Dr. Charlotte Reznick (USA) warns that parents kissing their children on the lips makes it difficult for them to develop healthy boundaries.
Psychologist Charlotte Reznick explains that the lips and mouth are personal boundaries of the body. When you kiss a child on the lips, you are showing them that their boundaries can be invaded without any issue. This habit of kissing children on the lips increases the risk of developing “victim syndrome,” which makes it hard for them to say “no” and manage their own personal boundaries.
Kissing a child on the lips can be stimulating; therefore, even as parents, one should never kiss their child on the lips. (Illustration: iStock).
According to experts, by the time a child reaches the age of 5, they gradually start to form sexual awareness. Some children may develop this awareness even earlier, exploring their own private parts and feeling comfortable. A kiss on the lips can be stimulating for children. Therefore, even as parents, one should never kiss their child on the lips.
Children tend to imitate adults. As a result, in addition to kissing their parents on the lips, they may kiss others to express affection, without realizing the deeper meaning of this gesture. It is best to only kiss children on the cheeks or forehead.
Furthermore, kissing children on the lips can be unhygienic. Doctors, particularly dentists, warn that there is a significant amount of bacteria in adults’ mouths that can transfer to children and cause substantial harm. Since children have weaker immune systems than adults, some dangerous infections can enter their bodies through saliva.
Some experts, such as Dr. Paul Hokemeyer, believe that while kissing children on the lips is not inherently wrong, it should stop once children begin to develop sexual awareness.
