Development of food choice during infancy

Abstract

Human infants are unique amongst mammals in having an extended period when, by virtue of their physical immaturity, food selection is a problem as much for the parent as for the infant. Indeed, the first choice which many mothers make concerning their infant’s diet is often before birth, namely the decision to feed from the breast or from the bottle. This choice has major consequences for the subsequent development of feeding and sleeping patterns in the infant, which in turn place constraints on when other foods are introduced into the diet. This review will first examine the inter-relationship between feeding method and sleep/meal patterns in early infancy and discuss the implications this interaction has for decisions mothers make as to when they should introduce solids into the diet of their infants. It will then examine the techniques that mothers commonly use to manipulate food intake and the food preferences of the preschool child.