I don’t care how nice your perfume is

 I don’t care how nice your perfume is.

If you hand my baby back smelling like you, I’m instantly irritated.

Babies are supposed to smell like milk and skin and comfort.
Not your cologne.
Not your signature scent.
Not whatever you sprayed in the car on the way over.

That smell sticks.
It messes with feeding.
It messes with their nervous system.
And honestly it messes with me.

This isn’t dramatic.
This is biology and bonding and a brand new human who knows my smell as safety.

Hold the perfume if you want to hold the baby.