Infants may look helpless, but science says they’re actually equipped with some pretty powerful mechanisms to ensure their survival, like big eyes, soft skin and chubby cheeks — all the traits that make our hearts melt and compel adults to care for them despite the explosive diapers, spit up and sleep deprivation. And, of course, there’s that new-baby smell.
The top of a new baby’s head is probably one of the most delightful scents in existence, right up there with freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and salty sea air. But your baby’s delicious aroma is more than just pleasant — it might help the two of you connect in his early days of life.
What do babies smell like?
Poll a bunch of new parents on what their newborns smell like, and you'll likely hear a bunch of different answers. That’s because every baby smells differently.
Generally, there’s some kind of a pleasant, sweet, slightly cheesy odor that accompanies a newborn in the first few weeks of his life — but the specific notes vary from baby to baby. One mom will say her little one smells like a combination of soap, milk and fresh bread. Others will simply describe their new little ones as "sweet."
That unique smell is present the instant a baby is born, whether it’s via C-section or vaginal delivery. It lasts for a few weeks and then gradually fades away.
That smell has a powerful effect on humans. Research published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology monitored the brain activity of 30 women (15 who’d recently given birth and 15 who had never given birth) while they smelled shirts that had been worn by 2-day-old infants who were unfamiliar to them.
The results were unsurprising but also fascinating: Both groups of women showed brain activity in areas associated with reward-related behavior and stimuli like tasty food or a drug. In other words, the smell of infants really is intoxicating!
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Why do babies smell good?
This remains a bit of a mystery in the scientific community — both what exactly makes newborn babies smell the way they do and why they smell that way.
There’s limited research on the subject, but many experts theorize that the "what" behind the newborn scent is the vernix caseosa. That’s the white, waxy coating that protects your baby’s skin in utero and holds in moisture. (Think of it as natural Vaseline.)
During birth, vernix — which covers your baby’s body — is thought to act as a lubricant that helps your baby along his journey through the birth canal. It also protects him from vaginal bacteria and helps to regulate his temperature.
After birth, the vernix caseosa helps his skin adapt to life outside of the womb. It’s typically washed off after about 24 hours, but the scent may linger on the baby’s hair and skin.
As for the "why," newborn smell likely plays a role in parent-child bonding. Scent has been shown to trigger memories, protect us against harmful toxins (such as when we smell rotten food) and bind us to things we love. It makes evolutionary sense to have babies smell so good — and thus be so enticing — to parents and caregivers, especially given how messy birth and early child-rearing is.
On the flip side, some research shows that moms with bonding difficulties don’t prefer the smell of their own babies and are less able to identify it. But until there’s more conclusive evidence, this all remains just a fascinating theory.
What can a newborn baby smell?
Babies are typically born with all five senses, and are able to smell from birth. (They start developing their sense of smell very early on in the womb!)
The ability to smell helps them learn about their environment, and recognizing the scent of breast milk makes feeding easier for them. Babies can even tell the difference between breast milk and other liquids thanks to their growing senses of taste and smell.
Your baby’s sense of smell also seems to help him bond with you. Research has shown that babies show preference for clothes that have been worn by their own mothers, and bond more easily with strangers if the person wears something that smells like mom.
Babies are also calmed by the scent of their own mothers, as well as mom’s milk (but not that of other mothers, or of formula). To that end, hospitals commonly put "scent cloths" that have their parents’ smell on them in preemies' NICU beds to help soothe them during their hospital stays.
Although the newborn scent will eventually dissipate, moms will tell you that they continue to love the smell of their own kids. Many parents report loving the smell of their babies long into toddlerhood and beyond. And while it probably won’t last into the days when your big kid comes home sweaty and gross after playing in the dirt with his friends, the memory of that new baby smell isn’t likely to fade.
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