The Smell Of A Baby

Some of you are likely about to think I’ve completely lost my mind but I’m about to tell you about how much I LOVE the way my baby smells.  Ok – before you decide if I’m crazy or not let me clarify – I don’t mean his dirty diapers because man – those could clear a room.  I’m talking about the way that my baby smells when I close my eyes and breathe in the smell of the top of his sleeping head.

I think most moms would agree that one of the very best parts of being a mom is getting to snuggle a sleeping baby.  There is nothing like it.  I love the way they snuggle into your body and sleep so peacefully without a care in the world.  They trust you completely to protect them from the world and it’s enough to melt anyone’s heart.  I’ve spent hours trying to memorize every curve of my baby’s face and the way he fits into my arms because I know that he won’t stay this small for long.

While holding a baby have you ever noticed that intoxicating “baby smell.”  Not the “omg you just pooped” smell but the sweet smell of baby shampoo and something that I can only define as “baby.”  If you have ever held a baby you probably know what I’m referring to.  I LOVE the way my baby smells. I could spend all day snuggling him with my nose stuck in his soft hair if he would let me.

Smell is such an interesting sense.  Smells can link and be directly associated with memories.  Will you ever forget what your grandmother’s perfume smelled like?  Cinnamon and peppermint remind me of Christmas.  Lemon and Orange remind me of summer.  But people actually have their own specific scent too.  If you are a mom of a young baby and have ever held someone else’s child for a few minutes have you ever noticed that they do not smell the same as your own?  Not only that but it’s likely that they didn’t smell nearly as good to you.

There have been actual studies done that show that mothers have been able to identify their infant blindfolded using their sense of smell alone.  Similarly, studies have shown that babies can identify their mothers by smell too. How amazing is that!?  I feel like sometimes the sense of smell is overlooked or overshadowed by sight and touch but I feel just as connected to my sons by smell as by sight and touch.  Studies have also shown that smelling a baby can have the same uplifting effects as your favorite food and can be addicting because it literally makes moms feel good.  I can personally attest to the calming effect that my baby’s scent has on me.  Snuggling him and smelling his sweet baby smell is even better than the bowl of M&M’s sitting in front of me and let me tell you – I LOVE chocolate.

Unfortunately, the baby smell doesn’t last forever.  Sometime between age one and three – I can’t recall exactly when this happened with my older son – the sweet, innocent baby smell is replaced with a different smell.  The smell that is distinctly little boy – the scent of dirt, sweat, mischief, and fun.

So before my almost one year old loses that intoxicating baby smell I intend to snuggle, cuddle him, and smell him as much as I can because I know that time is limited and before long these sweet moments will be gone.  Hold those babies close mamas.  They don’t stay little long. <3

Soaking up the newborn baby smell with my firstborn Photo Credit: Portraits by Karen McCall – karenmccall.com