That new baby smell
Would someone please tell me what that new baby smell is all about?
I have a pretty sensitive sniffer – not quite as keen as a dog’s, but damn close – and I don’t know what the hell people are talking about when they sniff babies’ heads and go, “Ahhhhh….” like they just took a drag off a cigarette.
Of course I sniff my kids; I think they smell wonderful, even after they’ve been running around all day and they come home drenched with sweat. But I don’t want to sniff anyone else’s children. I’ll hold them and snuggle them and kiss their plump little cheeks, but you won’t catch me breathing them in the way I do my own kids.
I have my own interpretation of new baby smell, and it’s one of my favorite memories of all three kids as babies. There are two components – breastmilk breath, and breastmilk poop.
After eating, that lingering scent of milk in a baby’s mouth – it’s utterly delicious. I purposely put my nose up to Oliver’s mouth even now after he’s finished nursing. It’s worth a few bite marks.
I can still enjoy breastmilk breath, but breastmilk poop is long gone. Breastmilk poop is a short-lived phenomenon – it disappears even before solid foods are introduced. I wish I knew how to prolong it. Breastmilk poop is not only easy to clean up and inoffensive to the senses, I think it actually smells good. Really. Like warm, toasted bread.
Now, I never stuck my nose in any of my babies’ diapers (although I will shamelessly sniff their rear-ends after a bout of red-faced straining, just to see if they actually produced anything that necessitates a diaper change). But compare a six week old baby with a soiled diaper and a six month old baby with a soiled diaper. The breastfed newborn will smell markedly better than the oatmeal-and-squash-fed baby.
So I’ll have to stick to mouth-breathing as I change Oliver for the next two years (at least), but I’ll keep dodging his teeth if only to prolong the breastmilk breath.
——————————
My lovely and inimitable friends, Kristen of Motherhood Uncensored and Rebecca of Girl’s Gone Child, are in the home stretch of their pregnancies, which can only mean two things. One, they can finally have a good drink again; and two, they could really use a good shower.
While Catherine, Katie, Liz and I would much rather shower these two ladies in person, due to rising fuel costs and nursing babies, we’ll have to settle for doing it online – with the help of Beau-coup Favors and Gifts and Cool Mom Picks.
So go on over to Mo’ Babies and find out how to get involved!
September 19th, 2008 at 5:12 am
“Breastmilk poop is not only easy to clean up and inoffensive to the senses, I think it actually smells good. Really. Like warm, toasted bread.”
You know how they say you learn something new every day? I would’ve never guessed in a million bazillion years that THAT would be my fact for today. Thank you for making me laugh, MGM! Have a great weekend!
September 19th, 2008 at 6:38 am
I must admit to liking the breastmilk poo much better than the current varieties. A LOT less stink. But I have a better understanding of the new baby smell. Its a combo of placental fluids (which smell sweet believe it or not), fresh bathing, and that lotion that smells like nothing else. I’m telling you, there is nothing out there that can compare to the smell of your own children though. You’ll always know it and you will be able to recognize it even if you’re struck blind and separated for a month. Its that great!!
September 19th, 2008 at 7:11 am
[...] That New Baby Smell [...]
September 19th, 2008 at 7:16 am
Okay, while breastmilk poop is 100% less offensive than the “real stuff,” it doesn’t smell GOOD. I’d say it’s less like “warm, toasted bread” than raw sourdough.
As for that new baby smell, it’s indescribably delicious. Warm, sweet and snuggly. I love the smell of all newborn babies, but once they’re 5 months old or so, they can’t compete with my own spawn.
Marketing Mommys last blog post..Checking off my list
September 19th, 2008 at 7:21 am
Yeah, I get the new-baby smell thing. It’s something more than Johnson’s Baby Shampoo and breastmilk. I’ll sniff babies, with no shame.
And while I’m not *drawn* to the smell of breastmilk poop, I’ll grant you that it’s a whole lot more pleasant than that which comes later.
