HOW TASTE DEVELOPS IN YOUR CHILD

The sense of taste is very important to our wellbeing and it develops right from the womb. From 0-9 weeks whilst in the womb, the growing baby develops the first taste buds as the mouth and tongue form – This is where the mother plays a part in the development of the taste buds.

In the mother’s womb, the unborn child is surrounded by amniotic fluid which is breathed and taken in. This helps with the development of the breathing and digestive system. The food and drinks the mother takes during this period is important as it flows through the blood stream into the amniotic fluid – a means through which the child experiences flavours. This is why mothers are advised to eat varied healthy foods during pregnancy.
When the child is born, the buds are fully formed but very sensitive. While the sweet taste might be preferred, like the taste of breast milk, sour taste is also recognized.

In the first three months, a baby knows sweet and bitter taste. The taste buds are distributed in the tongue, tonsils and the back of the throat. Within the next few months, as the tongue grows, the sense of taste quickly develops. While salty foods are not advised in the first six months, your baby can recognize the taste from the age of five months.

As different foods are introduced from six months up to a year, your child gets to know different tastes. Your child might be wary of them at first but gets used to the different tastes with time. This is the reason care professionals’ advice parents/guardians to offer new food to a child at least six to eight times before deciding that the child does not like it.

A child would likely prefer foods that he/she was exposed to in the womb but with exposure to a variety of foods, the child would accommodate more. On an important note, studies have shown that the different flavours in the breast milk can help your baby develop a wide range of taste that would make the child more open to a variety of foods later in life.

Professionals’ advice that parents/guardians start with fruits and vegetables when introducing solid foods, as they appeal to the sweet taste without the sugar. However, the child would tend to prefer the sweet tasting ones ahead of strong tasting ones. As we age, the buds are not replaced so adults tend to like stronger-tasting foods but not your baby.

Helping your child explore different foods can be helpful as well. Too much salty and sugary food can cause dental decay and the developing kidneys of your child might not be able to process them.
In addition, extra care should be given during the ‘mouthing stage’ – when the child tends to put anything into the mouth – as objects could hurt the mouth, tongue or even the child’s health. From the age of 18 months, a baby will likely move past the mouthing stage.

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