It is becoming a common practice for
adults to plant kisses on children’s
lips.
Children enjoy being kissed even when
they have no idea what it means. A little
baby would smile or laugh when an adult
plants a kiss on him or her.
Most parents kiss their children as a sign
of affection but they will cringe when they
see others kissing their little babies on the
lips. Some others will however not even be
bothered about it.
Some people would not mind if the kiss is
from grandparents, siblings and other
family members but they would not accept
it when it’s coming from friends and peers.
Though some will point out, “I don’t want
people kissing my baby on the lips
because it is not healthy,” but deep down,
you know that is not the main reason.
Some parents feel like kissing their
children on the lip is something intimate
that an outsider shouldn’t do without
permission.
Recently, there was this photo of a popular
TV personality, Sammy Walsh kissing the
3-year-old son of Ice Prince on the lips. It
quickly sparked a lot of reactions. Some
said there was nothing wrong with it as he
was a little child and besides his family
was not complaining. Some others were
not comfortable with it as they pointed out
that Sammy and the little boy were not
related.
Children of all ages see adults kissing one
another and most children also receive
kisses from parents and other adults. This
sends a message that kissing is
acceptable.
But when is not okay for an adult to kiss a
child on the lips? Even as a parent, at what
age should you stop giving your children
kisses on the lips? What kind of kiss is
acceptable for a child?
These questions have caused heated
arguments on social forums.
Below are some of the reactions of
Naij.com readers when asked if it is okay
for adults to kiss children on the lips.
Abiola Afolabi Jose said: “Why should one
kiss a child on the lips, peck is ok on d
cheeks, be it one’s child or not .”
“If I may share my opinion in this issue, I
will say NO, because it also written in the
holy book; it says train up a child in the
way that he should grow and when he is
old he will not depart from it. But me as a
mother I can give my child a kiss on the
cheek, not on the lips. It also way of
showing the child some love,” Itohan
Mercy said.
One of our readers said: “It depends of the
age, like 0-3, yes but from 4 years
upward, I won’t allow outsider to kiss them
on their lips. If you love my kids that
much, open your wallet bring out money
and go and buy him/her dolly baby, no
come spoil my pikin for my hand .”
According to Evelyn Osenuya Salawu, who
said pecking the lips of a child is quite
different from kissing a child lips, she only
pecks her child and so it is allowed. She
however won’t allow it go beyond pecking
from family members.
“If you don’t want anyone kissing your
child on the lips, then as a parent don’t
kiss them on the lips, so they know the
difference. Kiss them on their cheeks ,”
Atama Mag Edugwu-Imoke said.
Whether you are in support of giving a
child a kiss on the lip or not, you should
know that the medical side states that it is
not safe to kiss a child on the lip, because
the adult can transmit an infection to the
child.
Babies are quick to contact diseases
because of their poor immunity, parents
should therefore be careful about who
they allow to kiss their children on the lips.
Besides, you might see it as a harmless
show of affection but do you know the
motive of the person giving your child a
kiss. There are many children being
sexually abused on a daily basis and some
of them grow up with the scars.
As your child grow up, he needs to know
that certain kissing behaviours are not
acceptable.

Depending on which side of the world you find yourself.

This your write up is an assault to the eyes. Please paragraph appropriately.

Evina:
This your write up is an assault to the eyes. Please paragraph appropriately.

Copied and pasted. I didn't read it. Just skimmed. Got the idea. Nice post though.

Evina:
This your write up is an assault to the eyes. Please paragraph appropriately.

Noted... but u really get d msg dat is passed across.

youngsahito:
Noted... but u really get d msg dat is passed across.

I think so.