Any parent can tell you about that new baby smell, and no, we’re not talking about dirty diapers. All that time you spend kissing, hugging, and showering your baby with love, you’ve probably noticed it, too. If you feel like that sweet smell you breathe in when your nose is near their head feels addicting, you’re not the only one!
Is a ‘new baby’ smell addicting?
Does it ever seem like you can’t get enough when you breathe in the smell of your newborn baby to the point it's addicting? You may be right. Here’s some quick background on smell. Science shows that smell influences our brains. It triggers memories, informs us if something is rotten or toxic, and creates positive connections with things we like and love.
When you hold your baby close and breathe them in, a chemical bond builds between you and your little one. One study showed that this unique new baby smell causes areas of the brain responsible for pleasure and reward to light up, even for women who aren’t moms! Scientists think that this new baby smell is meant to help elicit the maternal response of caring for and protecting a newborn.
While having a baby is undeniably an amazing experience, taking care of one isn’t always the most glamourous. There are diaper changes, cleaning up after spit up, and getting little sleep. Their scent among other physical qualities (like their chubby cheeks) keeps you falling in love and strengthening the need to care for them.
Why do newborns smell so good?
Scientists aren’t exactly sure why newborns give off such a distinct, pleasant smell for their first few weeks of life, but they have a couple of thoughts. One idea is that the smell comes from their sweat glands and correlates with metabolism changes. Around the time that their metabolism changes due to the shift in getting nutrients from the umbilical cord to other means of feeding, that special scent starts fading.
Another idea is that the smell comes from the protective coating they’re born with. When babies are born, they are covered with a white way substance called the vernix caseosa. It’s a protective coating that keeps them safe from infection and prevents their delicate skin from getting wrinkled by all the fluid inside the womb. While it’s cleaned off after they are born, it’s thought that this is could be the reason for the smell you love so much lingering on your little one.
If you thought you were the only one mesmerized by the scent of your newborn, you’re not alone. That new baby smell you recognize is a real thing and makes your bond stronger.
Disclaimer: PerkinElmer and ViaCord do not endorse or make recommendations with respect to research, medications or treatment. All information is provided for informational purposes only.
Resources:
JML. The importance of the olfactory sense in the human behavior and evolution. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3018978/
Frontiers in Psychology. Maternal status regulates cortical responses to the body odor of newborns. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00597/full
Women’s Health. Why Do Babies Smell So Good? https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a19913476/new-baby-smell/
Healthline. Benefits of the Vernix Caseosa During Pregnancy and Delivery. https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/vernix-caseosa
