Oh my goodness!  Did anyone actually interpret my message as stating that I thought mothers should not KISS their babies???  Nothing could be further from the truth!  In fact, studies show that, given time alone and "unwatched" mothers LICK their babies - that is so much a natural response which is hindered by others' presence that I try to help moms have private time with their naked babies!

I think that is very "mammalian" behavior that has many different effects - getting to know your baby's smell and taste is one of them (in fact, mothers have been able to identify babies with PKU due to their salty taste - thereby saving their lives!) - and giving the baby the reassurance that you, even with your soapy or fabric softener smell, are still YOU - the scents and sounds that they knew inside!

Even if pathogen exchange or other factors were not part of it - kissing is how we greet someone we love!  

My previous post was ONLY addressing kissing babies in the mouth - NOT that mothers should avoid kissing their babies!

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, PHN, IBCLC
Who kissed her grandson yesterday - and whenever she can catch him (he's two)!

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