Taste – Is an intriguing aspect of a baby's sensory experience, as they react to the activation of their taste receptors when things are introduced into their mouth. Interestingly, research suggests that babies may begin to detect flavors of foods their mother consumes while they are in the womb. This early exposure to various tastes can potentially influence their preferences and responses to different flavors later in life. It's fascinating to consider how prenatal experiences can shape a baby's sensory perceptions even before they enter the world.
Studies indicate that by 3 months of age, a baby's tongue has grown, and they begin to explore their surroundings by putting objects into their mouths. This behavior serves to develop their sensory perception of textures and tastes.
Smell – Is another intriguing aspect of a baby's sensory experience, as they react to the activation of chemical receptors in their nose. Research indicates that a baby's sense of smell begins to develop in the first trimester of pregnancy. By around 10 weeks in the womb, babies may start to detect smells. This early development of their olfactory system allows babies to begin exploring the world of scents even before they are born. Find further information - babycentre article
At the onset of this developmental stage, your baby will primarily recognise you through your scent. They will start reacting to various smells in their environment, gradually expanding their olfactory awareness (sense of smell).
Sight - Vision involves the reaction babies experience when light receptors enter their eyes and form a representation. An interesting fact is that both babies and adults cannot sneeze with their eyes open. Explore more baby facts about eyesight here.
During this phase of development, your baby will likely show an increased interest in you and may begin to track moving objects with their eyes. For more details on vision development, please refer to the corresponding section further along in this guide.
Touch – Is the response elicited from the touch receptors in a baby's skin. An intriguing fact is that the skin is the largest organ in the human body.
At this stage, babies start integrating both sides of their body, exploring their hands and feet and experiencing different sensations through touch. This tactile exploration helps them make sense of their surroundings and enhances their understanding of the world.
Hearing – Hearing involves the response to sound through the mechanics in a baby's inner ear. Research indicates that babies may not perceive a full range of sounds until around 6 months of age, as their brain is still developing in that area. For more information on baby hearing, consider reading the article by Joanne Lewsley babycentre.
In the coming months, you'll observe that your baby starts to recognise familiar sounds.
Body awareness –Body awareness involves the data that infants' brains receive from stretch receptors in their muscles and pressure receptors in their joints, enabling them to start comprehending the positioning of their bodies. According to Catherin Holecko baby's larger muscles develop first.
Balance – s stimulated by the vestibular system of the inner ear, which sends signals to the brain to help individuals understand their body's orientation in relation to gravity. Interestingly, it's worth noting that our balance tends to deteriorate with age.
Over the next few months, babies will gradually strengthen their muscles, particularly their core muscles, and begin to develop their balance skills.
