The "kissing instinct"?

[OvenSeeksBun]

This is a pretty random thread

I have this compulsive urge to kiss my baby all. the. time. It's so weird!! I read once that when a mother kisses her baby, she picks up the germs to which her babe has been exposed, and produces specific antibodies for the baby in her breastmilk. Maybe that's why babies smell so good?? What do you think? Do you have the "kissing instinct" too??

[countrygirl28]

It's funny because before I had my DD, it bothered me how much people kiss babies, and I never really understood it.  Sure, they have cute little cheeks, but all the kissing was a bit much, imo.  Now, I can't help but kiss my DD all the time!  It wouldn't surprise me if there is a biological basis as to why mamas kiss their babes so much.  Mother Nature tends to be right on!  I do have to add, though, that I am not a fan of people besides DH and me kissing our DD.  

[Laurski]

I'm a compulsive kisser of my Bean!

That's definitely interesting that there may be a biological component to my desire to kiss her all the time--although DH is also a compulsive kisser.  I also think part of it for me is that I know it's only a matter of time before she may not want mommy to kiss her constantly!

[SilverFish]

omg, i practically eat her face, i find her so delicious!! i am a physical person to begin with, but i do find it odd how MUCH i kiss her if i ever stop and think about it logically.

i would think there are multiple biological reasons for our "kissing instinct." acquiring and transmitting our scents to each other, grooming instinct, socializing our babies to touch among others.

[goinggreengirl]

I was actually just thinking about this today. We were in the grocery store and whenever someone would get too close to DS, I would lean in and kiss him. Catching those germs along with him! And, it's easier to keep people from trying to touch him when I'm right there.

[mom2happy]

Originally Posted by SilverFish 

omg, i practically eat her face, i find her so delicious!! i am a physical person to begin with, but i do find it odd how MUCH i kiss her if i ever stop and think about it logically.

i would think there are multiple biological reasons for our "kissing instinct." acquiring and transmitting our scents to each other, grooming instinct, socializing our babies to touch among others.

Yes there has to be SOME reason I wan't to inhale my babies. I can't keep my mouth off them.

They are absolutely DELICIOUS!

I read this weird thing once that said you should never kiss a baby near their mouth because it exposes them to mouth bacteria that they have never been exposed to. Maybe, but that article didnt scare me. There is no way nature would have created this need to kiss and snuggle our babies if it wasnt good for them.

[NWnewmom]

This is a great article about just that: http://birthunlimited.ca/parenting/92-why-mothers-kiss-their-babies.html 

[Nicole730]

Originally Posted by mom2happy 

Yes there has to be SOME reason I wan't to inhale my babies. I can't keep my mouth off them.

They are absolutely DELICIOUS!

I never understood why people said they wanted to "eat you up" to babies.  But after having my own, I totally get it.  Inhale is a good word to use :)

[my kidlets and me]

Originally Posted by mom2happy 

I read this weird thing once that said you should never kiss a baby near their mouth because it exposes them to mouth bacteria that they have never been exposed to. Maybe, but that article didnt scare me. There is no way nature would have created this need to kiss and snuggle our babies if it wasnt good for them.

Apparently, babies are born without the bacteria that cause cavities - this bacteria is acquired (mostly from moms).

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35989527/ns/health-oral_health/

[Knitting Mama]

Definitely a compulsive kisser here! It would be interesting to carry a clicker counter with me and click every time I kissed her to see how often it was--and then to speculate how many I missed!

[P.J.]

Yeah, DH's dentist warned him about the cavity bacteria thing, and we try to be aware, but DS loves to stick his hands in our mouths, and IMO it would be impossible NOT to spread those bacteria sooner or later.

As for kissing, I am also constantly kissing the baby!

[Knitting Mama]

Yeah, nothing anyone said to me would make me stop kissing her, including on the mouth. She's going to get bacteria anyway, as a mobile and curious baby!

[WifeofAnt]

There are people who DON'T kiss their babies 50 bazillion times a day!!  I only stop so he can sleep. 

[*bejeweled*]

I kissed DD compulsively too. Now she's a compulsive kisser (and she's 8!).

[NaturalMama311]

Originally Posted by *bejeweled* 

I kissed DD compulsively too. Now she's a compulsive kisser (and she's 8!).

DD is like this too but she's only 2.5, but she kisses everything!!  If she bumps into the wall she says 'sorry wall' and gives it a kiss.  Her new thing is to kiss each cheek like she's italian!  lol 

My DH seems to have the kissing instinct too - whenever he is holding DS he just kisses his head every few minutes.  So cute:)

[chewynotcrunchy]

another compulsive kisser here!!  there's no way i could *not* kiss her every 2 seconds (not that i'd want to).  so cool there is a biological component to the impulse!!!

[whozeyermamma]

Me too! I just bury my face in his neck and smooch away.

[MeganWoods]

Totally! I was never a big kisser, and now I kiss DD way more than I do my DH! 

[Knitting Mama]

Originally Posted by MeganWoods 

Totally! I was never a big kisser, and now I kiss DD way more than I do my DH! 

Much to my husband's consternation, this is true in our house too!

[caseykn]

I kiss my kids all the time too.  I can't stop kissing the baby, especially when she's in a carrier and her little head is so close to my face!  It's really cute to see DD1 kissing the baby and saying "you're so cute I want to eat you!"  She's definitely modeling my behavior. :)