Have you ever wondered how far away can a baby smell breast milk? This is an interesting and hot topic for new mothers, let’s discuss it!
What is Breastfeeding and Why is it Important?
Almost all of us are aware of the innumerable benefits of Breastfeeding, but still, we are going to list them out here today. Breast milk consists of nutrients that are crucial at the early stages of an infant. Your baby’s growth and development all depend upon how consistently and adequately you’ve been feeding your baby. Human milk comprises several ingredients which are capable of fighting diseases and at the same time provide strength to your baby’s body. Also, regular intake of breast milk keeps your baby’s immunity strong.
An essential thing to note is that breast milk consists of immune molecules, also known as antibodies, that keep the diseases away and kill the germs and various bacteria at an early stage.
The mother’s immune system builds these antibodies, which get transferred to the child. When any germ or virus infects the baby, these immune cells get activated and help combat the disease. These antibodies in the form of milk get transferred to the baby via the mother in the next feeding.
How Far Away Can A Baby Smell Breast Milk?
It is a fact that babies smell their mothers from 2 feet away, which means babies can smell the breast milk from a distance of two meters.
This is because babies are attached to their mother for nine months, during which they develop a strong feeling with their mother. Babies can sense their mother’s presence even when they are sleeping. This is magical and good to know.
Can a Baby Smell the Breast Milk During Feeding?
The answer to the above question is Yes. As a baby is amicable to his or her mother in the womb for nine months, he or she would be very much close to what their mother smells like, and hence they can smell their mother’s milk from quite far.
What Causes the Baby to Smell Breast Milk from Far Away?
Nipples are the main reason behind the fact that newborns can smell their mother’s milk from far away. The nipples produce a potent substance, and the baby smells it. As per the specialists, the substance produced by the nipples contains a ‘good bacterium,’ which makes your baby’s immune system more robust and healthier as and when the baby inhales it.
At what Age the Smelling Power of Babies Gets Activated?
Mothers usually ask these questions about when their babies start to smell or the exact age when their baby starts smelling this. Well, it is from the very beginning that your baby can smell things. The nose does not have any connection with age. Nose and smelling senses do their work accordingly.
Moreover, at the time of your pregnancy, probably between 6 weeks and seven weeks, odors processing neurons start developing, also known as “Olfactory Neurons“.
So, during the 7th and 8th week, two symmetrical nasal cavities responsible for smelling odors get formed, and smelling sensors are activated.
Myths Regarding Breastfeeding
Breast milk is the perfect meal for a newborn baby as it is full of nutrients, antibodies and also keeps a balance between calories and fats. Nursing can be a lifetime experience for a mother; however, she might be trapped under false information that can turn into myths that have to be corrected instantly.
Myth 1
Your breast size determines the amount of milk you can produce.
Fact
The size of the breast has nothing to do with the amount of milk a mother can produce. It is nowhere stated that women with small breasts have low milk production.
Women’s breasts come under mammary glands, which have no connection with size. Hence, there’s nothing to do with size, and you can produce a significant amount of milk for your baby no matter what your breast size is.
Myth 2
Your baby cannot smell your breast milk.
Fact
Many people think that newborns are not capable of smelling things. But today, we are here to clear this myth that newborns have a higher instinct for smelling things. Their smelling senses are strong, and they can easily smell your breast milk.
We hope that we answered your question about how far away can a baby smell breast milk and enriched you with other interesting facts and knowledge about breastmilk. Share your thoughts with us, we’d be happy to hear from you!
