Health experts are sounding the alarm that kissing newborns under three months old could pose serious, potentially life-threatening risks.
According to a recent report in The Daily Mail, the human face and mouth are home to millions of bacteria and viruses, many of which can easily be transmitted to infants. These pathogens can enter a newborn’s bloodstream and cross the blood-brain barrier, potentially causing severe, life-threatening complications.
Dr. Karan Rajan, a physician with the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK, took to social media to warn that even illnesses that are generally harmless to older children and adults can be fatal for newborns.
A video showing a woman trying to kiss her newborn nephew through a layer of cling film has sparked controversy online. The video, in which Dr. Rajan advocates for avoiding kissing newborns altogether, has garnered over 3.2 million views.
Dr. Rajan explained that a newborn’s immune system is still in the process of developing the necessary defenses against external threats. While infants may have some protection against viruses carried by their parents, their immune systems are not yet equipped to fight off new viruses from other people.
He suggested that relatives and friends should wait 2 to 3 months before engaging in close contact with a newborn to allow the infant’s immune system time to mature.
However, Dr. Rajan also emphasized that if the parents are free from infectious diseases, physical bonding with the baby, such as touch and cuddling, is important for the infant’s development.
Dr. Muriel Messo, a pediatrician and endocrinologist at Portland Hospital under HCA Healthcare in London, echoed these concerns. She warned that exposing newborns to viral infections through kissing can result in severe complications, including pneumonia.
While adults often recover from mild illnesses like the common cold—symptoms such as a runny nose and cough—without medication, viruses can be far more dangerous for newborns. In infants, these viruses can spread to the brain, potentially causing seizures and spinal cord damage.
Dr. Messo expressed particular concern about diseases like chickenpox, which can lead to severe secondary infections if left untreated in newborns. “Complications such as pneumonia or other serious infections can occur,” she warned.
