The Baby's World Through the Nose

What you'll need

Baby held comfortably or in a supported seat. Three to four mild scented items within parent's reach. Avoid strong chemicals, essential oils, or anything irritating. Good ventilation.

How it works

1. 1~25s

   Let's start with the first scent. Pick something mild — baby lotion works great. Open it and hold it about four to six inches from your child's nose. Don't touch their nose with it — just let the scent drift. Watch your child's face closely. Does they react at all? You might see a change in facial expression, a little sniff, eyes widening, or maybe turning toward or away from the scent. What do you notice?

   Watch for: Baby shows a visible reaction to an olfactory stimulus — change in expression, movement, or attention.

2. 2~25s

   Now let's try a different scent — pick something that smells quite different from the first one. Hold it the same way, a few inches from your child's nose. Compare your child's reaction to the first scent. Does they react differently? Some babies love certain smells and wrinkle their noses at others. Does your child seem to prefer one over the other?

   Watch for: Baby shows different reactions to different scents, indicating developing sensory discrimination.

3. 3~25s

   For our last scent, let's try something very familiar to your child — your own scent! Hold a piece of your clothing or your wrist near your child's nose. Babies recognize their parent's scent from very early on — it's one of the first things they learn. Watch for a calming response, a smile, or your child turning toward you. Does they seem to recognize your scent? How does this reaction compare to the other scents?

   Watch for: Baby shows a distinct calming or positive response to parent's familiar scent, orienting toward it.

Visual example