08/11/2025
Mums .. grow your connections with your baby bond and support growth if your baby’s brain
https://www.facebook.com/share/1Bh2MqjiM7/?mibextid=wwXIfr
When a parent smells their baby, it’s not just cute or pleasant—it actually triggers a network of brain areas that create deep feelings of love and bonding. The ventral striatum, part of the brain’s reward system, responds strongly, making the baby’s scent feel pleasurable and motivating the parent to care for and protect the child. It’s like the brain is saying, “this is amazing, I need to nurture this little human.”
The orbitofrontal cortex also activates, helping the brain process emotional and social meaning. It recognizes that this is their own baby and makes the connection feel important and urgent. The amygdala, which handles emotions, adds intensity to the feelings, while the hypothalamus can trigger hormones like oxytocin, boosting attachment and affectionate behaviors. All these regions work together to create what scientists call the brain’s “love circuit.”
In simple terms, a baby’s scent doesn’t just smell nice—it sparks deep emotional and reward pathways that naturally draw parents toward their baby. This is why parents feel instinctively pulled to hold, cuddle, and comfort their child, reinforcing bonding right from the earliest moments. Studies show these responses are strong in both mothers and fathers, forming a biological foundation for parental love.
Research PMID: 38850226 , PMID: 24046759 , PMID: 3691966
