Robert Pattinson recently opened up about one of the joys of parenthood that many new parents can relate to: the irresistible scent of his newborn. During a recent Vogue interview, the 38-year-old The Batman actor gushed about his and Suki Waterhouse’s 10-month-old daughter, saying, “I remember people used to be like ‘oh, don’t you like the smell of babies,’ but I thought they were just smelling the baby powder. But then I had a baby, and I was like, ‘My baby smells incredible.’ There’s something there, I can identify her. She doesn’t smell like other babies.”
While his sentiment is endearing, science explains why new parents, like Pattinson, are so captivated by their little one’s aroma. Newborns have a distinct scent that’s more than just charming—it’s a biological phenomenon with profound implications. So, what exactly is “new baby smell,” and why does it leave parents in awe?
Related: Robert Pattinson gushes about his 3-month-old daughter and how he’s ‘already’ discovering her ‘personality’
What is ‘new baby smell,’ and why is it so powerful?
That “new baby smell” isn’t just an adorable quirk. It’s a combination of hormones, natural oils, and vernix (the waxy coating on a newborn’s skin). According to research published in Frontiers in Psychology, this scent is so distinctive that it’s immediately recognizable to parents and others who come into close contact with newborns.
The science behind your baby’s one-of-a-kind scent
As Pattinson pointed out, every baby has their own one-of-a-kind scent. This uniqueness helps parents like him bond with their babies in a deeply personal way. Studies suggest that individual differences in skin microbiota and natural secretions contribute to the subtle variations in scent between babies. These variations strengthen the parent-child bond, making a baby’s smell truly one of a kind.
How your baby’s scent is designed to bring you closer
Scientists believe this scent plays a role in triggering bonding, activating pleasure centers in the brain, and even promoting protective instincts in caregivers. In an evolutionary sense, it’s part of what helps keep babies safe and nurtured. Research on maternal behavior published in the Journal of Neuroscience found that exposure to infant odors activates brain regions associated with reward and motivation. This powerful biological response ensures parents feel drawn to care for their newborns, strengthening the bond essential for survival.
Why your brain can’t resist that newborn smell
Neuroscience shows that a baby’s scent activates the brain’s reward centers, triggering responses similar to enjoying your favorite food or falling in love. A study from the University of Montreal found that mothers can identify their own baby by scent alone.
Related: That newborn baby scent is addictive—science explains why
Why the new baby smell doesn’t last forever
The unique scent of a newborn is most potent in the early months of life, often peaking in the first few weeks. This fragrance, linked to natural oils and chemicals in a baby’s skin, is strongest in those early weeks as they adjust to the outside world.
As babies grow, their body chemistry changes, and the smell gradually fades. While this makes the scent feel even more special, it also adds to the bittersweet nature of parenthood—the realization that such precious moments are fleeting.
A fleeting but powerful connection
The intoxicating scent of newborns isn’t just a passing affection—it’s rooted in biology, designed to bond parents and babies. Though temporary, these moments leave a lasting impression, reminding us of the magic in parenthood’s simplest joys.
Sources:
- Maternal status regulates cortical responses to the body odor of newborns. 2013. Frontier. Maternal status regulates cortical responses to the body odor of newborns.
- Compositional Variations between Adult and Infant Skin Microbiome. National Library of Medicine. Compositional Variations between Adult and Infant Skin Microbiome: An Update.
- Dual Circuitry for Odor–Shock Conditioning during Infancy. The Journal of Neuroscience. Dual Circuitry for Odor–Shock Conditioning during Infancy: Corticosterone Switches between Fear and Attraction via Amygdala.
- Mothers’ recognition of their newborns by olfactory cues. National Library of Medicine. Mothers’ recognition of their newborns by olfactory cues.
