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Review
. 2017;6(2):190-196.
doi: 10.1007/s13668-017-0203-0. Epub 2017 Apr 29.

Are There Sensitive Periods for Food Acceptance in Infancy?

Gillian Harris  1 , Sarah Mason  1
Affiliations
Review

Are There Sensitive Periods for Food Acceptance in Infancy?

Gillian Harris et al. Curr Nutr Rep. 2017.

Abstract

Purpose of review: A sensitive period in development is one in which it is easier for learning to take place; the behaviour can however still be learned at a later stage, but with more difficulty. This is in contrast to a critical period, a time at which a behaviour must be learned, and if this window of opportunity is missed, then the behaviour can never be acquired. Both might determine food acceptance in childhood.

Recent findings: There is evidence to support the idea of a sensitive period for the introduction of tastes, a critical period for the introduction of textures and for the development of oral motor function, and a possible critical period for the introduction of new foods but only in children where there is an innate disposition to develop early and extreme disgust responses.

Summary: There are both sensitive and critical periods in the acquisition of food preferences.

Keywords: Childhood; Critical periods; Disgust; Feeding eating; Infancy; Neophobia; Oral motor function; Sensitive periods; Sensory hypersensitivity; Tactile defensiveness.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest

Gillian Harris is a member of Infant and Toddler Forum funded by an educational grant from Danone and is an occasional event speaker for Danone/Nutricia.

Sarah Mason declares that she has no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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