I don’t mean any child, I mean your child. I ask because this week I read a story about a psychologist who claims kissing a child on the lips is always wrong, no matter what their age.
Whaaat? How can kissing your soft-skinned, sweet-smelling baby on their big fat podgy lips be wrong? When we teach children how to kiss itβs all about puckering up our lips and encouraging them to do the same β surely kissing is all about the lips, isnβt it?
But then I read theΒ comments to the story and it seems Iβm in the minority in thinking thereβs absolutely nothing wrong with kissing your children on the lips. ‘Totally disgusting’, ‘WRONG’ and ‘I feel sick’ were among the responses (admittedly this was the Daily Mail).
Iβve always kissed both BB, aged four, and Little B, aged one, on their lips because it just seems so natural. When I tuck BB in bed at night she leans in for a kiss and aΒ cuddle and it would seem odd to avert my face and proffer my cheek instead. Perhaps we should air kiss ‘mwwaaah’ style instead.
The thing is, if we were never to kiss our children on the lips, what would that be teaching them about affection and how to show your feelings?Β I’m sure that could emotionally scar them far more than a simpleΒ peck on the lips.
Of course, in true Daily Mail style, this story did feature extreme lip kissingΒ – mums kissing their teenage sons and dads kissing their adult daughters, but all I could see when I looked at the pictures was plain, honest love.
It might sound icky on paper, but a picture says a thousand words.
What do you think? Is it ok to kiss a child on the lips?
Linking up with…
I read about this a while ago. I’m with you, I don’t see the problem. I kiss my little boy on the lips, just a peck..there’s nothing weird about that at all, well not in my opinion anyway. Xx #picknmix
It seems to me just a totally normal thing to do…
I am always kissing my boys, it drives them mad!!! My big lad does not like being kissed on the lips (autistic) he has a strong sense of smell so I always kiss his head or cheek before he goes to bed and on a morning when he goes to school or I leave for work. He is almost 10 now and does’t want kissing in front of friends at all and I respect that.
My nephew, who is 12, is autistic and he’s the same as far as kissing goes. I’m sure I’ll drive mine mad with kissing too!
I have never really thought about it before, I have just naturally kissed both my girls on the lips. I can’t imagine not doing it and they both love to pucker up for a kiss x #picknmix
I hadn’t thought about it before either – it just seems so natural to me…
I’ve never really thought about it. I have done but as the children have aged I think naturally it’s stopped & at bedtime it’s more the forehead. My 5 yo still kisses me on the lips but not often. I don’t see anything wrong in it. Interesting post. #justanotherlinky lifeinthemumslane
I imagine it’s just something that naturally changes as they get older but I really donβt see the problem in it…
ive never seen anything wrong with it, to be honest until i read it in the papers a while ago i’d never even considered it not being okay to kiss your child, but then as soon as the article came about there was loads of other mums commenting saying they didn’t agree with kissing there children on the lips either.. to be honest it was a lot to comprehend and something i still haven’t managed but i suppose everyone parents differently and everyone is entitled to their opinion. but for me i see no issue at all. x
I hadn’t really thought about it either until this argument came out – I really don’t understand why anyone would think it’s wrong…
Well I’m reading this having just given both of my tots (3 & 1) a kiss goodnight as I always do. I’ve never thought anything of it and certainly don’t see anything wrong with it, especially at such a young age. I would expect that things will change as the kids get older and it will become a kiss on the cheek or forehead, but for now I think it’s just a sign of love and affection. Each to their own, but if my kids are happy then so am I.
Interesting post! Thanks for sharing x
#justanotherlinky
It is an interesting subject isn’t it – I hadn’t thought anything of it either until I read this story – to be honest I was shocked (and surprised) with the views of the psychologistx
I had never thought about it before this article burst onto the news. I certainly don’t see anything wrong with it. I guess when they are a lot older I might feel differently? For now though they are just little. Gotta love Daily Mail comments, they are always.. what is the word… extreme π #PicknMix xxx
That’s one way of putting it about the Daily Mail comments!! Perhaps people get less tolerant as they get older…
The reason I have constantly been ill this year is due to my daughter’s constant lip kisses! I love them and so nothing wrong xx #justanotherlinky
We’ve been passing things back and forth too but I just can’t refuse a kiss!
I read about this! I don’t think it matters to be honest, as I think YOU give the meaning, intent & context to a kiss, not whether it is on the lips or not. A kiss on the cheek could be inappropriate depending on the intent of the person, a kiss on the lips perfectly innocent. I think it’s a bit silly and simplistic to think the location on the face is the deciding factor! I also think with little kids, they will always want to kiss you on the lips, as that is what they think a kiss is. It’s what they’ve seen. Learning to kiss some people on cheeks, some on lips, or not kiss some at all is a bit complicated for 2 year olds! #justanotherlinky
It’s complicated to me and I’m definitely not two! Totally agree with youx
This has been such a hot topic this week and I’m totally with you. Until I saw this on This Morning I never even thought about it because – like you say – it’s totally natural! As an adult I only kiss my parents on the cheek I guess but I honestly never thought about it before now. I plan to kiss my son on the lips for as long as he lets me lol!
The psychologist discussing it said her daughter remembers as a young child her mum telling her they don’t kiss on the lips and it made me really sad for her daughter!
Just one more thing the government and media are wading in on – let each parent do whatever suits them and their child I say π #justanotherlinky
I’m going to kiss mine on the lips for as long as they’ll let me too – snot aside, of course!!
I think it’s an absolutely ridiculous story. I kiss both my boys on the lips and they instigate it so how would they feel if I moved and kissed their cheek?! Thanks for linking up to #justanotherlinky xx
I kissed mine on the lips when they were small – well I had no choice a toddler does not listen to ‘no thank you you have snot on your lip’ ewww! These days it’s on the cheek, forehead anywhere I can sneak one in whilst they aren’t too ‘cool’ to be kissed π
Thanks for linking up to #PicknMix
Stevie x
I kiss my children on the lips, especially when small. Still do with my boys 5 and 8 although tends to be cheek, forehead with my eldest now. I would never force a kiss on them though. Interesting topic. Thanks for linking to #PickNMix