Katrina Rosales
Many new parents ask visitors not to wear perfume around their newborn babies. This is because a baby's sense of smell is highly sensitive, and they use it to help them understand their world. Exposing a baby to strong perfumes may be distracting for them, and could even be dangerous, as they are full of foreign and strong chemicals. Additionally, the mother-baby bond and memories that develop through the human sense of smell are important, and a newborn may have trouble recognising their mother's scent if it is masked by perfume.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Tone | Polite, respectful |
| Reasoning | Newborns are sensitive, interference with bonding, potential health risks |
| Alternative | Requesting visitors to wash their hands, wearing a blanket between the visitor and baby, babywearing |
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What You'll Learn
The impact of perfume on newborn lungs and asthma in infants
While smell is important for newborns in bonding with parents and other immediate family members, it is not the only mechanism for bonding. According to Professor Frasnelli, babies born without a sense of smell will still form strong attachments with their mothers. However, since babies' noses are more sensitive than adults, Professor Frasnelli recommends not using perfume or using it sparingly around newborns.
Indeed, some individuals may experience fragrance-induced asthma, with artificial fragrances acting as respiratory irritants or sensitizers. Perfumes are triggering because they are commonly made with chemicals derived from coal tar and petrol, which help them stick to the object they are sprayed on. While there is no clinical evidence that perfume impacts the lungs of newborns or causes asthma in infants, Asthma Australia's senior manager of research, Anthony Flynn, suggests that it may be beneficial to reduce the number of foreign and strong chemicals that infants are exposed to.
Furthermore, infants and children have greater metabolic rates and activity levels, leading to higher inhalation rates on a per-body-weight basis and higher inhalation exposure than adults at the same air concentrations. As such, parents often request that visitors refrain from wearing strong perfumes around their newborns.
To politely ask family members not to wear perfume around your newborn, you could say something like, "Newborns are so sensitive, and we'd really appreciate it if everyone washed their hands before having cuddles and refrained from wearing strong perfume around the baby. Thank you!"
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The potential for perfume to damage a newborn's skin
Perfumes and colognes are often loaded with artificial fragrances, which can be harmful to a newborn's skin. The skin of a newborn baby is soft and sensitive, and it takes time for it to mature. When a newborn is exposed to perfumes, the chemicals in these fragrances can get absorbed into their skin, potentially causing skin irritation and allergic reactions.
Chemically fragranced cosmetic and skincare products may cause several problems for a child's developing body. Products with "fragrance" on the label may contain hundreds of chemical substances, such as phthalates, alkylphenols, ethanol, acetone, and other substances. These chemicals can harm a newborn's skin and increase the risk of health problems.
Additionally, the sense of smell is essential in the bonding process between a mother and her baby. A baby's sense of smell is highly sensitive, and they use it to navigate their world. If a mother uses a lot of perfume or other chemical substances, the strong scent may distract the newborn and interfere with their natural bonding process.
To reduce the potential impact on newborns, it is recommended to avoid using perfumes or artificial fragrances on or around them. Instead, opt for natural, phthalate-free products, such as plant-based oils like sweet almond oil, natural coconut oil, or black sesame oil.
Furthermore, it is essential to be mindful of the potential risks of exposing infants to unnecessary chemicals. While asthma has not been clinically linked to perfume exposure in newborns, reducing the number of foreign and strong chemicals they come into contact with is generally advisable. This includes avoiding second-hand smoke and ensuring proper handwashing before holding a newborn.
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The effect of perfume on the mother-baby bond
The sense of smell is important for newborns in bonding with their parents and other immediate family members. A newborn baby's sense of smell is highly sensitive, and they use it to help them understand their world.
A newborn baby will not be able to recognize their mother by sight right after birth, but they will know her by her natural scent. This is because the neonate is bathed in amniotic fluid that conveys the mother's chemical ecology, so once born, the infant is already programmed to recognize its mother's odour. The smell of amniotic fluid is also similar to that of breast milk, which helps with nursing.
