What babies like the taste of

Children love sweet flavours. Whether it’s chocolate or a sweet juice. In fact, babies already prefer the taste of sweetness while still in the womb. And that’s also where all their taste buds develop. Why babies prefer sweet things and what else you need to know about the development of your little one’s sense of taste, you will find out in this guide.

The development of the sense of taste in the womb

As early as the eighth week of pregnancy, your little bundle of joy's first taste buds become visible. The sense of taste functions from the 14th week just as it does in an adult. Around the 6th month of your pregnancy, your baby has more taste buds than at any other time in their life. However, the number of taste buds decreases again towards the end of the pregnancy and after birth.

This is what babies can taste in the womb

Genetically, people generally prefer sweet tastes. Sweet is a so-called safety flavour. Because the brain associates this with quick and good sources of energy. Even in the womb, your baby prefers a sweet taste. That’s why amniotic fluid already tastes sweet.

You are already training your baby's sense of taste while still in the womb. Your diet actually changes the flavour of the amniotic fluid slightly. This way, you are constantly stimulating your little one’s sense of taste and it is having various taste experiences. What you eat during pregnancy has a direct influence on what your baby will later prefer. The same applies to nutrition during breastfeeding.

This is what babies can taste after birth

Your baby's sense of taste is already very well developed after birth. The tongue is in fact the most highly developed sensory organ. For now, it remains the case that babies prefer sweet things. Even breast milk has a slightly sweet taste. Newborns, in theory, can taste not only sweet but also sour and bitter. Sour and bitter tastes, however, are rejected by babies because they can be a sign of unripe or spoiled food. From the fourth month of life, babies are then also able to taste salty flavours. Umami is also added, that is, the taste of protein-rich, meaty, savoury food.

Taste preferences can still be easily influenced. However, children often need to try things several times before they come to like the taste.

Sweet remains the preferred taste of babies. Nevertheless, avoid sweetened drinks, as they can promote the development of tooth decay, even if the milk teeth have not yet appeared.

Your diet during pregnancy and while breastfeeding therefore has a direct impact on the development of your baby's sense of taste.

Are you interested in the development of your baby's sense organs? Feel free to take a look at our guide on the subject. Listen and See with babies.

More articles

my junior® is a pram manufacturer from Aachen. We have made it our mission to be your To accompany happiness and your Making everyday life with a baby easier. The my junior® range now includes various pushchair and buggy models, all of which have been thoroughly tested and certified. In addition to our lucky companions, we offer numerous accessories for everyday life with a baby. Our prams are developed together with midwives, physiotherapists, and experienced mums and dads developed and produced in Europe with great love and expertise.

Discover the world of prams now