KISSING YOUR CHILD ON THE LIPS

[Anonymous]

Mom to be here, wondering if this is a healthy habit.
I remember growing up and watching my friends being kissed on the lips by their parents.
I recall babysitting and the kids being kissed goodbye by the parents on the lips.

I don't know what to think about it.

Is it safe/healthy/good?

Why do people kiss their children on the lips anyway?

[Anonymous]

what do you mean is this healthy, safe or good? do you mean from a sanitary standpoint? or you think it's somehow incestuous? if you think the former, that's just silly since i suspect you kiss your husband or partner on the lips. if you think the latter, just don't do it in your family and don't worry about what other people do.

[Anonymous]

OP, i never understood it myself ... grossed me out to think about kissing my parents on the lips when i was a kid. everyone is different but for me ... ew.

[Anonymous]

my ds is 6 months and i just want to eat him up...i kiss him all over, sometimes smooches land on the lips...why do I do it? because he's so freakin adorable and i can't help myself.

[Anonymous]

I see no problem kissing my kids on the lips. I think it is weird for people to think it is weird! We kissed in my family, my dh did not in his. Lips aren't just for romance you know.

[Anonymous]

I think it's gross, too. OP, if you think it's gross, don't do it.

[Anonymous]

OP here.

From the sanitary standpoint - I do kiss my husband and ONLY him on the lips.
And we don't kiss if we know we're sick.
Now, when the kissing goes around 3 and up - how many kids do people have? - mouths its a different scenario.

Just because you seat on the toilet in your home doesn't mean you can seat in any toilet.

I just want to understand why people do it.
We never did it in my home. I was born in another culture and I'm trying to understand the pattern here.

If everybody tried to follow your philosophy - just don't do it in your family and don't worry about what other people do - this website would be empty.

Thanks for sharing your opinion PP.

[Anonymous]

Sanitary? Probably not. Do I absolutely LOVE when my 18-month-old kisses me on the lips? Yep, love it. LOVE it. Do I think it's healthy? Hmm. It certainly spreads germs, however maybe it helps boost the immune system. Psychologically speaking, I'm sure it's healthy to show and receive affection. Will I do it when she's... say...18? Probably not.

[Anonymous]

Mom of a 3 yo and 22 month old. Pecks on the lips all the time. My son, the 3 yo will often request "lips mommy" when I go to kiss him. I think it's cute. I don't think I will be kissing my kids on the lips when they are older though, but who knows.

[zumbamama]

I kiss my 4yo on the lips. With my older two, we kiss on the cheek.

[Anonymous]

Within family, it could be fine. I would just be worried that DC would think it's ok all-around - and would do it to strangers or non-family and allow others to do it to him. I know, I may be paranoid, but you read and hear about all kinds of horrible things out there.

[Anonymous]

zumbamama wrote:I kiss my 4yo on the lips. With my older two, we kiss on the cheek.

Why the difference?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Within family, it could be fine. I would just be worried that DC would think it's ok all-around - and would do it to strangers or non-family and allow others to do it to him. I know, I may be paranoid, but you read and hear about all kinds of horrible things out there.

14:00 here-- Your post made me think... But, now that I think about it, my daughter only kisses me and her father. She will hug her grandparents or friends if you ask her to, but she has never initiated a kiss... or a hug for that matter. She only initiates both with us.

[Anonymous]

I kiss my 3yr old son on the lips multiple times a day. I will continue to do so until he no longer wants to kiss me.

I wonder why people think it strange? Do they sexualize their children?

I really don't care if it is sanitary or not. We share our drink all the time and he eats off my fork all the time.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in a non-kissing family, but kiss my husband and DC all the time on the lips. Little smooches are adorable. But whatever suits your family's dynamics is great. I personally wanted lots of affection in my household, and thankfully, that's what I've got. My husband grew up in another culture too, where I'm expected to hug and kiss the women on each cheek. "That" is weird to me, but when in Rome...