I let my dog lick my baby's face - it's not dangerous or disgusting as some say

"She absolutely loves him and dotes on him," proud new mum Linzi declares, as she talks about the other typical parenting practices she avoids, such as bottle sterilisation. 

Image: TikTok

Linzi is a 26-year-old new mum to a baby daughter, and often posts about her parenting journey on TikTok.

 

Although she has a relatively small following, one of her clips has recently gone viral because it's controversial... and involves what's widely viewed as an unhygenic practice.

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"Not everyone will agree"

The clip is captioned, "These are just our preferences. I understand not everyone will agree but this is what works for us."

In it, Linzi shares the parenting practices she has no issue with, and proudly declares, "She absolutely loves [her own room] and sleeps at least 12 hours every night without interruption."

Next, "Absolutely NO DUMMIES! She doesn't rely on any comforters and she found her voice at four months old. She loves chatting away and said her first word (Daddy/Dadda) at five months old."

Linzi added that she didn't believe in "tummy time" at a set age, preferring her daughter to indicate when she was ready for it.

There were also declarations about not sterilising new toys (but washing them), nor being concerned about bottles: "If we're in a rush and don't have a sterilised bottle, we'll just simply wash it," she says.

Speaking of washing, the mum told viewers they always bathed with their baby because baby baths "are scary."

But it was the mum's seemingly innocent declaration about the family pet that had viewers concerned. Linzi wrote: "We let the dog lick her and give her kisses. She absolutely loves him. They're never left alone but she dotes on him."

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"I don't get it. There's reasons for rules"

Many in the comments section expressed concerns for Linzi's approach.

"Why wouldn't you want to do everything you can to keep something so precious safe?" one viewer questioned.

"I don't get it - nothing's worth the risk. There's reasons for the advice/rules."

"The dog licks her face?" another asked, to which the mum responded, "We try not to but occasionally he does, it doesn't hurt her, but some things can't be avoided."

Yet another commented, "The dog thing is just disgusting sorry!! I'm a dog lover but absolutely not.

"You should see how much dirt and bacteria a dog had on its tongue."

Finally, this worried parent pleaded: "Please don't allow them to lick/kiss her - she's beautiful!"

"I did this with my four"

Others were more understanding of Linzi's decisions, with one writing: "You will have a happy independent girl who will rarely be sick… did all this with my four!!"

"Thank you! She's thriving," Linzi replied.

"Think I did all of those," another viewer added. "Well done you, too much emphasis put on all these you must do this and that nonsense."

And this person encouraged, "Girl you're her mother you do what you think is right for her. Ignore everyone else's opinions."

For information on pets and children see the raising children network website, or speak to your healthcare provider.

Originally published as I let my dog lick my baby's face - it's not dangerous or disgusting as some say