Question

“Food preferences developed in infancy set the stage for lifelong food habits”. The author suggests that the feeding relationship can help to develop trust and security in an infant. What do you think about this topic? How might parental attitudes toward food influence very young children?

Answer 1

The infants learn about the food preferences after they are exposed to different tastes of food. The breastfed infants have more exposure to a wide variety of food tastes than that of formula fed infants. This is because the food tastes are passed to the infant via the breast milk from the mothers. Different food tastes are accepted more among the age group of 4 to 7 months than after one year of life. Older aged infants select food according to their needs to meet their normal growth. Food preferences are learned through experiences but genetic predisposition plays a role in liking or disliking a taste.

Trust and security in a relationship is very important. This can be met by meeting the needs of the infant and giving them attention. While feeding the infant there should be interaction. If the infant is given little food without interaction the infant will refuse the food as a way to gain attention.

Whether it is breastfeeding or formula feeding the parent should hold the infant and give them attention and care while feeding. Placing the infant in a baby carrier while feeding can cause detachment in a relationship. Feeding time is the best time to build a good relationship by cuddling, stroking, interacting and maintaining eye contact him the infant.