Viral TikTok on grandparents kissing newborns sparks debate as doctors weigh in

A first-time mother's TikTok showing her gently stopping a grandmother from kissing her newborn went viral, and pediatric infectious disease experts warned that newborns face higher risks from certain infections.

A first-time mother posted a lighthearted TikTok on Jan. 1 showing her gently stopping her own mother from kissing her newborn, and the clip quickly went viral. The post generated both support and criticism online, drawing more than 730,000 likes and nearly 4,000 comments. The mother, Haeli Christiansen, told People she and her husband decided to limit close kissing by extended family for the first months because the baby was born during "sick season" and she had been hospitalized as an infant after relatives kissed her when they were ill. Pediatricians and pediatric infectious disease specialists said the video prompted an important conversation about infection risk for newborns. What we know: - Haeli Christiansen posted the TikTok showing her preventing a grandmother from kissing her newborn; the video received wide online attention. - Christiansen said she and her husband limited kissing by extended family early on and cited past hospitalizations as a child after relatives kissed her when sick. - Pediatric infectious disease experts — including Dr. Taylor Heald-Sargent, Dr. Amy Edwards and Dr. Krupa Playforth — reported that newborns have immature immune systems and named viruses of particular concern such as RSV, pertussis and herpes simplex (cold sores). - Experts reported common precautions mentioned in the coverage, including washing hands before holding a baby, asking before kissing, and communicating boundaries with visitors; they also noted that bonding can occur in many ways without face kissing. Summary: The clip highlighted a social debate about family access to a newborn and brought medical experts' attention to higher infection risks for very young infants. Medical voices in the story emphasized hygiene and clear communication with visitors. Undetermined at this time