EARLY FLAVOR EXPERIENCES - RESEARCH UPDATE (REPRINTED FROM PEDIATRIC-BASICS, VOL 82)

Anyone who has observed infants for any period of time can testify to the intense activity occurring in and around their mouths-the primary site for learning in the first few months of life. Before they are eve n able to crawl, infants have learned much about their new sensory wor ld. Through recent research we have begun to explore the impact of the se early experiences on infants' acceptance of solid foods and how the y explore objects in their environment. We have also begun to focus on the sensory experiences of the formula-fed infant, in particular, how their responses to particular formulas, which are extremely unpalatab le to older children and adults, change during infancy. This is a rela tively new and exciting area of study, with much research yet to be do ne. It is clear, however, that infants are not passive receptacles for flavored foods. Parents who offer a variety of foods will provide bot h a nutritious, well-balanced diet, as well as an opportunity for thei r children's own personal preferences to develop.