Welcome to follow me to provide you with more valuable professional parenting knowledge.
A baby's sense of smell develops in the womb, and when they are born, the baby is able to smell the smell around them like a **.
Because smell is closely related to taste, it affects what babies like to eat and what they don't like to eat.
Familiar scents, including your scent and the aroma of their favorite places, can make your baby feel comfortable and help bond with you and other caregivers.
Additionally, natural scents such as lavender can help soothe and calm the baby.
Your baby's sense of smell plays an important role in their development.
It is closely related to their sense of taste and therefore influences what they like to eat.
But scent also has a strong connection to your baby's mood and plays a key role in the process of making a connection.
When will my baby's sense of smell develop?
Your baby's nose begins to form during the first trimester of pregnancy.
A few weeks later, two small nostrils appeared.
By 10 weeks, the receptors your baby uses to detect odors have formed.
Babies begin to use their sense of smell in the womb.
As they breathe and swallow amniotic fluid, they become familiar with the smell of amniotic fluid.
This is useful because the smell is similar to that of the mother's breast milk, which is what they need soon after birth.
Your amniotic fluid also carries with it the smell and taste of the food you eat, so your unborn baby will also be familiar with the aroma of the fish you eat for dinner!
Newborns have a very well-developed sense of smell. While your baby can't recognize you by sight yet, they will recognize you by your natural scent, which is what they want to smell the most.
They will also be attracted to the smell of your breast milk. These scents are associated with 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 a strong connection between a particular smell and an experience.
So, after a few years, a certain scent may trigger your baby's memories and remind them of a time or feeling from the past.
How does my baby's sense of smell develop?
The baby's sense of smell is highly developed at birth, similar to the sense of smell of **.
One study even found that newborns were more sensitive to the odor component of sweat than adults.
Freshmen
As a newborn, your baby will be familiar with your unique scent.
They can even smell the difference between your breast milk and that of other women.
By recognizing your scent, they will feel comfortable and safe knowing that they are with you.
You can help them identify your scent by not using strong or aromatic skincare products.
When you cuddle your baby and smell each other, you both feel higher levels of the hormone oxytocin.
This so-called love hormone can help you bond with your baby.
1 month
Your baby is getting used to different smells but will still find the strong smells unbearable.
The strong smell can even interfere with their sense of taste.
Continue to avoid strong perfumes and strongly-scented products, as they can mask your natural scent.
3 months
Your baby is getting to know the different people around him. They use their sense of smell to distinguish between acquaintances and strangers.
If they feel scared or threatened by someone's scent, they may cry or kick.
6 months
When your baby starts eating solid foods, they use their sense of smell and taste them to decide if they like new foods.
If they like the aroma of prepared food, they may respond by smiling, making gestures, or making sounds.
Your baby's scent preferences may be similar to yours, especially since they're used to the smell of some of your favorite foods while they're in the womb.
12 months
By around 10 months, your baby may be less inclined to try different foods.
Their sense of smell helps them decide what they absolutely don't like.
If they don't like the smell, they'll tell you!
Can a specific smell soothe my baby?
Yes. Familiar scents, especially those of mom or dad, can make babies feel very comfortable.
In addition to being able to tell when you're nearby, your baby can sense whether they're in a stroller, car, or a specific room in the home just by smell.
If your baby needs to be soothed, staying in a favorite place with a familiar smell can help calm them down.
Lovey, such as stuffed animals or blankets, can also produce a scent that can reassure your baby.
That's why if you wash it, they may appear unhappy, no matter how much you think it needs to be cleaned!
Natural** scents, such as aromatic essential oils, can also calm your baby.
One study found that babies with colic colic responded well to lavender massage oil and seemed to find it soothing.
However, it is not clear whether massage or lavender oil has a sedative effect.
Another study found that the use of aromatic** with lavender and sweet almond oil reduced stress in premature infants.
When using essential oils, do not apply them directly to your baby's **.
Some oils can be harmful, and babies and children may be particularly sensitive to their effects.
Instead, use a baby lotion or baby lotion that has a calming scent, such as lavender and chamomile.
Alternatively, place a few drops of oil in a diffuser and keep it safe out of your baby's reach.
The scent of the oil will gradually be released in your home.
Try different essential oils to see which one your baby reacts to and which one seems to be soothing.