Does the newborn baby find the nipple by smell?

doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(94)91645-4

The Lancet

Volume 344, Issue 8928, 8 October 1994, Pages 989-990

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(94)91645-4 Get rights and content

Abstract

We studied the involvement of naturally occurring odours in guiding the baby to the nipple. One breast of each participating mother was washed immediately after delivery. The newborn infant was placed prone between the breasts. Of 30 infants, 22 spontaneously selected the unwashed breast. The washing procedure had no effect on breast temperature. We concluded that the infants responded to olfactory differences between the washed and unwashed breasts.

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Citation Excerpt :
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Short ReportsDoes the newborn baby find the nipple by smell?

Abstract

Physiol Behav

Physiol Behav

Infant Behav Dev

Physiol Behav

Lancet

Short Reports
Does the newborn baby find the nipple by smell?