Development of Taste Sensation in Infants and Affecting Factors

Infants’ taste and olfactory chemosensory systems develop early in life and are open to learning. Early feeding experiences form an important part of learning to enjoy and accept the tastes and flavors of foods specific to the infant’s feeding environment and culture. The process of infants becoming accustomed to tastes begins with the intake of amniotic fluid in the womb and is a journey that continues throughout the breastfeeding period. The transition to complementary foods further increases infants’ exposure to flavors by introducing new foods into their diet. Although genetic factors can influence individual differences, repeated exposure to foods can shape innate taste preferences. Therefore, it is important to provide diverse food from an early age. This review underlines the important role of the sense of taste in infant food consumption.