I thought this was pretty interesting. Apparently kissing your sweet little baby is on some level instinctual. And here’s the kicker- it also provides health benefits for nursing infants.
According to Birthing Magazine:
Claiming behaviors such as kissing provide not only emotional, but biological attachment. There is a very real health benefit for the baby who is kissed.
“When a mother kisses her baby, she ‘samples’ those pathogens that are on the baby’s face. Those are ones that the baby is about to ingest. These samples are taken up by the mother’s secondary lymphoid organs like the tonsils, and memory B cells specific for those pathogens are re-stimulated. These B cells then migrate to the mother’s breasts where they produce just those antibodies that the baby needs.”
So kissing that soft fuzzy head is not only promoting bonding between mom and babe, but also helps your body to determine what antibodies to provide your baby with. How cool is that?
Now go and give your little sweetie a couple of Valentine’s Day smooches.
This is SO COOL! I love your informative piece today. I love to smootch my little boy, but now I can justify all my gushing. 🙂
I think I kiss my baby TOO much 🙂 He doesn't seem to mind yet. I don't know what I'm gonna do when he says "no kisses" 🙁
Oh no Jen, Never too much! The time when they start to dislike it comes all too soon. And it’s not just boys either. My three year old daughter has been saying for a while now that kisses are yucky. Sigh.