SELF SELECTION OF DIET BY NEWLY WEANED INFANTS

Abstract

This experiment may be described briefly as that of (1) allowing newly weaned infants to choose their own foods in such quantities as they may desire from a fairly wide range of commonly used natural food materials, unmixed, unseasoned and unaltered except, in the case of some, by cooking in the simplest manner, and (2) assembling data on the food consumed and the condition of the infants. It was hoped by this experiment to obtain information on the following points: Whether infants of weaning age could and would when removed from the breast choose their own foods from those placed before them, without aid, as do adults, and in sufficient quantities to maintain themselves. If they did so choose, would they eat few or many of the large number of articles offered, and would they eat indiscriminately what was nearest at hand, governed only by their caloric needs