Kisses and colds

Stand up give them a big hug and kiss the top of their heads. Works for me!

I never allow lip kisses , hugs and mwaa in the vicinity of there ears

Only hugs allowed in our house, used to kiss the top of their heads when they were babies. Ours know the score and just put arms round the waist and make kissing noises

I've not kissed any related child on the lower face since I realised how herpes is spread. Plenty of hugs, top of the head for littles, cheek to cheek mwah with older GDs (who have to incline from a height to 4' 9" Nan). Older GSs also huggy, oldest gave me a kiss on the temple yesterday, we were both surprised!

We don't do kisses in our family either, apart from top-of-head kisses for the young ones. We don't do 'air kisses' either. Plenty of hugs and cuddles though!

I find it strange that some families kiss each other on the lips...

Thank you all. Hugging strategy implemented with excellent effect!!

Yes, top of head for little ones, although our smaller grandchildren do try and land a kiss on us now and then. I know it's lovely of them, but they do always seem to have a cold or cough at the moment.Hugs are better all round.

My Dad always used to kiss me in the lips - I found it mildly disturbing and never liked it.

It's not the xhildren - it's dh!

I wonder if I ever told you about when Toby aged 3 or 4 at the time, announced he was henceforth going to do "grown up kissing"
DD and SIL wondered what was coming next ?? and then they found he meant two kisses one on each cheek "like the grown ups do",
Whew!!

Reminds me of DD2 who said she wanted to give me a 'French kiss' when she was about the same age.

Turns out it was mwah, mwah, mwah on each cheek then on the first again! as her friend's DF does. And still does when I see him

My policy when germs might be lurking is to say, 'I won't get too near as I think I am getting something and I don't want to pass it on.'

Yuk, especially when the kiss is a salty mixture of tears and snotty nose.

I've given up worrying about germs, however. I spend my days with coughing, spluttering, sick kids at work as well as sitting on a germy tube train, so I can't be over fussy with the GCs.

When I was small, we lived in a flat on the ground floor of my godmother's mother's house. Every night I was expected to go upstairs to say goodnight to "Auntie Morris" and give her a night night kiss. She always complained that I was kissing the air, but I was always a hugger rather than a kisser and rarely kiss anyone on the lips, except occasionally DH.

You are all so sensible. All my 4 GC incline their heads to be kissed, although 2 of them need to bend down quite far for Wee
Gran now.

I leave it up to my GC as to what they want to do but I don't expect them to kiss me!

I only kiss my grandsons on the top of their heads- even with chicken pox

I had an uncle who used to insist on being kissed on the lips and got quite aggressive if I tried to wriggle away. It used to freak me out. I would NEVER force that sort of attention on a child. We are huggers and cuddlers in my family and save kisses for the dogs!

Adults, including parents, kissing children on the lips is gross and disturbing.

I have always kissed the tops of their heads. Still do. Mind you eldest is over 6ft now so unless he is sitting down...

As long as they still want to kiss me I don't care how or where. I usually aim for cheek or top of head but if they wriggle round & it hits their faces or lips who cares.
I remember my eldest son not liking to kiss his GM when he got to about 12 ish & ' that age'. She started shaking hands with him instead. I remember her face when aged about 17/18 he grabbed her & kissed her cheek & told her he was old enough to kiss again now.I well up even thinking about it now!

I have never kissed the GC or my own children on the lips. My mother told me when I was quite young it was not the thing to do and I always felt uncomfortable anyway when kissing some of our relatives. I give hugs and cheek kisses and top of the head ones to all the small people I see.
Here in France many people do the cheek kissing whether they are British or French but we have one friend who always tries to insist he gets a lips kiss from all the women. I find that not nice. it is easy this time of year to not do it with all the germs about.

As children, my parents and grandma would kiss us on the lips, but no-one else. I've never considered kissing our grandchildren on the lips, we do hugs, cheeks and top of head, all feels very natural.

Am also concerned about passing and giving germs, so don't really advise the lip kissing generally. ?

Necks, a guaranteed giggle Fest!