Exposing newborns to familiar smells, especially the natural smells of their parents, can be very comforting and soothing. A wide range of natural smells can work as a stimulation of a newborn's senses, helping them to form neurological connections and evolve different brain centres. They will link smells with moments and feelings, forming a deeper understanding of the world around them.
However, if the mother is changing her body odour by using a lot of chemical substances, including perfume, it may be distracting to the newborn as it will be a foreign smell. The baby will still develop a strong bond with their mother regardless, but because their noses are more sensitive than ours, it is recommended to avoid using perfume or to use it sparingly.
Some parents choose to ask visitors to avoid wearing strong perfumes around their newborns. While there is no clinical evidence that perfume impacts the lungs of newborns or causes asthma in infants, it might be beneficial to reduce the amount of foreign and strong chemicals that newborns are exposed to.
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How to politely ask people not to wear perfume around your baby
It is common for parents to ask visitors not to wear perfume around their newborn babies. Newborns have a highly sensitive sense of smell, and strong scents can be overpowering for them. It is also important for newborns to bond with their parents and immediate family, and strong fragrances can interfere with this process.
Be direct but polite
You can simply ask people not to wear perfume when they visit your baby. For example, you could say: "Please don't wear perfume when you come to see the baby. We want to protect them from strong scents." This is a direct but polite way to make the request.
Explain the reasons
You could explain the reasons behind your request, such as: "Newborns have a very sensitive sense of smell, and strong fragrances can be overwhelming for them. We want to protect their health and well-being." This approach provides information and helps people understand why you are making the request.
Blame it on the doctor
If you feel uncomfortable asking directly, you could blame the request on your paediatrician's advice. For example: "Our doctor advised us to keep strong fragrances away from the baby, as they can be harmful. So we're asking everyone to avoid wearing perfume around the baby."
Focus on the baby's sensitive skin
If the person insists on wearing perfume, you could mention the baby's sensitive skin: "We've noticed that the baby has sensitive skin, and we're worried that perfumes or fragrances could irritate it. So we're asking everyone to avoid wearing strong scents around the baby."
Remember, it is ultimately your decision how you want to protect your baby, and most people will understand and respect your wishes. Picking your battles is also important, and you may want to consider the relationship dynamics and the person's reaction before making the request.
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Alternatives to perfume to make your baby smell good
It is common for parents to request that visitors refrain from wearing perfume or other fragrances when visiting their newborn babies. This is because babies have sensitive skin and noses, and strong scents may irritate them.
Instead of using perfume to make your baby smell good, there are several alternative options to consider. Firstly, keeping your baby clean and dry will naturally result in a pleasant scent. Using mild, fragrance-free soaps and lotions can also enhance this. Products designed specifically for babies, such as those from Johnson & Johnson, Dove Baby, Aveeno, Shea Moisture, and Burt's Bees, are ideal choices. These brands offer a range of soaps, lotions, and body washes with gentle formulas and appealing scents like lavender and honey.
If you prefer scented options, Babo Botanicals offers a range of pretty-smelling lotions, while Honest lotion and body wash provide both unscented and scented options, including sweet orange vanilla and lavender. It is important to choose products that are safe for babies' skin and to avoid overly scented items that may cause irritation.
Additionally, you can consider using natural alternatives like chamomile and argan oil or lavender and vanilla essential oils to impart a subtle and soothing fragrance on your baby's skin and create a pleasant aroma.
Remember, the "new baby smell" is often cherished, and keeping your baby clean and dry is usually sufficient to maintain that delightful aroma.
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Frequently asked questions
You can politely inform visitors that your baby has sensitive skin and request them to refrain from wearing strong perfumes or fragrances. You can also cite the advice of a pediatrician or blame it on your baby's allergies.
While there is no clinical evidence that perfumes can impact a newborn's lungs or cause asthma, exposing infants to foreign and strong chemicals may be harmful. Additionally, fragrances could potentially damage a newborn's skin or cause irritation, especially if the baby has sensitive skin.
A baby's sense of smell is highly sensitive, and they use it to understand their world and form bonds with their parents and family members. By avoiding perfumes and fragrances, you can protect your baby from confusing scents and allow them to develop a deeper connection with you through your natural smell.
