Postnatal Taste & Smell Development
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Neonates. Research with new
babies shows they prefer sweet tastes from birth and will choose to suck
on bottles of heavily sweetened water but will turn away or cry if given
something bitter or sour to taste.
We assume newborns can smell because we know they can taste, and these
are the two most closely related of the human senses.
4-7 Month Old . This is often the period when
your doctor may suggest the addition of solid foods to your baby's diet.
If this is the case, you'll want to select his foods carefully, introducing
one new food at a time. Not only does this help you pinpoint any food
allergies (cf. ) that may occur, but it also helps
you discover which tastes your baby likes best.
8-12 Month Old. By this age, your baby may have a pretty good
idea of which tastes she likes and which ones she doesn't. Don't be discouraged
if she seems to prefer only one or two kinds of foods. By continually
offering foods with a variety of tastes and smells, you'll be sending
the message that they are always available and you'll be surprised the
day she decides to try something new.
1-2 Year Old . With their new-found language
skills, toddlers will tell you which things he likes the taste of and
which ones he doesn't. You can help him label tastes and smells by using
descriptive words during mealtime or outside trips. Don't forget to offer
him a variety of foods to taste.
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Introduction
