Being a parent offers the incredible privilege of witnessing firsthand how a brand-new human interacts with the world around them. From their first taste of solids, their earliest encounter with a beloved household pet, to their response upon hearing mum’s voice after hours of separation, every sensory experience is fresh, worthy of being savoured and offers a glimpse into the big and boundless world from a baby’s eyes. But besides novelty, the inner workings of children, and much less newborns, can give clues to why their surroundings hold such fascination for them. 

The Senses of a Newborn

Babies are born with all 5 senses — that is sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. These senses were formed way before they were born and can be experienced even during pregnancy. A foetus’s sense of hearing, for example, kicks in at around 18 weeks of pregnancy, enabling them to hear their mother’s heartbeat. While all 5 senses are present at birth, not all of them are fully developed until months or even years later. 

Sight

Sight is the last sense to develop in a foetus. In the first few months post-birth, a newborn’s vision remains blurry, only focusing at close proximity, such as the distance between a mother’s face and theirs when held close. They are also unable to perceive colours vividly, recognising only bright colours, and black and white contrasts, which they enjoy. Their eye movements may lack coordination, causing them to occasionally appear cross-eyed.

With polka dots, stripes, bold colours and friendly faces, mothercare’s cot spiral is a sight for little, curious eyes

A baby’s vision gets more refined as they grow, especially in the first year of their life. The first few weeks are marked by grasping how to track objects with their eyes. Colour vision and depth perception develop at around 5 months, while their focus gets better over the span of 2 to 3 years. A child’s hand-eye coordination improves distinctly between 1 to 2 years of age. An adorable soft book, such as this, provides a jump-start for keen eyes easily captivated by pop-out bears and a bright yellow sun.

Sound

A newborn’s sense of hearing is fully functional at birth. During gestation, the ears begin developing as early as the second month, after which they pick up their first sounds at around 18 weeks. That is why most mothers describe experiencing kicks and movements in response to sounds from the outside world, such as loud noises and familiar voices, particularly in the final stage of pregnancy.

Keep baby’s interest piqued with mothercare’s M Play Twisted Rattle offering endless fun and discovery 

This hearing-related memory is carried into babies’ lives after birth. Newborns can recognise mothers from their voices which can help in bonding and attachment. Their advanced hearing should also trigger them to startle in response to sudden loud sounds or react subtly to everyday noises. At 3 months, a baby can be soothed by their parents’ voices, and by 6 months, they will begin to appreciate rattles and various sound toys. This stage is also where they are shown to be able to determine the direction a sound is coming from.

Smell

Newborns exhibit a keen sense of smell. In the first trimester of pregnancy, a baby’s nose starts to form and by 10 weeks, they will have developed receptors for detecting smells. The olfactory sense in newborn babies is so advanced that they are able to distinguish their mother’s scent, and prefer her breast milk over other mothers’. Research has found that significant skin-to-skin contact during breastfeeding might contribute to infants’ better recognition of their mothers. 

Breastfeed on-the-go with mothercare’s lightweight breastfeeding shawl that promises convenience and privacy

Because newborns’ sense of smell is highly sensitive, they are easily bothered by strong smells, such as perfumes and certain fragranced skincare products.

Taste

Although a newborn’s diet consists only of milk, they actually possess a distinct sense of taste — so much so that they can detect changes in their mother’s breast milk. Generally, babies prefer a sweet taste over sour or bitter ones. They may react negatively, such as pulling away or grimacing, to flavours they dislike. They have also demonstrated a preference for breast milk over formula. It is said that flavours from a mother’s diet passed into the milk are most palpable 1.5 to 3 hours after consumption.

Preserve the nutritional value and taste experience for your little one with mothercare’s handy bottle warmer that can accompany them well into toddlerhood

While adults experience five taste dimensions — sweetness, saltiness, bitterness, sourness, and savouriness — newborns only experience four, with the outlier being saltiness. Over time, as a baby begins to try solids, they might accept or reject a food based on your dietary habits during pregnancy too. This is because the baby is surrounded by amniotic fluid inside the uterus, and the flavours of what you consume may transfer into the amniotic fluid. Thus, eating a wide and healthy variety of foods both during and after pregnancy should not be neglected.

Touch

People used to believe that babies, especially premature babies, couldn’t feel pain. However, babies start to develop touch receptors as early as 2 months in the womb. Moreover, it’s been found that they only develop the capacity to feel pain around 24 to 25 weeks into the pregnancy. Today, the topic of newborn pain is undisputed, and repeated sensations of pain are even discovered to cause short- and long-term issues in their growth. 

Your baby will be a bundle of comfort and joy with mothercare’s soft and breathable natural cotton muslin swaddle

It goes without saying then that there are benefits of a loving touch in a baby’s development. For a fact, babies love to be held close and comforted, and this contact can help to calm, relax and support their activities such as sleeping and feeding. Most significantly, newborns find warmth and security in being cuddled. Experts suggest that this could be due to their habit of being tucked in the womb — making swaddling a brilliant technique for emulating that safeness and helping them sleep and settle easier. 

Stimulate and Develop Your Baby’s Senses with mothercare

Promoting your baby’s development of all five senses, especially in their first year of life, is extremely important for their mental and physical health. While children do grow at a remarkable rate, we as parents also have a part to play in bolstering and ensuring their well-being. 

From the pleasurable sight of a colourful baby toy, the delightful clatter of a handheld rattle, to the comforting scent and taste of freshly expressed breast milk, and the relaxing touch of a gentle swaddle, there are so many opportunities to be explored. Here in Malaysia, mothercare stands as the premier go-to destination for parents — where they can seek out quality baby-caring solutions that fit into their individual needs and preferences.

Browse our online selection now where an arsenal of baby products are ready to help strengthen your baby’s growth. Or, drop by our experience stores at Suria KLCC and Tropicana Gardens Mall where you can touch and feel them firsthand. 

Discover the essentials for your baby’s journey with mothercare — your partner in parenthood, childhood and beyond.