Your baby's sense of smell develops in the womb, and by the time they're born babies can smell about as well as adults. Because the sense of smell is closely related to taste, it influences what your baby does and doesn't like to eat. Familiar smells, including your scent and the aroma of their favorite places, are comforting to your baby and play a role in bonding with you and other caregivers. Also, natural smells such as lavender can help to soothe and calm your baby.
Your baby's sense of smell plays an important part in their development. It's closely connected to their sense of taste, so it influences what they like to eat. But smell also has a strong connection with your baby's emotions and plays a key role in the bonding process.
When does my baby's sense of smell develop?
Your baby's nose starts to form early in the first trimester of pregnancy. Two tiny nostrils appear just a few weeks later. By 10 weeks, the receptors that your baby will use to detect smells have already formed.
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Babies start using their sense of smell while still in the womb. As they breathe and swallow amniotic fluid, they become familiar with its scent.
This is useful because the smell is similar to that of their mother's breast milk, which they'll need soon after birth. Your amniotic fluid also carries the scent and flavors of the food you eat, so your unborn baby will be familiar with the aroma of that fish you ate for dinner, too!
Newborns have a highly developed sense of smell. Though your baby can't yet recognize you by sight, they'll know you by your natural scent, and that's what they'll most want to smell. They'll also be drawn to the scent of your breast milk. These smells are connected to their basic needs for comfort and food.
The sense of smell is processed by a part of the brain that also controls memory. It creates strong associations between particular scents and experiences. As a result, years later a scent may trigger a memory for your baby and remind them of a time or feeling from the past.
How does my baby's sense of smell develop?
Your baby's sense of smell is highly developed at birth and is similar to an adult's sense of smell. One study even found that newborns were more sensitive to odor components in sweat than adults.
Newborn
As a newborn, your baby will be familiar with your unique scent. They can even smell the difference between your breast milk and another woman's.
By recognizing your scent, they feel comforted and secure knowing that they're with you. You can help them distinguish your scent by not wearing highly perfumed or fragranced skin products.
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When you cuddle with your baby and smell each other's scent, you both experience higher levels of the hormone oxytocin. This so-called love hormone helps you bond with your baby.
1 month
Your baby is getting used to different smells but can still find strong aromas overpowering. A strong smell can even interfere with their sense of taste. Continue to avoid strong perfumes and heavily scented products that can cover up your natural smell.
3 months
Your baby is becoming more aware of different people around them. They'll use their sense of smell to tell the difference between the people they know and strangers. If they feel scared or threatened by a person's smell, they may cry or kick their legs.
6 months
When your baby starts solids, they'll use their senses of smell and taste to decide whether they like a new food. If they enjoy the aroma of food being prepared, they may react by smiling, gesturing, or making noises.
Your baby's smell preferences may be similar to yours, especially since they got used to the smells of some of your favorite foods while in the womb.
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12 months
By age 10 months or so, your baby may be less eager to try different foods. Their sense of smell helps them decide what they definitely don't like. If they don't like the smell, they'll let you know!
Can particular smells soothe my baby?
Yes. Familiar smells, especially those of Mom or Dad, can be very comforting for your baby.
As well as being able to tell when you're nearby, your baby can sense whether they're in their stroller, the car, or a particular room at home just by using their sense of smell. If your baby needs soothing, being in a favorite place with familiar smells can help calm them down.
A lovey like a stuffed animal or blanket also develops a scent that can be reassuring for your baby. That's why they may seem unhappy if you wash it, however desperately you think it needs cleaning!
The smell of natural remedies, such as scented essential oils, may also calm your baby. One study found that babies with colic responded well to a massage with lavender oil and appeared to find it soothing. However, it's not clear from the research whether it was the massage or the lavender oil that had a calming effect.
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Another study found that aromatherapy using lavender and sweet almond oil reduced stress in premature babies.
When using essential oils, don't put them directly on your baby's skin. Some oils can be harmful, and babies and children can be extra sensitive to their effects. Instead, use baby lotions or baby washes with calming scents such as lavender and chamomile.
Alternatively, put a few drops of oil in a diffuser and keep it safely out of your baby's reach. The scent of the oil will gradually be released in your home. Try different essential oils and see which your baby responds to and which they seem to find soothing.
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