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Original poster

When did you stop (if you ever started!) kissing your child on the lips?

189 replies

FlickerBlackRed · 16/12/2025 22:45

Just a musing - I dont think there are any right or wrong answers, but I went in to say goodnight to my DD17 tonight, went to give her a little peck on the lips, as we always have done, and she sort of offered her cheek instead, which she's never done.

It's fine, and I'll absolutely take my cue from her but I just wondered if it's weird that we've done it for this long and she's now feeling awkward? I mean, it never felt weird, but it just made me a little sad tonight.

Saying that, I haven't kissed my parents on the lips for a few decades, so I guess it may naturally taper off as kids grow up. But oh, my heart!

OP posts:
gogomomo2 · 16/12/2025 23:02

Never on lips, not sure when I stopped kissing on forehead, in early childhood. My dc are grown and still love a hug and snuggle up on the sofa, just not kisses

UserNom · 16/12/2025 23:02

AliasGrape · 16/12/2025 22:59

It’s not gross or weird to kiss your DC on the lips.

That said, I’d never really do it by choice.
DD is 5 and I smother her in kisses whenever I get the chance but they tend to be on the head/ cheek or just wherever, she had her arm pressed against me this evening whilst we were chatting so that got a few kisses.

DD is going through a phase of demanding she gets to ‘kiss me back’ at the moment and is also very interested in the concept of mistletoe (they sang Rocking Around the Christmas Tree at school and it features) so she keeps pointing at random branches and saying we have to kiss now. She always goes for the lips. I’m guessing it’s a phase and I’ll follow her lead but like I say, it wouldn’t be my go to and I’m anticipating it stopping long before teen years although I can’t really say why (there’s some stuff in my own past it’s probably triggering maybe?)

It’s not gross or weird to kiss your DC on the lips.

That said, I’d never really do it by choice.

🤔

DoBeGoodDontBeBad · 16/12/2025 23:04

I've never ever done that. I think that's really weird and I would hate it if anyone other than a partner would kiss me on the lips. As a child it would be horrific - as an adult just rude to even attempt - how presumptious!!

No. I kiss my child on the forehead, cheeks, bridge of the nose - never would I kiss him on the lips

eeeewwww!

No wonder your daughter is turning her face away

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MCF86 · 16/12/2025 23:05

I am barely even allowed to miss mine on the top of the head, and that's been the case since probably 3 (definitely before school). I don't know if/when I'd have drawn the line if he'd not done it himself though.

theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 16/12/2025 23:07

Never have

Only partners

I didn't know it was a thing

(I do think it's odd, TBH)

sharkstale · 16/12/2025 23:11

Mooninjune · 16/12/2025 22:54

When my son was a baby we kissed on lips yes. But I wasn't comfortable with it even then.

That's weird

KarriTreeSullivan · 16/12/2025 23:11

I'm with the eww, that's gross, people. I think it's very weird, unusual and borderline inappropriate to kiss your children on the lips. Massive eww! I believe that's a line, and kisses on the lips should be reserved for partners. But, we're all different I guess! I do have some much older relatives who kiss on lips and my husband even has male friends who kiss on lips ( after a pint or two 😄)

I have always been very cuddly and tactile in every other way, lots of cuddles and kisses on cheeks, foreheads, top of head etc.

My youngest, I used to say was addicted to me and was generally attached to me in one way or another from the day he was born until he made it to year 6, aged 10/11, and now its all gone! Quite a shock and heartbreaking, so I can understand your heartache 😔

YourWinter · 16/12/2025 23:11

The only people I have ever kissed on the lips were romantic partners.

Slowdownyouredoingfine · 16/12/2025 23:12

Don’t know when it will stop, but I still kiss my 3 (8, 6, 4) on the lips. My middle child had a cold recently so I wouldn’t kiss her on the lips and she was really angry about it 😂 she is VERY loving. We had all this when the photo of David Beckham kissing his daughter on the lips went viral, I find it weird people find it weird… but we’re all different.

Lochroy · 16/12/2025 23:15

Aside from the fact I’m already in the ew camp, isn’t it also a bit of a poor thing for kids to grow up thinking is acceptable anyway? What happens if they don’t differentiate between family members and friends once they start school, for example? I’m just boggled, I never knew this was such a thing.

budgiegirl · 16/12/2025 23:21

I've never kissed anyone on the lips, other than boyfriends/my husband. Not my kids, or parents, or sister. It's just something we've never done in our family, despite being quite tactile people. My kids are all grown up, but I've only ever kissed them on the head, face, toes (when babies!) etc. I actually think I only know one person who kisses their kids on the lips. Although I guess there's nothing particularly wrong with it, it does give me the ick.

Sbmpp · 16/12/2025 23:23

Never have, never will.

cosimnotwhereitsat · 16/12/2025 23:23

about 12

mondaytosunday · 16/12/2025 23:25

Never done that, but think I would have stopped after toddlerhood if I had!

Whywhywhyyyy · 16/12/2025 23:27

Lavender14 · 16/12/2025 23:01

Ds is only 3 and I always kiss him on the cheek and if he wants to give me a kiss I'll generally offer my cheek but sometimes he will turn my head and is determined to land on my mouth, I don't make a big deal of it really but equally I wouldn't want other adults doing it. I'll probably start redirecting him gently from now on actually.

Aww my 3 year old does this too. I never kiss on lips instigated by me but he must see me kiss DP on lips so maybe that’s where he’s seen it.

He gets very offended if we don’t. He says no! Proper kiss and grabs my face 🤣

Stopbringingmicehome · 16/12/2025 23:28

Never kissed them on the lips , I kiss them on the cheek .

Mooninjune · 16/12/2025 23:28

sharkstale · 16/12/2025 23:11

That's weird

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Why?

sharkstale · 16/12/2025 23:30

Mooninjune · 16/12/2025 23:28

Why?

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I just think it's weird feeling uncomfortable kissing your own baby on the lips.

ExquisiteDecor · 16/12/2025 23:31

Never did, I agree it's for romantic partners only. If I had done it I would have stopped by toddler age I'm pretty sure.

TheCurious0range · 16/12/2025 23:31

Ladamesansmerci · 16/12/2025 22:52

I imagine that for most people it will stop in the teen years.

It's not something I'd probably do naturally, but I have no choice when my 18month old plants one on me 😂😭 She comes at me with an open mouth and 'kisses' me on the lips, but it feels more like being licked by a dog.

😂 I never thought I'd say this but I kinda miss that!

QuickPeachPoet · 16/12/2025 23:31

Kissing on the lips is for spouses and partners only. Uhhh

reversingdumptruckwithnotyreson · 16/12/2025 23:33

Surely 17 is a typo? That’s way too grown.

I’ve always seen everyone stop after maybe the toddler stage? At 17 frankly it seems a bit odd because they might be having romantic/sexual contact with peers by then.

Hiptothisjive · 16/12/2025 23:34

FlickerBlackRed · 16/12/2025 22:53

Erm, because we're a normal, tactile family who love each other and there isn't anything 'ew' about that?! 🤣🤣

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Yeah I’m from a tactile family and we are very tactile with our children but have never done this. It so cultural. No way o have ever seen this in North America - we would consider this cross.

Pollqueen · 16/12/2025 23:34

English people are very strange

Reevester · 16/12/2025 23:36

I will just give you a glimpse of the future- I had an ex that still did this with her parents and sisters, in her 20s and it was fucking weird. Really put me off the whole family.