A photograph from the 1930s has revealed that parents of newborn babies have been dealing with the same problem for at least 100 years. The black-and-white image, from a Getty archive via the Visual Studies Workshop, shows a stern-looking mother pushing her baby down a street in Margate, with a handwritten sign strapped to the front of the pram reading: "PLEASE DON'T KISS ME."
The image has prompted modern parents to rally behind the message, with concerns that boundary-busting relatives and intrusive strangers are putting infants at "significant risk of harm."
Health Visitor's Warning
Ruth Watts, a UK-based health visitor with 11 years of experience, shared the image along with advice to her 175,000 Instagram followers. She said: "Parents back then still had the same concerns of saying, 'please do not kiss my baby,'" blasting the social pressure that leaves mothers feeling guilty for simply protecting their children.
Watts continued: "Parents are put in such an uncomfortable position where strangers and family members will just automatically touch a baby... or kiss their baby. It's inappropriate and it's unacceptable."
Risks to Newborns
She explained that something not harmful to an adult or older child can be very dangerous to a young baby, especially during coughs and colds season. "In the early few weeks in particular... you can put a baby at significant risk of harm. An overbearing parent is saving a baby's life potentially."
Setting Boundaries
Watts advised parents to set boundaries with friends and family before they enter the home, suggesting a message such as: "Hi all, we are really looking forward to seeing you. We are asking all family and friends to please wash their hands when they get here and to not kiss our baby. It's coughs and colds season and there's a lot going round that can be dangerous to our baby. Thank you so much."
If a relative refuses to respect these wishes, Watts recommended telling loved ones that they are "busy," adding: "People need to respect our boundaries, respect our wishes of do not kiss the baby. It is not... an overbearing parent is saving a baby's life potentially."
