NATURAL ODOR PREFERENCES OF NEWBORN-INFANTS CHANGE OVER TIME

At their first sucking contact, neonates prefer an unwashed breast to a washed one, but an amniotic fluid (AF)- treated breast over a ''natu ral odour'' breast. We examined the development of these neonatal olfa ctory preferences. On days 3-4 significantly more babies still selecte d their mother's unwashed breast (n = 21) than the washed alternative (n = 8). Preferences for natural breast odours were more pronounced fo r girls than boys. In a subsequent experiment comprising another 28 ba bies, the number of babies who selected a naturally scented (n = 9) vs an AF-treated breast (n = 19) on days 2-5 were not reliably different . However, babies who selected the natural breast had longer pre-test maternal contact and had spent more time breastfeeding. Ten babies who chose the AF breast in the latter experiment were tested in the same manner several days later; all preferred the naturally smelling breast . While preferences for AF fade after birth, responsiveness to natural breast odours may be enhanced by postnatal experience.