In the News
Expecting and new parents may be curious about their baby’s five senses – smell, touch, taste, sight and hearing – and when and how they develop. According to Fadiyla Dopwell, M.D., developmental-behavioral pediatrician at Pediatrix® Developmental Medicine of Dallas, baby’s sense of touch, which develops early in gestation, helps them connect with their caregivers and offers feelings of warmth and security. Because of this, parents of newborns are encouraged to practice skin-to-skin with their babies, and it is especially important for premature babies, said Dr. Dopwell. Hearing starts to develop as early as 16 weeks gestation. “Like the other systems, the auditory system continues to develop after birth and helps an infant explore the world,” said Dr. Dopwell. Your baby starts to hear your voice in the womb, and can then recognize you after birth, noted Dr. Dopwell. This aids in their ability to form secure attachments with their primary caregivers. As the months go on, their sense of hearing helps with language development, she said.
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