How do we feel about kissing men on the lips?

Ryan has mastered kissing with a true pucker and smack. The other day he continuously kissed my stepfather on the lips and I mentioned to DH (like how cute it was).

DH is completely skeeved and says I should be teaching him not to kiss men on the lips. Strangers, of course not. Family, I honestly don't see an issue with - at this age. I said he sounds a little homophobic and I don't see need for concern. He said he's going to say something next time he witnesses it .

Thoughts? I am naive, or is he being ridiculous? Or both

Re: How do we feel about kissing men on the lips?

Oh tell DH to shush!! He's 15 months, its adorable!! When he is a little older than I would address it.

Re: How do we feel about kissing men on the lips?

i guess it depends on how you were raised. DH's family is italian and they always kiss on the cheek and occasionally on the lips. i grew up kissing my mom and my dad on the lips - stopped when i was a teen.

i can't see DH wanting to kiss DS on the lips but i would not care if he did. i would also not care if DS kissed his grandfathers on the lips, or his great uncles, but i just don't see that happening.

unless one of them has a cold sore, what's the big deal?

Re: How do we feel about kissing men on the lips?

I agree with Kristin, tell DH to shush.

DS kisses DH, my dad and pretty much anyone who asks on the lips. They ar elittle boys and just want to show love

Re: How do we feel about kissing men on the lips?

We all grew up kissing on the lips, and now we all kiss on the cheek.

I just think it's a thing kids do, and as they get older, watch more, and mimic more, they will begin to be cheek turners.

My nephew is 2 and is already starting to give teh cheek instead of his lips.

Re: How do we feel about kissing men on the lips?

I think it's totally based on how you were raised. In my family there was no kissing on the lips - just on the cheek. In DH's family they kissed on the lips. When DH's family kisses DD on the lips it skeeves me out.

Re: How do we feel about kissing men on the lips?

I def think it goes along w/ how you were raised. My family never kissed on the lips, so it is weird to me. If I grew up around it, it would be normal. I will say, that now that I have a child though, I don't feel weird about DS giving me a peck on the lips.

Re: How do we feel about kissing men on the lips?

My oldest nephew is now 5 and still kisses everyone on the lips. I honestly never thought twice about it.

Re: How do we feel about kissing men on the lips?

It wouldn't bother me if it was family that he was kissing.

Re: How do we feel about kissing men on the lips?

As long as it's just family and there is no tongue, I'm fine with it (I also think that if it is not the norm in your family, he will grow out of it anyway).

Re: How do we feel about kissing men on the lips?

we are a non kissing on the lips family

Re: How do we feel about kissing men on the lips?

Totally depends on how you grew up. I never kissed anyone on the lips growing up if I kissed them at all - I'm an "air-kisser" when it comes to most people anyway. And being somewhat of a germ-a-phobe I'd probably re-direct DD when the time comes and have her kiss on cheeks. I have seen kids try to kiss the way they see their parent's kiss - it's funny b/c it's so innocent, but again, I'd probably redirect her.

Re: How do we feel about kissing men on the lips?

My DS kisses my DH on the lips. At first my DH was a little weirded out but I still kiss my father and siblings on the lips so to me it was totally normal. I think it is the way your brought up.

Re: How do we feel about kissing men on the lips?

Re: How do we feel about kissing men on the lips?

He's a baby and family. DS is 3 and sometimes kisses Gpa goodbye on the lips. DS also kisses us on the lips goodnight. They are little and if it's close family then I don't see any harm.

Re: How do we feel about kissing men on the lips?

dh and i dont want ds to kiss anyone on the lips since thats probably the easiest way for them to get sick and its just too personal. Cheek is ok.

Re: How do we feel about kissing men on the lips?

We don't kiss our kids on the lips. We snuggle, kiss them checks, forehead, neck, etc...but not the lips.

We explained long ago that everyone has their special kisses. Daddy & Mommy have their own kisses too.

Message edited 6/17/2009 5:19:21 AM.

Re: How do we feel about kissing men on the lips?

When Robbie and NoNo first started to kiss it was ALWAYS on the lips. It was just natural to them. As they got older, they moved away from that on their own.. I didn't even have to tell them. Natural reserve kind of kicked in and now Robbie usually will give a hug to close family/friends - or a fist pound/handshake to others. Noah still kisses sometimes - but the only people he ever really kisses on the mouth are me and Rob - and that's really very rare.

I'll tell you what though - the most heartbreaking thing EVER was when my little NoNo was about 2ish and he went to kiss Rob's father hello one day. His father would let him. He pushed his shoulders back and said 'Men shake hands!" NoNo was DEVASTATED and it burned me SO bad... all he wanted to do was share some affection with someone he loved dearly and he was basically pushed away.

Message edited 6/17/2009 5:36:52 AM.

Re: How do we feel about kissing men on the lips?

We are lip kissers but that is the way we both grew up.

Re: How do we feel about kissing men on the lips?

Re: How do we feel about kissing men on the lips?

We kiss DS on the lips.
My Parents and siblings kiss him on the lips.
My In-laws kiss on the cheek.

Now that I think about it, I don't mind my parents kissing him on the lips, but I find it weird if my in-laws do.

Maybe bc I grew up kissing on lips, but DH didn't. hmmm.

Re: How do we feel about kissing men on the lips?

IMO soon enough he will find that he doesn't like to kiss anyone like that. They learn... I wouldn't want my kids kissing anyone like that - same or opposite sex - when they are older. But when they are small, what do you say to a 2 or 3 year old? My DS (3 yrs) kissed my BIL on the lips a few weeks ago and I've never even seen my SIL do that

Small kids don't get the concept of a kiss being on the cheek.

Message edited 6/17/2009 9:29:27 AM.

Re: How do we feel about kissing men on the lips?

Posted by rojerono

I'll tell you what though - the most heartbreaking thing EVER was when my little NoNo was about 2ish and he went to kiss Rob's father hello one day. His father would let him. He pushed his shoulders back and said 'Men shake hands!" NoNo was DEVASTATED and it burned me SO bad... all he wanted to do was share some affection with someone he loved dearly and he was basically pushed away.

Re: How do we feel about kissing men on the lips?

Posted by Elizabeth

Posted by rojerono

I'll tell you what though - the most heartbreaking thing EVER was when my little NoNo was about 2ish and he went to kiss Rob's father hello one day. His father would let him. He pushed his shoulders back and said 'Men shake hands!" NoNo was DEVASTATED and it burned me SO bad... all he wanted to do was share some affection with someone he loved dearly and he was basically pushed away.

Aw!!!! So wrong!!!

And in the case of the OP, I think that for DH to say something will make it uncomfortable for the adult. When Ryan goes to kiss his step-g'pa again, stepgrandpa will be the one not knowing how to behave if the kiss is coming at his lips and he will be pushing him away or trying to force the kiss to land on the cheek. Not fair to the baby.

Re: How do we feel about kissing men on the lips?

I see no problem with it at all as an infant or a toddler. They are just showing affection, not to a man or a woman, just to anyone.

That being said, I come from a non-kissing family, and DH comes from a kiss on the cheeks family. Neither of us kiss family on the lips and I think when he gets older I would not be comfortable with it.

DS at 14 mos kisses on the lips and to everyone!! I have no issue with it. I think as he gets old enough to understand, he will just see for himself that men aren't kissing other men on the lips and tailor his behaviour accordingly. But I will let him be the one to decide how he wants to show his affection.