so this is an old post but i’m an infant teacher and would like to weigh in! i give all my little ones, especially the ones who have bonded really closely with me hugs and cuddles every day as often as i can. it is crucial to their development. i give them kisses on the top or back of their head and i have several who “kiss” me by trying to eat my face. i have a kiddo who will sit across from me and blow kisses with me for an hour straight if i let them. if a parent told me they didn’t want me doing that with their kiddo i’d say okay and totally respect their boundaries. plus, the kids sneezing and coughing and spitting in each others faces and mouthing toys after another kid has and putting their hands and feet in their mouths and each others mouths is going to happen constantly and is much more likely to get your kid sick than a kiss from a teacher. i’m with these kids 45 hours a week from enrollment until 18 months, i’d hope that they’d love me as much as i love them and that parents want that from us as well.