Louise 
How Your Baby’s Senses Are Developing – Week 18 and Beyond
By 18 weeks pregnant, your baby is about the size of a sweet potato (but let’s not get into fruit and veg analogies — we’ve all seen enough of those, haven’t we?). What’s truly exciting is how your baby’s senses are developing on the inside.
This is the point in pregnancy when your baby’s senses are really starting to come online. This means they’re starting to interact with the world around them in their own little way. Explore my Antenatal Classes for guidance and expert insights throughout your pregnancy.
Let’s take a peek inside your womb and see what’s developing this week…
Hearing: Starting to Tune In
Around now, your baby’s ears are developed enough to start detecting sounds. Though it’s still a bit muffled in there, like being underwater with a pillow over your head.
They’ll hear:
- The whooshing of your blood
- The rhythm of your heartbeat
- Your tummy gurgling away
- And yes — your voice, from the inside out
It won’t sound crystal clear just yet, but your baby is beginning to recognise the rhythm and tone of your voice. This means that chatting, singing, and even reading out loud can start building that special connection already.
(If you’re someone who sings in the car or talks to yourself while folding laundry — congrats, you’re already bonding with your baby.)
Smell: Getting Ready to Sniff
Your baby can’t exactly smell anything yet — there’s no air in the womb — but the olfactory system (the part of the brain that processes smell) is forming. Understanding how your baby’s senses are developing can be fascinating.
From around 28 weeks, your baby will start to inhale amniotic fluid, which contains flavours and scents from the foods you eat. So even now, you’re shaping their future taste buds and preferences. Amazing, right?
(If you’ve been craving spicy food or living off toast, don’t worry — there’s no “right” diet, but variety is great if you can manage it.)
Taste: Tiny Tastebuds at Work
Your baby’s taste buds are already formed, and by 18 weeks, they’re starting to connect to nerves that send signals to the brain. While your baby’s nutrition still comes through the placenta, they are swallowing amniotic fluid. That fluid reflects what you’ve been eating. Your baby’s senses development may contribute to their dietary preferences later.
Studies show babies can develop a preference for certain flavours before they’re even born. So don’t be surprised if your baby later loves garlic, curry, or whatever you were eating on repeat in pregnancy.
Sight: Slowly Switching On
Your baby’s eyes are in place and developing, but their eyelids are still fused shut (they’ll open around 26 weeks).
Although they can’t “see” in the way we do, they can detect light and dark. If you shine a torch on your belly, your baby might move away or towards it. Even now, they’re beginning to process what’s happening outside the womb, which marks another milestone in how your baby’s senses are developing.
Touch: Already Reaching Out
Touch is one of the first senses to develop — and by 18 weeks, your baby can feel their own body and surroundings.
You might not feel those movements just yet (especially if it’s your first pregnancy or you have an anterior placenta), but your baby is busy exploring their new environment:
- Touching their face
- Sucking their thumb
- Nudging the walls of your womb
In fact, studies show they even respond to being gently prodded from the outside. Your baby really is becoming more aware of the world around them.
The Honest Take
At 18 weeks, your baby is starting to experience their world in ways you can’t quite see or feel yet. But it’s happening as your baby’s senses continue to develop.
They’re hearing your voice, tasting your dinner, reacting to light, and getting curious about their own little body.
So talk to your bump, play your favourite music, eat what makes you happy, and don’t stress about doing everything “perfectly.” You’re already doing the most important job — growing your baby’s body and their senses, one magical week at a time.
