Newborn baby's sense of smell and taste
27/08/2021

1. A newborn baby's sense of smell is not inferior to that of adults, and he or she can identify distinct flavors.
Although newborns have lower eyesight than adults, they are not inferior to adults in terms of smell, and are even more "acute" than adults.
According to one study, newborns sense odor components in human perspiration better than adults (Loos et al., 2017). Infants can detect the odors of amniotic fluid, breast milk, and formula, and prefer the scent of breast milk (Marlier and Schaal 2005), most likely due to its relaxing and soothing impact on newborns.
2. Newborns can smell their caretakers and identify them.
Infants may recognize their carers based on their scent. One study discovered that newborns reacted differently to breast milk donated by their own mothers than to breast milk donated by other stranger mothers (Mizuno et al., 2004); another study found that the smell of breast milk could soothe newborns who had just undergone surgery, but only if the breast milk came from their own mothers (Nishitani et al., 2009).
3. Newborns can also taste different flavors and may prefer sweet flavors
Newborns' tastes are similar to adults', and they can detect sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, and salty sensations. However, before newborns are formally introduced to supplementary meals, they are drinking milk, so their taste buds are not fully opened, and when they begin to give complementary foods, they may experience other flavors!
According to one research, infants may exhibit a predilection for sweet flavors; for example, they cry less when given sugar solutions before surgery, and they appear to appreciate the taste of glutamate in their mother's breast milk.
Tastes that newborns "hate" are certain bitter tastes (not all bitter tastes) and sour tastes, and when babies taste sour tastes, they can really get "mixed expressions"!
4. The food that the mother consumes during nursing is also passed to the infant via breast milk.
Many moms may be unconcerned about this, but studies have shown that the flavor of the mother's diet is also transferred in breast milk, and the infant is able to detect it.
As a result, it is typically suggested that women avoid eating too much "heavy" food when nursing, as the infant may get furious and irritated after drinking breast milk. Of course, each baby is unique, but in general, it is advisable to consume a nutritious and light diet.
Although newborns have lower eyesight than adults, they are not inferior to adults in terms of smell, and are even more "acute" than adults.
According to one study, newborns sense odor components in human perspiration better than adults (Loos et al., 2017). Infants can detect the odors of amniotic fluid, breast milk, and formula, and prefer the scent of breast milk (Marlier and Schaal 2005), most likely due to its relaxing and soothing impact on newborns.
2. Newborns can smell their caretakers and identify them.
Infants may recognize their carers based on their scent. One study discovered that newborns reacted differently to breast milk donated by their own mothers than to breast milk donated by other stranger mothers (Mizuno et al., 2004); another study found that the smell of breast milk could soothe newborns who had just undergone surgery, but only if the breast milk came from their own mothers (Nishitani et al., 2009).
3. Newborns can also taste different flavors and may prefer sweet flavors
Newborns' tastes are similar to adults', and they can detect sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, and salty sensations. However, before newborns are formally introduced to supplementary meals, they are drinking milk, so their taste buds are not fully opened, and when they begin to give complementary foods, they may experience other flavors!
According to one research, infants may exhibit a predilection for sweet flavors; for example, they cry less when given sugar solutions before surgery, and they appear to appreciate the taste of glutamate in their mother's breast milk.
Tastes that newborns "hate" are certain bitter tastes (not all bitter tastes) and sour tastes, and when babies taste sour tastes, they can really get "mixed expressions"!
4. The food that the mother consumes during nursing is also passed to the infant via breast milk.
Many moms may be unconcerned about this, but studies have shown that the flavor of the mother's diet is also transferred in breast milk, and the infant is able to detect it.
As a result, it is typically suggested that women avoid eating too much "heavy" food when nursing, as the infant may get furious and irritated after drinking breast milk. Of course, each baby is unique, but in general, it is advisable to consume a nutritious and light diet.