Premium
Natural odour preferences of newborn infants change over time
Author(s) -
Varendi H,
Porter RH,
Winberg J
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1997.tb15184.x
Subject(s) - medicine , breastfeeding , breast milk , breast feeding , obstetrics , breast development , pediatrics , hormone , biochemistry , chemistry
At their first sucking contact, neonates prefer an unwashed breast to a washed one, but an amniotic fluid (AF)‐ treated breast over a “natural odour” breast. We examined the development of these neonatal olfactory preferences. On days 3–4 significantly more babies still selected their mother's unwashed breast ( n = 21) than the washed alternative ( n = 8). Preferences for natural breast odours were more pronounced for girls than boys. In a subsequent experiment comprising another 28 babies, the number of babies who selected a naturally scented ( n = 9) vs an AP‐treated breast ( n = 19) on days 2–5 were not reliably different. However, babies who selected the natural breast had longer pre‐test maternal contact and had spent more time breastfeeding. Ten babies who chose the AF breast in the latter experiment were tested in the same manner several days later; all preferred the naturally smelling breast. While preferences for AF fade after birth, responsiveness to natural breast odours may be enhanced by postnatal experience.