Friend kissed my baby, feeling upset

Op is the one with herpes though, not the friend, so why would she be worried about her friend or other family members kissing the baby?

I remember when a nursery worker kissed my baby on the head when I went to pick him up. She apologised and said it was completely instinctive which I totally get. I couldn't stop kissing my babies.

OP, kindly but my mum was like this with germs but she did kiss me. My sister and I have many allergies which make our lives pretty miserable often. My mum blames herself although I'm not sure if they're related.

Definitely never let anyone kiss your baby, cuddle your baby, breath near your baby. For at least 15 years.

OP, I would have been annoyed too. I think most of the posters here don’t get it. I’m guessing you are worried about Herpes Simplex - it’s unlikely but I understand why you are annoyed and upset. I do think it’s weird for anyone but immediate family to think it’s okay to kiss a baby on the face.

I find generally kissing other peoples babies a little odd and the entitlement people feel to do so. They wouldn’t kiss a teenager! I prefer it if people
don’t kiss my toddler, especially non family members.

DC is old enough to push people away if he doesn’t want them in his face anyway.

Your baby, your choice.

Poor kid

It’s advised not to kiss by the NHS.

Yes it’s unusual and really fucking weird

You've not kissed your baby?

Wow, that is so so sad.

I hope you get help for your completely irrational anxiety. I kiss my baby (now 4) all the time. She's just fine.

You are right Lemonbossy, and I'm sorry if I've stressed you any further OP.
It was more in response to all the posters saying such horrible things to the OP to show that her reasons are valid for worrying. But that is an extremely rare case and the baby will have got a lot of immunity to cold sores from you so try not to worry if you can x

Just because a poll on mumsnet says it’s abnormal doesn’t mean it is 😆🤦🏻‍♀️ ffs why are there so many weirdos obsessed with kissing babies faces?! she has kissed her baby just not on the face, whats the problem?! Each to their own and if she’s not comfortable doing that then that’s absolutely fine, I don’t get why 97% of people have been so nasty, so just because you and your 97% crew think it’s abnormal doesn’t mean it is, must be gospel if the people on mumsnet have voted 🥴🤣

If you're breastfeeding, your child already has an immunity to all sorts of things. If not, then your baby needs to build up immunity and so not touching its face within your own family seems bonkers to me. As a mum, I kissed both my babies on the face, but obviously I wouldn't have let a stranger do it or someone who had a cold or illness, someone who was smoking a cigarette, or wearing lipstick etc

Honey, i think you need to see your GP.

I kiss my babies on their feet, tummy, top of head etc but not their face/cheek. I didn't realise that it was so unusual.

YANBU, OP. I wouldn't be keen on others kissing mine on their face but thankfully it has never happened. They usually kiss on the top of the head.

Maybe kinder not to share this here when OP is already very anxious?

I read the post clearly, and so are 97% of the public completely abnormal??! To not kiss your baby ON THE FACE is still not normal! Just because you and 3% doesn’t mean it’s normal! Ffs 🤦🏻‍♀️

That poor poor baby

What about the baby's mental wellbeing and development

That is so sad.

I meditate every day, and coincidentally, today’s meditation was about letting go of anxious thoughts - because anxiety robs us of joy. I used meditation.

I am an Olympic gold standard worrier and fritter, and this has helped me - maybe it would help you too. @Lurkinmn.

Oh gosh everyone's being so harsh and obviously hasn't experienced health anxiety. I do understand as I have a friend with a severely disabled child who got kissed by someone With a cold sore. Turned into encephalitis and her perfectly healthy child is now severely brain damaged. So I understand from the point of view about your cold sore. Just don't kiss her when you have one. As for your husband and the baby's sibling, kiss away!! I also have a baby and am not keen on friends kissing him although they do, it is a true it helps to build their immunity and once they're at nursery they'll be putting everything into their mouth and unfortunately you won't be able to prevent that. Take care x

What a wild take.

People are concerned about the baby AND the mother here. It's not normal behaviour and not good for anyone involved.

My baby had eczema herpeticum and I still believe she should be kissing her baby.

Massive overreaction.

Agreed. There seems to be things recently constantly being shared all over social media about not touching or kissing babies, I think it’s making parents extra anxious.

Jesus christ. How do you cope with everyday life? Poor kid, will be hand-held by helicopter mummy into his 30s.

Good luck to him, he'll need it.

yes I have probably kissed every baby I ever held in my arms, I thinks its impossible not to!

I'd think someone who didn't kiss their own infant to be cold however in your case this seems to be more of an irrational fear so I'd pity you if I met you.

I think you might need to get some therapy, its normal for babies and toddlers to get sick in fact it strengthens their immune systems. Do you feel like you don't have control over anything major in your life? Often these irrational fears are in response to feeling out of control. I'm not trying to be mean but your attitude about this is strange and will cause more problems in future I suspect.

I'm sure you're doing this out of the desire to be a good mother and you love your children so hopefully a little therapy (even just a few visits could help a lot) will get you in a better place and allow you to be en even better mother. 💝