Breast odour as the only maternal stimulus elicits crawling towards the odour source

In previous studies, newborn infants placed on their mother's chest grasped a nipple and sucked without assistance. Furthermore, neonates sucked prefe rentially from an untreated breast rather than the alternative breast that had been washed to eliminate its natural odour. This study investigated the influence of breast odours per se on orientated physical movement of neona tes. In total, 22 babies were observed during two trials on a warming bed. In one trial, a pad carrying the mother's breast odour was placed 17 cm in front of the baby's nose; in the other trial a clean pad was used. More bab ies moved towards and reached the breast pad than the clean pad. Conclusion: Natural breast odours unsupported by other maternal stimuli the refore appear to be sufficient to attract and guide neonates to the odour s ource.