Kates last blog post..Thirteen Days
September 19th, 2008 at 7:36 am
I thought I was the only one who liked the breastmilk poop smell!
mayberrys last blog post..Stock up on snuggles
September 19th, 2008 at 8:22 am
I too have fond memories of breastmilk poop. Violet’s often smelled like popcorn and buttermilk.
September 19th, 2008 at 8:35 am
Honestly, I cannot remember the breast milk poop smell but the baby breath – yeah! that is a great one. Baby Boy still has baby breath even with the multitude of foods he is ingesting nowadays.
Krystals last blog post..Kristen’s Baby Shower: Baby Days
September 19th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Oh breastmilk breath. I also sniff my baby’s mouth after she nurses because its just so yummy. And I do miss the breastmilk poo smell. Although I have to admit that the more solid stuff is a whole lot easier to clean up.
Caras last blog post..The Swim Moms
September 19th, 2008 at 10:31 am
New baby for me means breastmilk, lavender soap and Dreft.
Marias last blog post..This is Your Nation on White Privilege
September 19th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
For me, its Dreft, which I keep sniffing like an insane person. Although I’ve always been a bit unsure as to whether the new baby smell IS Dreft or if Dreft just smells like new babies. (P.S. Thank you so much for doing this shower. You’re awesome. Love you mad.)
GirlsGoneChilds last blog post..Shower the People You Love… With Memories and Mega Rad Prizes!
September 19th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
The sour milk smell in a baby’s mouth combined with their soft fuzzy head.
Delicious.
Breastmilk poop. Distinct, but still poop.
Thank you a million times over…
Motherhood Uncensoreds last blog post..I’m Having a Baby So Apparently That Means You Get to Win Shit
September 19th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
My son (baby #2) had so many folds that the milk would drip under his chin and be there for days until it really smelled sour. Except I couldn’t smell the sour smell, he still smelled like baby boy to me.
Baby D (my #3) hasn’t started solids yet, so we still have the breastmilk poops. Yeah, I kind of like the smell too. Yes, it’s still poop, but it’s new baby poop and that, to me, is a wonderful thing since I didn’t think I’d ever smell that again.
Heathers last blog post..They Think We’re Awesome
September 19th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Oh, I’ll sniff a baby ANY day! But you’re right: Their breath is the best. I still sniff my 3 year old’s breath. I think it has to do with the pacifier at night… Old spit smells good? I don’t know, but I’m addicted.
September 20th, 2008 at 11:33 am
I am a sucker for the smell of my kids’ feet. I hate feet otherwise, but I’m crazy for those little fat things.
jenboglass (steenkybee)s last blog post..The Friday Five
September 20th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
I loved the smell of breastmilk breath too. And newborn poopy diapers? The best. My son is now 16 months – I am generally on diaper duty (doodie)because my husband can’t take the smell. They need to have awards for mommies. I will gladly take one of those baby shower gifts as my award!
Renée aka Mekhismoms last blog post..Do Something
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:26 am
I think it is partially their new new new, fresh from the universe skin that smells nice. It is released from their warm brains while they are thinking about pooping.
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:35 am
I never much got the new baby smell, but that breastmilk breath? I LOVE it! Sweetly soured milk on the baby’s warm breath. My ovaries hurt just thinking about it!
caramamas last blog post..Why My Baby Was Worth It
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:13 am
After my daughter was born, I went to the move theater just to buy buttered popcorn. Every time I would smell her, she smelled like buttered popcorn, and so the post-pregnancy cravings began. Delicious.
KayleighJeannes last blog post..Blame It On The Rain
February 22nd, 2009 at 6:34 am
I admitted to my husband that I liked the sweet smell of our newborn’s dirty diapers and he gave me the strangest look… It’s nice to know I’m not the only one, I whole-heartedly agree with the caramel-buttery kettlecorn description, and at ten weeks old I guess I can look forward to it a little while longer. I’ll have to make a point to smell his breath, can’t say as I ever have. I think it’s a biochemistry deal that attracts mothers to their babies, after all with breastfeeding everything that comes out of baby came from you first, everything they are is amazingly created from you.