Early Temperamental Reactivity and Infants’ Responses to Novel Foods at 6 Months of Age

Abstract Objectives Since infant food acceptance is linked to diet quality and the development of food preferences, it is important to identify factors related to infants’ reactions to new foods. Temperament, or biologically-based differences in reactivity, has been associated with responses to new foods in childhood, but less research has focused on infancy. The objective of this study was to examine associations between infant temperament at 4 months and responses to new foods at 6 months. Methods Mother-infant dyads (n = 78; 62% male; 97% non-Hispanic white) participated in study visits when infants were 4 and 6 months of age. At 4 months, infants were video-recorded during tasks designed to elicit temperamental reactivity: 1) viewing 3 mobiles (containing 1, 3, and 7 stuffed bears) for 60 seconds each; and 2) listening to a recording of nonsense syllables spoken at 3 different volumes (Kagan & Snidman, 1991). Trained coders scored the presence of negative reactivity (i.e., crying) in 5-second intervals. An experimenter also rated the child's happiness and irritability during the visit on 9-point scales. At 6 months, mothers fed infants a new food (green beans or hummus). Trained coders scored the presence of negative affect (crying, fussing), positive behaviors (e.g., smiling, leaning forward), and food refusals (e.g., turning head) in 5-second intervals. Coded behaviors were summed and divided by the number of coded intervals. Results Regression models were used to test whether temperament (i.e., negative reactivity, happiness, and irritability) at 4 months predicted responses to the new food at 6 months. After controlling for age of solid food introduction (weeks), greater observed negative reactivity at 4 months was associated with more food refusals at 6 months (β = .30, p = .01). Higher happiness scores at 4 months were associated with less negative affect in response to the new food at 6 months (β = −.30, p = .01). Conclusions Temperamentally negative infants may be at risk for difficulties accepting new foods at the beginning of complementary feeding. Parents of these infants could benefit from strategies, such as repeated exposure, to increase new food acceptance. Future research should examine whether early difficulties with food acceptance persist across infancy and beyond. Funding Sources National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).