An affectionate father has hit out at people on social media who criticised him for kissing his five-year-old on the lips.
Tom, from Yorkshire (@tom_leeds) slammed trolls accusing him of confusing his son Roman, with some even claiming that he risks making the child ‘more susceptible to cavities’.
He initially shared a quick peck with his little one in a video about the colour of their eyes earlier this week.
But one commenter penned: ‘Just gorgeous both, but don’t kiss him on the lips.’
‘I will continue to kiss my son on the lips. thank you,’ Tom replied.
In a follow-up video, the dad then stressed that he will continue to show his son affection as long as Roman allows him to.
‘I find it worrying that it bothers you,’ he told viewers, addressing the former comment.
‘I will kiss my son, my five-year-old child, on the lips for as long as I deem necessary and as long as he lets me, right, ’cause I love him to bits and he’s my best pal and one day he won’t want me to and he probably won’t want much to do with me. So for now, I’ll carry on as I am.’
While most of the comments were supportive of the affectionate father, Tom had to address some other concerns.
One bizarre comment even suggested that ‘you can make your child more susceptible to cavities if you have them and kiss them’, due to transferring bacteria.
Roman joined his father in the video reply, saying: ‘Don’t be silly.’
The parent’s frustration was visible in his latest clip – which has more than 15,700 views – as he responded to one poster urging against the pecks.
‘Don’t kiss your children on the lips fact,’ it read. ‘Because not all humans have the right intentions do you see what I’m saying? Don’t make it acceptable!’
Many rushed to offer their support, encouraging the affectionate father to show their children he loves him
‘So the logic here is, if I kiss my five-year-old, he will think that he can go off and it’s OK to kiss strangers, strange adults… obviously!’ Tom quipped.
‘So let’s apply that logic. I can’t have him in my car anymore to take him places because he could get in a stranger’s car and think that’s normal.
‘He can’t live in my house anymore because – well, he could just walk in a stranger’s house and think that’s normal.
‘Or we could, now hear me out, we could… teach him that he’s got a mummy and a daddy and kissing them is normal, but kissing dodgy Barry down the road is a bit weird.’
Many rushed to offer their support, encouraging the father to show their children he loves him.
‘If anyone sees anything other than a dad kissing his son, then they’re the ones we need to watch out for,’ one said.
While most of the comments are supportive of the affectionate father, Tom has had to address some other concerns
A second agreed, remarking: ‘If someone thinks it’s wrong to kiss your child then they have issues that need questioned. No one will stop me giving my baby kisses.’
Elsewhere, one encouraged: ‘Your bond with your boy is natural, you’re doing a great job.’
‘What is wrong with people,’ one frustrated comment read. ‘It’s his SON !!! His dad showing him love will make him a more gentle loving boy/man one day !!!’
And other parents also offered their own experiences.
‘I will continue to grab my 3 boys by their faces and give them big kisses and give them big kisses,’ one penned. ‘I adore my babies.’
A second added: ‘My daughter is 11, she kisses me on the lips. If I was about to turn my head she would think she’d done something wrong.’
‘Oh those people should jog on!!! I kiss my 18 and 16 year old boys!!! Looooveee them to bits,’ another shared.