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Sensory Development of the Neonate> Smell and Taste

Topics

Estimated time: 10 minutes

Introduction
Smell in Newborns
Taste in Newborns
Baby Responses to Stimulus
Real-Life Application
Key Points: Sensory Development of the Neonate> Smell and Taste

CISCE: Class 12

Introduction

Newborn babies have the sense of smell from birth, but their sensitivity to smells is low. The taste sense is weak at first, but it grows quickly after birth.

CISCE: Class 12

Smell in Newborns

Babies can react to different smells.
Pleasant smells attract their attention.
Unpleasant smells make babies turn their faces away.
Not many studies have been done about newborn smell sensitivity, but research shows that neonates can tell different smells apart.
If a newborn strongly smells a particular scent, they can become more active.
Some researchers believe smell sensitivity is poor at birth but grows over time.

CISCE: Class 12

Taste in Newborns

Taste sense is mostly absent at birth but develops very quickly.
In the first two weeks, infants show a positive response to sweet things and a negative response to bitter things.
Babies' taste sensitivity improves fast during the neonatal period.
To know how babies react to taste and smell, observe their facial reactions.
In one study, newborns sucked milk and glucose (sweet), but closed their mouths when given salty water.
A baby who is full can tell taste differences better than a hungry baby.
Some babies can react differently to quinine (bitter), salt, and sugar even on day one.

CISCE: Class 12

Baby Responses to Stimulus

Stimulus	Reaction	Facial Expression
Sweet (milk, glucose)	Sucks happily	Smiling
Bitter (quinine)	Turns away, negative	Grimacing, closed mouth
Salty water	Closes mouth, avoids	Frowning
Pleasant smell	Turns toward, calms	Relaxed, attentive
Unpleasant smell	Turns away, avoids	Face turned away, fussing

CISCE: Class 12

Real-Life Application

When babies are given milk or something sweet to drink, they suck and show pleasure. If they are given bitter or salty things, they stop sucking or close their mouth.

CISCE: Class 12

Key Points: Sensory Development of the Neonate> Smell and Taste

Newborns can smell from birth, but sensitivity is low and improves over time.
Pleasant smells attract babies, while unpleasant smells make them turn away.
Taste is weak at birth but develops quickly, with sweet tastes preferred and bitter or salty tastes avoided.
Facial expressions show reactions: smiling or sucking for sweet, frowning or grimacing for bitter or salty.
Babies respond better to taste when full, and sweet milk is most enjoyable for them.