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)! *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask] COMMANDS: 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome