A La Carte Breast Milk

Breastfed babies are introduced to many different flavours and this may make them less likely to be fussy eaters, a new study suggests.

Previous studies have shown that a mother’s diet during pregnancy and breastfeeding can influence her baby’s taste preferences but this new study looked at just how much a mother’s diet can flavour breast milk.

A group of 18 women were asked to provide samples of breast milk before and after eating capsules containing various flavours including menthol, banana, caraway seed and liquorice.

The research, from the University of Copenhagen, showed that banana flavour could be detected in the milk for an hour after consumption, while menthol lasted for up to 8 hours. All flavours had disappeared from the breast milk after 8 hours.

The findings mean that mothers worried about certain flavours upsetting their babies tummies can be sure that all trace of it will be completely gone within 8 hours.

Dr Helene Hausner, who led the study, said preliminary results also suggest that breastfed babies may be more open to new tastes and less likely to be fussy eaters when the time comes for solid food.

“Breastfeeding may prepare the infant for flavour changes and new experiences when they start to eat solid foods,” she said.

Dr Hausner suggested that the same effect might be achieved by mothers using formula milk if they changed the brand now and again.

Posted Thursday 31st July 2008