Friend kissed my baby, feeling upset

[Lurkinmn]

A friend came to visit me and asked if she can take the baby. Baby is 16 weeks old, I gave her the baby and she did a quick peck on my baby's cheek. I was shocked that why would she kiss other people's baby. I was upset and when she left I wiped my baby's face but I am feeling quite upset about her inconsiderate behaviour putting my baby's health risk. Baby has been fussy last night and I am feeling quite worried about my baby's health. Baby has all her vaccines so far.
What should I do and what should I say to her and other visitors coming to our place to see baby?

Shocking, hope you told your friend off (sarcasm)

I agree you need to prioritise your babies well bring which is why you should seek immediate help for your extreme anxiety. There is nothing normal about avoiding kissing babies, especially your own. Babies need exposure to germs and bacteria in order to build a healthy immunity and whilst kissing with a cold sore / the flu etc is clearly wrong. A normal level of touch and contact is actually healthy.

To posters saying this isn't real - the Instagram algorithm is a powerful thing. When mine was a newborn I was hit with all manner of insidious videos - "if your baby isn't doing x yet, you need to speak to a specialist", "is your baby waking up at night? You need this sleep plan", "here's a baby in hospital because someone kissed them", "here's a video of how your baby can just stop breathing". It was relentless.

To the OP - I know other people with that rule and understand their thinking, although I think the chances of your baby getting ill from your friend who showed no outward signs of illness and probably just gave a quick peck are very small. As you know, even if your baby were ill it wouldn't have happened so quickly, so the unsettledness is unrelated. I think also even if you are cautious a peck on the top of the head rather than cheek could be a middle ground, until you maybe feel more comfortable in a little while.

She has kissed the baby just not on the face! Ffs read it properly before commenting!!

But people don't have to watch them, if you parent by social media there really shouldn't be any surprises what you get on there

If this isn’t a troll post, then you need support for your health anxiety. If you don’t get this under control it is going to negatively impact your children.

Awww I think that’s so sad! My second DC is 15 weeks and we shower her with little cheek kisses! Her big brother gives her a kiss on the cheek every time he leaves to go to nursery. It’s adorable and really helps them bond.

But each to their own!

Nothing bad will happen to your baby, but I don’t get wanting to kiss a tiny baby that isn’t yours. I’ve never felt the urge, even with family.

over reaction, start kissing your child - hug it as well

Go and kiss that poor little baby right now!!

Ironic that people are quick to jump on the “don’t kiss my baby” trend to “protect it” yet BFing rates are so abysmal still- with 1% EBF at 6 months old!
Kissing a newborn on the mouth- no. Kissing your own newborn on the face? Of course. And family and friends kissing baby (within reason) as a non-newborn. Not an issue!!!
I loved to kiss my own babies and grandbabies- but funnily enough don’t feel the urge to kiss other people’s babies. They don’t smell right.

She gets cold sores, what about her husband and her other child who also aren't allowed to kiss the baby? Stop minimising what is an abnormal fear of germs and is likely making her struggle daily with the fear, when she can reach out to her gp and get help!

I remember a friend kissed my baby several times. She had cold sores. I remember being concerned and speaking it over with my HV. She reassured me that dd would be fine. She was, and still is, nearly 21 years later.

I never knew that kissing babies wasn’t a thing. Their foreheads are incredibly kissable, seems sad to deny yourselves that. Please try to get over your neuroses op as they will get worse as your children get older and more adventurous.

Sorry op yabu unless baby is prem or got a medical condition.

They don’t smell right 😂😂

Omg, babies need plenty of kisses from their parents! Mine gets roughly 500 per day (and I don't even think I'm exaggerating 🤣).

A friend kissing your baby isn't cool, I wouldn't feel overly happy either, but it's happened now and baby will be fine.

It sounds like you might have a bit of health anxiety, perhaps seeing a doctor might be helpful xx

Ffs I’ve read it all now. Never even kissed your own child?!

Oh my God, kiss your poor baby!

You really should not be using Instagram as your source of health advice for your baby or indeed any members of your family. (Also Facebook, TikTok etc).

If this is real, please get some help for your health anxiety. This is a completely over the top reaction.

My youngest is only 8 and this seems to be something that has become an issue in recent years, I am guessing cause of COVID.

I wouldn't have given it a second thought when my kids were young, unless they actually had an illness if course

Why wouldn't you kiss your baby for goodness sake? Bonkers.

You've said you have health anxiety, therefore have answered your own question. You know it's just your anxiety and not a real risk.

Kissing babies is perfectly normal and keeping germs away from babies is more harmful to their health long term. Being exposed to normal everyday germs from people and the environment builds a healthy immune system and better health.

Op please give your baby a kiss and get some help with the anxiety. Before you know it your babies will be grumpy teens who hate being hugged! (Edited to add not all are like that though) but it goes so fast. Enjoy and take in every little moment . Give them a kiss X

She's not at any risk of passing on cold sores by kissing her baby's face

'we as a family haven't kissed the baby on their face so far.'

That is tragic.

Why would you not kiss your baby?

You need counselling as your thoughts are completely skewed about perfectly normal things.