While the exact age babies begin displaying behaviours we recognize as "kissing" can vary, a key developmental milestone involving mouth-to-mouth contact occurs around the age of one year, although according to one perspective, these early interactions are not yet considered true "kisses."
Understanding Early Baby Mouth Contact
Babies explore the world using all their senses, and the mouth is a primary tool for exploration and connection. Early on, babies show a natural attraction to faces, especially mouths, which are highly expressive.
Insights from the Reference
According to the provided reference, this early attraction to an adult's mouth can manifest in physical interaction around the age of one year.
- Around the age of one year, babies may engage in quick passing "mouth to mouth" observations.
- Crucially, the reference clarifies that these interactions are not yet "kisses".
- Instead, they are described as a kind of "one to one correspondence," suggesting a more basic form of interaction or mirroring rather than an act of affection in the way adults perceive kissing.
This implies that while physical mouth contact happens around this age, it's viewed as a precursor behavior, different from intentional affectionate kissing that might develop later.
Distinguishing Contact from Kissing
The distinction made in the reference is important. Early mouth-to-mouth contact around age one might be driven by:
- Exploration: Learning about textures and surfaces, including human skin.
- Imitation: Mimicking actions they see adults perform.
- Connection: A basic way to interact physically with a caregiver.
These motivations differ from the more complex emotions and social understanding typically associated with kissing as a sign of affection.
Here's a summary of the point based on the reference:
| Behavior Described | Age Range | Is it Kissing? (According to Reference) |
|---|---|---|
| Quick passing "mouth to mouth" observations | Around one year | No |
Therefore, based on the provided information, while babies may start initiating mouth-to-mouth contact around one year old, this particular reference states that these actions are not yet considered "kisses."
