--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Babies know how to crawl to the breast…" description: "\"“Babies know how to crawl to the breast and, through touch, smell and sight, find the areola (that is why it darkens during pregnancy) and nipple. When..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/gabrielle-palmer-891_birth_babies-know-how-to-crawl-to-the-breast-a_1939446.jpg" --- # Babies know how to crawl to the breast and, through touch… ![“Babies know how to crawl to the breast and, through touch, smell and sight, find the areola (that is why it darkens during pregnancy) and nipple. When a baby reaches his target he opens his mouth wide and starts suckling. If undrugged, his reflexes are at a peak just after birth and he knows…” quote by Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/gabrielle-palmer-891_birth_babies-know-how-to-crawl-to-the-breast-a_1939446.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/gabrielle-palmer-891_birth_babies-know-how-to-crawl-to-the-breast-a_1939446.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/gabrielle-palmer-891_birth_babies-know-how-to-crawl-to-the-breast-a_1939446.jpg) > ““Babies know how to crawl to the breast and, through touch, smell and sight, find the areola (that is why it darkens during pregnancy) and nipple. When a baby reaches his target he opens his mouth wide and starts suckling. If undrugged, his reflexes are at a peak just after birth and he knows exactly what to do.”” [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Newborns possess innate reflexes that guide them to locate and latch onto the breast using sensory cues. **In simple terms:** Babies instinctively find and suckle the breast. Key Takeaway Support natural feeding instincts. Themes infancy biology feeding development Mood nurturing informative Type educational clinical When to use this quote - newborn care - lactation consulting - parent education Key Concepts reflexes sensory integration maternal bonding Questions to Reflect On - How can caregivers support infants with weak reflexes? - What role does skin‑to‑skin contact play? A Different Perspective If the infant is preterm, reflexes may be immature, requiring assistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Birth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth/) ## Related quotes > [“Babies can translate the nutrient needs of their tiny bodies into their suckling behaviours, but medical rules based on mistaken theories have sabotaged their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/babies-can-translate-the-nutrient-needs-of-their-tiny-bodies-into/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“Early suckling helps expel any fragments of placenta and stems post-natal bleeding; it also prevents engorgement, mastitis and abscesses which could lead to infection,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/early-suckling-helps-expel-any-fragments-of-placenta-and-stems-post/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“Some lactation specialists suggest aiming your nipple toward your baby’s nose and then directing it down to the lower part of your baby’s upper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-murkoff/some-lactation-specialists-suggest-aiming-your-nipple-toward-your/) [Heidi Murkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-murkoff/) > [“The bonding effects of suckling can be stronger than giving birth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/the-bonding-effects-of-suckling-can-be-stronger-than-giving-birth/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [The suckling relationship is one of the sources of real sweetness that we have in human existence...The suckling baby can teach adults about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ina-may-gaskin/the-suckling-relationship-is-one-of-the-sources-of-real-sweetness/) [Ina May Gaskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ina-may-gaskin/) > [Suckling frenzy at rubber breast. 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