Psychologists Discuss Whether Parents Should Kiss Their Children On The Lips

Oct 21, 2019 by apost team

Ask a question about parenting and everyone comes out of the woodwork to offer their opinion. Sometimes they agree, while other times they go in opposite directions. One of the more controversial questions these days is "If you start kissing your kids on the lips, when do you stop?"

It's natural for parents to want their kids to be sweet and cuddly, regardless of age. Some parents believe that if they continue a habit, like kissing their kids on the mouth, the kids won't forget to do this or feel awkward about it as they grow up.

However, some child experts disagree with this, advising to never start it as a habit. It can be difficult to know what advice to follow.

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Dr. Charlotte Reznick, a child and educational psychologist, received many parent questions about the topic of kissing on the lips. Dr. Resnick told The Stir, she believes that parents shouldn't even start the habit of kissing their children on the lips, saying that "if you start kissing your kids on the lips, when do you stop? It gets very confusing." 

When asked about when parents should stop kissing their children on the mouth, Reznick answered: "it would be now."

This topic comes up for debate routinely in the media. That's often caused by pictures and videos that capture a celebrity kissing their kids on the lips. People who see the images start sharing their differing opinions and the topic explodes.

Hillary Duff and Harry Connick Jr. are two celebrities caught up in this debate. Both were photographed kissing their kids on the lips. Duff passionately defended her actions in a tweet saying, "For anyone commenting that a kiss on the lips with my four-year-old is inappropriate, go ahead and click a quick unfollow with your warped minds and judgment" 

As for psychologists, there are plenty who come down on the side of Hilary Duff. Dr. Sally-Anne McCormack is one of them. She told The Sun, "There’s absolutely no way that kissing a young child on the lips is confusing for them in any way"

She continued saying, "That’s like saying breastfeeding is confusing. Some people might have issues with it, but it isn’t any more sexual than giving a baby a back rub."

What do you think? Is kissing on the lips confusing for young kids? Let us know your thoughts and be sure to let others read this article for themselves by passing it along.