With the holidays coming up, many families will be gathering together to celebrate. This often includes newborn babies and their grandparents. For some babies, this can be a fun and exciting experience. If you’re a new parent struggling with how to tell grandma not to kiss baby, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered.
It can be uncomfortable to ask family members, like grandparents, not to kiss your baby, but it’s important to prioritize your child’s health and safety. Start the conversation by explaining why you prefer to limit contact with your baby’s face and mouth, citing medical reasons like the risk of spreading germs and illnesses.
Offer alternative ways for your family to bond with the baby, like holding or playing with them, that don’t involve physical contact with the face. Finally, be firm but polite in enforcing your boundaries, and consider providing a friendly reminder if necessary.
In this blog post, we will discuss the do’s and don’ts of grandparenting to help make your life a little bit easier.
Is It Ok To Ask Grandparents To Stop Kissing Newborns?
The finest method to keep them from kissing newborns is to educate them about the risks. They just want to kiss your little one because they love and adore him, and they may not be fully aware of all of the dangers. It’s critical to be stern; having this talk before the baby is born can help you avoid conflict if done correctly.
Remember, there’s nothing wrong with children getting a little dirty and developing their immune systems. You can’t shield them from everything, and it’s not always an issue for youngsters to be exposed to germs.
However, newborns are not immune to germs, and exposure to them at this age might be harmful. It places your baby in a very delicate situation, and getting sick at this age might be deadly.
RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is one of the most serious illnesses transmitted by kissing your baby. It’s spread through infected droplets from someone including family members who have a cold and take medicine like Nyquil, even if it’s only been a day or two ago. It can cause breathing problems and affect your newborn baby’s immune system.
Baby’s mouth can also be irritated by kissing, since it may bring about cold sores around the lips and allergic responses to lipstick, perfume, or even soap.
It’s perfectly acceptable to ask your grandparents to stop kissing your baby if you’re aware of the potential hazards. We all have germs on us that aren’t harmful in most cases, but they might make a newborn baby very unwell.
Can Your Grandma Kiss A Newborn’s Head Or Face?
When kissing a baby, it’s ideal for grandparents to avoid his or her face entirely.
If you’re not sure, just avoid kissing babies on the nose or mouth to lower the chance of illness. If they must kiss the baby somewhere and you’re fine with them kissing him on the cheek or head, it’s less likely to spread germs to your kid.
However, even if no one kisses them on the mouth, it’s still possible for your baby to acquire anything. One of the primary threats is that your baby may contract HSV-1, or herpes simplex virus type 1.
If the infant has a cold sore and you have one, avoid kissing each other to prevent the spreading of the illness.
When Can Your Grandma Kiss The Baby?
A baby’s immune system won’t be fully developed for a while, but during the first six weeks, it’s critical to keep germs at bay. When your child grows older, they’ll need to come in contact with germs to strengthen their immune system. However, because their immune system isn’t yet complete, this isn’t the
It is typically fine for the grandparents to kiss your baby at three months old when his or her immune system starts to mature. However, visitors should avoid kissing their baby unless they are feeling well until he or she is fully vaccinated and has a fully functional immune system.
It’s usually a good idea to postpone and see them when they’re feeling better, even if it appears to be nothing more than a cold or another minor ailment.
How to Tell Grandma Not To Kiss Baby?
One of the most difficult aspects of not allowing your child’s grandma to kiss your baby is having to express how you feel.
When it comes to older grandparents, they may believe you’re being excessive or that it’s a minor issue. You could be afraid they’ll get angry or upset if you tell them, and if they do, you may wonder whether you made the proper decision. Whatever their feelings are, whether they agree with you or not, you must do the following:
Ask Politely
When you ask your kid’s grandma not to kiss the infant, emphasize that it isn’t personal. It has nothing to do with her being irresponsible or disregarding the baby. She could have diseases like chicken pox and herpes virus without knowing it.
She may be furious at first, but if you ask in a kind and loving manner, she will most likely comprehend your position. She’ll understand that it’s not personal once you explain the dangers and that you apply the same standard to everyone.
Have A Discussion Before The Baby Is Born
Give them time to get used to the information by telling them before your baby is born. Then, if they become enraged, you’ll give them time to cool down before meeting their newborn.
This will provide the time to read the material and assess the risks for themselves if you’re sharing anything with them.
Set Some Rules When Grandma Is Not Well
Your kid’s grandmother mustn’t kiss them when they’re born, even if she is feeling well. However, you may want to establish limits for when she is sick. She should not see the baby until she is completely recovered if she catches a disease.
A cold can be devastating to a newborn. Let her know that she must screen herself before coming over and that if she has any symptoms, she must wait until she is completely recovered.
Show Some Facts
Still, thinking about how to tell grandma not to kiss baby? Provide her with some reading material. There are several pieces of research available that come from doctors and other reputable experts. Although it is uncommon for a newborn to acquire HSV-1, you should still take precautions because it can happen.
Blame It All On The Doctor
If you’re worried about the grandma getting angry, tell her it’s for the doctor’s orders. You may also discuss it with your doctor to make you feel more at ease with the discussion. Ask the pediatrician about the dangers and how to avoid exposing your newborn to sickness.
While your parents or in-laws may not consider it a real threat if they hear about it from you, if your doctor recommends it, they are more likely to comply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Should grandparents be allowed to kiss newborns?
Ans: To avoid serious health concerns, anyone and everyone, including parents, should avoid kissing infants. Because of the growing number of RSV infections and other illnesses, all individuals must be aware of the risks of smacking babies.
Q2: Can a mother kiss her baby on the lips?
Ans: It’s generally acceptable to kiss your kid on the lips unless you have a few very specific health concerns.
Q3: Is it normal for a father to kiss his daughter on the lips?
Ans: It’s a touching display of love that reflects the deep familial bond. It’s acceptable as long as a kid is comfortable kissing his or her mother and father on the lips.
Q4: My mother-in-law keeps kissing the baby. Can a baby get sick from a kiss on the cheek?
Ans: Yes, a baby can catch an infection from a kiss on the cheek. The best way to protect your infant is to ask everyone not to kiss them, including grandparents.
Q5: How many babies die from kissing?
Ans: Usually, when a baby dies from being kissed, it’s because the person who kissed them had an infection. The most frequent infection that may be transmitted through kissing is RSV. It’s a virus that causes severe respiratory issues in newborns and young children.
Q6: What to do if someone wants to kiss the baby on top of the head?
Ans: The same rule applies to kisses on the top of the head as any other type of kiss. It’s best to avoid it to prevent the spread of germs.
Conclusion
You can have this conversation without causing any drama. The most important thing is to be respectful and considerate of your parents or in-laws while also keeping your baby safe.
Grandmas love to smother their grandkids with kisses, but it’s important to nip this behavior in the bud. It’s not worth risking your baby’s health for a few kisses. You can blame it on the doctor if you’re worried about Grandma getting angry.
