DEVELOPMENTAL-CHANGES IN THE ACCEPTANCE OF PROTEIN HYDROLYSATE FORMULA

To investigate the age-related changes in the acceptance of a protein hydrolysate formula, Nutramigen, and to determine whether infants' res ponse to a novel formula is related to their mothers' willingness to t ry novel foods, healthy infants, who were either 1 to 2 (Group 1) or 7 to 8 (Group 1 retested and Group 2) months of age, were fed their fam iliar brand of milk- or soy-based formula on one testing day and a cas ein hydrolysate formula, Nutramigen, on another. The data revealed tha t infants younger than 2 months detected the difference between Nutram igen and their regular formulas as evidenced by a slight, relative dep ression in intakes (p = .04). However, these infants drank substantial amounts of the Nutramigen and satiated while feeding it. In marked co ntrast, virtually all of the 7- to 8-month-old infants rejected the Nu tramigen (p = .000002), and this was evident within the Ist minute of the feed. Finally, there was a significant correlation between the mot hers' eating habits as determined by the questionnaires and the 1- to 2-month-old infants' response to Nutramigen. Mothers who exhibited a g reater willingness to consume novel foods (p = .003) or less food neop hobia (p = .04) had infants who consumed relatively more of the Nutram igen.