In the previous issue, we discussed vision and hearing.
In this article, we will discuss the sense of Smell and Taste, which are functions of the nose and mouth.

SmellEven newborns have the same sense
of smell as adults.

Do you all know if babies can smell? When I was working in a neonatal unit, I experimented with something that smelled like ammonia (but gentler) near the baby's nose, but he looked very uncomfortable and turned his head away. What I learned from this experiment is that they have a very well-developed sense of smell.

It is said that newborns have developed their sense of smell to detect danger because their sense of sight is not well developed. The sense of smell is developed in the belly during pregnancy, and even newborns are said to have a sense of smell equal to that of adults.

From the separate gauzes soaked with the breast milk of several mothers, they clearly show a special reaction to the gauze of their own mother's breast milk. This is also evident in the following. In order for the baby to remember the mama's smell (body odor), we would refrain from using perfume, eau de cologne, aroma oil, and strong smelling soaps. Many recently used sterilization products also contain fragrances, so choose carefully when using them.

TasteMany enjoyable experiences lead to eating
without likes and dislikes

The sense of taste is controlled by what are called taste buds, which are small, rough protrusions on the surface of the tongue. These taste buds detect sweet, salty, salty-salty, delicious, sour, and bitter, and each of the five tastes has its own role.

Sweetness teaches the presence of carbohydrates as a source of energy.
Salty taste teaches the presence of salt and other minerals.
Umami teaches the presence of protein, an amino acid found in meat and fish.
These three are considered instinctively preferred tastes to teach the body what foods it needs.

On the other hand,
Acidity tells us of the presence of decaying matter.
Bitter taste tells us of the presence of a poisonous substance.
These two tell us that these are dangerous foods that should be avoided to protect the body.

The information sensed by the taste buds plays a very important role in determining whether or not something is necessary for the body. This information is then passed on to the brain, which sends a sign that the food is okay! and a sign is sent to the brain saying, "It's okay! So, it is natural to be uncomfortable with the bitter and sour tastes in bell peppers and spinach at first. They are tastes that we gradually become accustomed to through repeated experience. Don't immediately decide that you don't like a food just because you don't eat it, but try to make it easier for you to eat.

With weaning, children learn to appreciate food not only through taste, but also through the five senses, including texture, tongue feel, smell, temperature, and color. The environment in which food is eaten also has an effect. If the baby has many enjoyable experiences, such as eating happily with others or eating with friends, it will lead to eating without likes and dislikes.

We want to expose them to a variety of tastes and develop a variety of taste buds.