t kiss my baby?

It is not advisable. If we really want to be responsible with the health of our children, it is best to avoid kissing our children on the mouth.

In fact, experts in pediatric infectious diseases have a stricter approach. They insist that this habit should be abandoned immediately in order to prevent illnesses in babies.

Obviously kissing your baby is a single act that strengthens the mother-child bond as you express your affection. But keep this fundamental point in mind: their health comes first.

Besides, there are many alternative ways to show our love, it’s just about looking for them.

Recommendations

Avoid kissing your baby’s mouth, wash your hands properly, and do not blow on the baby’s food or lend them your toothbrush.

Don’t chew food before giving it to your child when your baby starts to eat their first foods. It is better to use a blender or juicer to prevent passing germs and viruses to the baby.

Remember, you already have the necessary antibodies for fighting off certain diseases, but your baby still doesn’t have those defenses.