2 min read · Around weeks 21–24 of pregnancy
You eat a strawberry. A piece of mango. Something spicy for dinner.
And somewhere inside, your baby is surrounded by their own tiny sensory world.
At around six months pregnant, your baby's taste buds are developing — and this is one of those small pregnancy facts that makes the person inside your bump feel suddenly much more real.
Can your baby actually taste what you eat?
Not in the same way you do.
Your meal does not travel directly to your baby. Nutrients reach your baby through the placenta, while your baby is surrounded by and swallows small amounts of amniotic fluid.
By around 22 weeks, taste buds are developing, and NHS guidance notes that they may be influenced by what you eat.
A tiny sensory world before birth
Taste is only one part of what is developing.
At six months, your baby is also increasingly experiencing sound, movement and touch inside the womb.
Your heartbeat, your voice, the movement of your body and the fluid surrounding them all form part of an environment that changes throughout the day.
Should you eat certain foods so your baby likes them later?
There is no need to turn this into another pregnancy task.
You do not need to eat broccoli because you want a future broccoli-loving toddler — and you definitely do not need to create a prenatal tasting programme.
Follow the pregnancy nutrition guidance given by your healthcare team and enjoy variety where you can.
And after birth?
After your baby arrives, sensory discovery becomes something you can actually watch.
At first, it is wonderfully simple: your face, voice, touch, strong visual contrasts and the feeling of being held.
Hello World Kit | 0–6 months
Your baby's sensory world is already developing before birth. The Hello World Kit continues that journey after your first hello with thoughtful visual, sensory and motor experiences for the first six months.
Discover the Hello World Kit
Frequently asked questions
Can a baby taste in the womb?
Taste buds develop during pregnancy, and by around 22 weeks they are continuing to mature while your baby swallows amniotic fluid.
Can what I eat influence my baby's experience of taste?
NHS guidance notes that your baby's developing taste buds may be influenced by what you eat, although there is no need to follow a special diet for this purpose.
Do I need to eat specific foods for my baby's development?
No special tasting programme is needed. Follow appropriate pregnancy nutrition guidance and speak with your healthcare professional about your individual dietary needs.
The Owloo approach
Pregnancy is full of development you cannot see.
Sometimes the smallest facts make it feel the most real.
A little taste. A little sound. A whole new world taking shape.
Written by Tina Krapez, Owloo Co-founder & COO
Tina Krapez is the Co-founder and COO of Owloo, where she helps create thoughtful products and educational resources supporting families from pregnancy through their baby's earliest development.
Sources and further reading
