Mom's Viral TikTok About Relatives Kissing Her Newborn Sparks Debate
HuffPost • • health
Key Points:
- A TikTok video by first-time mom Haeli Christiansen, showing her stopping her mom from kissing her newborn, sparked debate but highlighted important health concerns about exposing newborns to viruses.
- Pediatric infectious disease experts warn that newborns have immature immune systems, making them vulnerable to serious infections like RSV, whooping cough, and herpes viruses that can be transmitted through close contact such as kissing.
- Experts recommend strict hygiene practices when visiting newborns, including hand washing, avoiding visits when sick, asking permission before kissing, staying up to date on vaccinations, and respecting parental boundaries.
- Communication about safety boundaries should be clear and framed around the shared goal of protecting the baby, with alternative bonding methods encouraged to reduce physical contact risks.
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