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AIBU?

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Original poster

Kissing babies

42 replies

K725 · 24/10/2024 22:09

I am very freaked out by the dangers of kissing babies. Lots of adults who I know and trust with my son have kissed him and then I've had to ask them not to. Some have understood but a lot have told me I'm being unreasonable.
Today someone kissed him on the cheek and I used a wet wipe straight away to remove any germs but I'm now freaking out with all of the worries of what could happen.
Am I being unreasonable? I don't mean to be if I am, I'm just a new mum and desperately want to do the best I can to care for him.

OP posts:
Turtleburger · 24/10/2024 22:30

Those of you saying it’s fine, please please read this and learn more.
www.kittarkafoundation.org/thanks

Noseybookworm · 24/10/2024 22:28

I think it's fine to kiss baby on the forehead or cheek as long as your visitor is healthy (and hopefully they would stay well away from a newborn if they're ill!) I don't understand the wierd obsession with germs - I had 5 babies and they were kissed and cuddled by relatives and also by their toddler siblings! They were fine 🤷‍♀️

Turtleburger · 24/10/2024 22:27

my friend’s daughter died at one week old because she contracted neonatal herpes. You absolutely should not ever kiss young babies - it could kill them. My friend never recovered from her devastating loss.

FloralGums · 24/10/2024 22:25

Babies are born with very good immune systems - antibodies are passed through the placenta.
Breast feeding also passes antibodies to the baby.
It’s very important a baby’s immune system encounters germs - it strengthens it further. Avoiding germs causes problems in childhood and later life - things like allergies, asthma, eczema, hay fever etc.
Kissing babies is natural and brings far more benefits than problems.

Thewildthingsarewithme · 24/10/2024 22:24

No one should be kissing a newborn baby under 12 weeks on the mouth or hands in case of passing on the cold sore virus which can be fatal. Annabel Karmels daughter was kissed by a relative and dies because of this, yanbu, stand your ground

User3456 · 24/10/2024 22:21

YANBU
It's not just kissing either. People should stay away if they have any symptoms of illness (or if anyone in their household is poorly), and do a covid test before visiting a new baby too. If it's not too cold, it's also worth cracking open a window/running an extractor fan if you have visitors too. A HEPA air purifier would be a good investment.

Icanttakethisanymore · 24/10/2024 22:20

teatoast8 · 24/10/2024 22:17

I have no issues with people I know kissing my baby

Me neither. These posts always confuse me. I’d be upset if someone turned up clearly on death’s door and coughed in their face, but a healthy adult that you know, kissing my baby is a non-issue imo.

Nothanks17 · 24/10/2024 22:20

YANBU

Not worth the risk

mumtoababygirl · 24/10/2024 22:20

I don’t like people kissing my baby, I don’t know why. My Mum does it, I feel excessively. I try not to be horrible about it but it goes through me every time!

User79853257976 · 24/10/2024 22:20

It’s the herpes virus I was scared of. YANBU.

thaisweetchill · 24/10/2024 22:19

No you're not. RSV is common in babies which can be caused by kissing a baby. I know of someone who's newborn was hospitalised with it all because they had a cold and kissed the baby. It's not worth the risk.

DancingPhantomsOnTheTerrace · 24/10/2024 22:18

You're not being unreasonable generally, it's a rule plenty of people have.
But equally, if someone did kiss him I don't think you need to be worrying or freaking out about what potentially could happen. In all likelihood absolutely nothing bad will happen.

Original poster
K725 · 24/10/2024 22:17

Even a new born? He is 5 weeks old.

OP posts:
teatoast8 · 24/10/2024 22:17

I have no issues with people I know kissing my baby

PercyPigInAWig · 24/10/2024 22:16

Babies are cute but they are also vulnerable. I didn’t let people kiss my DC and would not do it to anyone else’s.

Meanwhile33 · 24/10/2024 22:15

And congratulations on becoming a mum!

Meanwhile33 · 24/10/2024 22:15

If these are people you know and who love the baby, I think it’s fine, and you could try to relax about it. At first I thought you meant random people are trying to kiss the baby, which would be weird. If we weren’t supposed to kiss babies, they wouldn’t look so cute!