Here's a breakdown of the five senses babies are born with and how you can encourage their development:

Touch:

Babies have a highly sensitive sense of touch. To support touch development:

Provide gentle skin-to-skin contact, especially during feeding and cuddling.
Use different textures in their environment and play, such as sourcing toys made of wood, wool, and silk.
Engage in gentle massages to stimulate their sense of touch.

Taste:

Babies have taste preferences even at birth. To support taste development:

Don't hold back from enjoying a variety of foods while breastfeeding. The taste of your milk can change depending on what you eat, which is a wonderful way to introduce variety to your baby even before they start solids.
Introduce different tastes through solid foods when they are ready. Your baby's first foods don't have to be bland. Exposure to varied flavors is an important sensory experience!

Babies have a strong sense of smell that helps them recognize familiar scents, especially their mother's scent. To support smell development:

Hold your baby close to your skin to help them recognize your scent.
Introduce them to different scents in their environment, such as flowers or food.

Babies are sensitive to sounds and voices from birth. To support hearing development:

Speak to your baby in a soothing and gentle voice, allowing them to become familiar with your voice.
Play soft music to provide auditory stimulation.
Respond to their coos and babbles, engaging in simple conversations.

While babies are born with limited vision, their sight improves over time. To support visual development:

Hold your baby close and make eye contact to help them focus on your face.
Use high-contrast patterns and colors to capture their attention.
Provide opportunities for visual exploration by placing age-appropriate toys within their line of sight.
Supporting the development of your baby's senses through responsive and thoughtful interactions fosters their overall growth and understanding of the world around them.