Importance of the nose and sense of smell for a toddler

A toddler’s nose is more than a cute spot on your toddler’s face; though relatively small, it plays an important role in how a kid thrives and develops. True, a toddler’s nose is an important gateway to discovery and good health.

Why a toddler’s nose is important:

Just like a toddler learns about his surroundings from tasting and touching, he/she does so by smelling also. A newborn recognizes the scent of the mother’s nipples and distinguishes her milk from strangers. The sense of smell increases rapidly during the first six months, the reason why they have a strong sense of smell than their parents and grandparents. But your toddler’s sense of smell is not always reliable for   poisons or expired and bad smelling food; they acquire this skill only when they are 2 years of age when they recognize the foul smell of things like a poopy diaper.

A toddler’s nose can tempt his/her taste buds as the sense of smell and taste is linked closely together by what is known chemosensory system. You can tempt your toddler to take a bite of a veggie casserole by pointing out how good it smells.

 
Your toddler forms memories by its nose as the brain of a child uses a lot of data collected by the nose to imprint memories; the reason why your little one is soothed by the scent of your scarf during preschool drop-off. So you could make him/her remember an event by referring to the smell of the place like Grandma’s delicious turkey or the smell of the sea air.

Your toddler’s nose helps him/her to stay healthy; your tot’s little sniffer acts as a filter. As your toddler breathes in, the tiny hairs in his/her nose removes germs, dust, and other irritants from the air. Also the nasal passage warms and moistens the air that helps keep the lungs healthy. Stuffing up the little nose can make your toddler feel miserable. So clear his/her nasal passages and make breathing easy by  propping up your toddler’s head with pillows under the crib mattress or extra pillows on his bed.

Lastly it is best to understand that your toddler’s nose keeps changing and grows through his/her teenage years.

Image Courtesy: Google