In previous studies, newborn infants placed on their mother's chest grasped a nipple and sucked without assistance. Furthermore, neonates sucked preferentially from an untreated breast rather than the alternative breast that had been washed to eliminate its natural odour. This study investigated the influence of breast odours per se on orientated physical movement of neonates. In total, 22 babies were observed during two trials on a warming bed. In one trial, a pad carrying the mother's breast odour was placed 17 cm in front of the baby's nose; in the other trial a clean pad was used. More babies moved towards and reached the breast pad than the clean pad.