toddler likes intense flavors, smells
 

Is this normal? DS (2.25) LOVES intense flavors - lemons, pickles,
curry sauce, Ranch dip (this he would eat by the spoonful if I let
him), garlic, onions, etc. Is he likely to continue to like intense
flavors as he grows older? He also smells *everything*. He will ask
what something is and then ask if it is "smelly?" and then he smells
it. (He is pretty verbal.) He also likes to take things and rub them
on his face to feel them - he does this with many things he encounters,
and has done this ever since he was a tiny baby. Do I have a
particularly sensory-focused kid or something? He is also very
compassionate and will comfort others if crying, and will try to "help"
when he sees someone in need. In all of these ways he is different
from all of his peers. I am just wondering if these behaviors are
indicative of anything, or if I should keep my eye on anything else.

TIA for any insight.
-L.

toddler likes intense flavors, smells
 

Don't know if it's likely to continue but he does sound like he is
definitely sensory-oriented.

My sister's eldest used to love these "strong tastes" as well. She could eat
pickles by the jar-full and would ask for a piece of lemon, then suck on it.
She seems to have grown out of it, though. She's 6 now. Still likes pickles,
but that's cultural for us, being East European, so she gets them anyway.
The lemon sucking has gone away, though.

I used to love touching things, even as a teen. I didn't go so far as to rub
them on my face, but I LOVED walking through fabric shops and letting the
various textures flow over the bare skin on my arms. Nothing sexual, just
liked the feel of it. I also like experiencing new tastes and unless
something repulses me from a personal point of view (I will not eat brains,
for example) I am likely to try it. Don't know if I was ever into sucking
lemons, but I like pickles, horseradish, mustard, etc.

So maybe he'll just be culinarily adventurous?

"-L." wrote in message
oups.com...
Is this normal? DS (2.25) LOVES intense flavors - lemons, pickles,
curry sauce, Ranch dip (this he would eat by the spoonful if I let
him), garlic, onions, etc. Is he likely to continue to like intense
flavors as he grows older? He also smells *everything*. He will ask
what something is and then ask if it is "smelly?" and then he smells
it. (He is pretty verbal.) He also likes to take things and rub them
on his face to feel them - he does this with many things he encounters,
and has done this ever since he was a tiny baby. Do I have a
particularly sensory-focused kid or something? He is also very
compassionate and will comfort others if crying, and will try to "help"
when he sees someone in need. In all of these ways he is different
from all of his peers. I am just wondering if these behaviors are
indicative of anything, or if I should keep my eye on anything else.

TIA for any insight.
-L.

toddler likes intense flavors, smells
 

Engram wrote:
Don't know if it's likely to continue but he does sound like he is
definitely sensory-oriented.

My sister's eldest used to love these "strong tastes" as well. She could eat
pickles by the jar-full and would ask for a piece of lemon, then suck on it.
She seems to have grown out of it, though. She's 6 now. Still likes pickles,
but that's cultural for us, being East European, so she gets them anyway.
The lemon sucking has gone away, though.

I used to love touching things, even as a teen. I didn't go so far as to rub
them on my face, but I LOVED walking through fabric shops and letting the
various textures flow over the bare skin on my arms. Nothing sexual, just
liked the feel of it. I also like experiencing new tastes and unless
something repulses me from a personal point of view (I will not eat brains,
for example) I am likely to try it. Don't know if I was ever into sucking
lemons, but I like pickles, horseradish, mustard, etc.

So maybe he'll just be culinarily adventurous?

I hope so. He will eat almost anything now.

I was (and am) the same way - love lemons and pickles, etc. DS also
does the fabric thing when we shop - I have to fight him not to touch
and taste clothing. He's adopted so I don't think he gets the
flavor/smell loving from me, but his BMom is in culinary school, so
maybe it *is* innate/genetic.

-L.

toddler likes intense flavors, smells
 

"-L." wrote in message
oups.com...
Is this normal? DS (2.25) LOVES intense flavors - lemons, pickles,
curry sauce, Ranch dip (this he would eat by the spoonful if I let
him), garlic, onions, etc. Is he likely to continue to like intense
flavors as he grows older?

DS was like that. Now at almost 8, his tastes are a bit milder. He
does still like to suck on a lemon now and again, but he's not really
into spicy. I have no idea if either of our kids is normal though.

Bizby

toddler likes intense flavors, smells
 

"-L." wrote in message
oups.com...
Is this normal? DS (2.25) LOVES intense flavors - lemons, pickles,
curry sauce, Ranch dip (this he would eat by the spoonful if I let
him), garlic, onions, etc. Is he likely to continue to like intense
flavors as he grows older? He also smells *everything*. He will ask
what something is and then ask if it is "smelly?" and then he smells
it. (He is pretty verbal.) He also likes to take things and rub them
on his face to feel them - he does this with many things he encounters,
and has done this ever since he was a tiny baby. Do I have a
particularly sensory-focused kid or something? He is also very
compassionate and will comfort others if crying, and will try to "help"
when he sees someone in need. In all of these ways he is different
from all of his peers. I am just wondering if these behaviors are
indicative of anything, or if I should keep my eye on anything else.

TIA for any insight.
-L.

#2 smells everything too. she'll then label the smell as "yucky" "delicious"
"gorgeous" or similar. She has eaten a lemon (as #1 did) We had lemon with
fish and she picked one up and sucked it. Pulled a dreadful face, shivered,
and came back for more. Made us laugh anyway. We don't tend to go for strong
flavours in our house, but she does like onions (raw or cooked). I don't
think it's indicative of anything except possibly likeing strong flavours!!!
Debbie

toddler likes intense flavors, smells
 

-L. wrote:
Is this normal? DS (2.25) LOVES intense flavors - lemons, pickles,
curry sauce, Ranch dip (this he would eat by the spoonful if I let
him), garlic, onions, etc. Is he likely to continue to like intense
flavors as he grows older? He also smells *everything*. He will ask
what something is and then ask if it is "smelly?" and then he smells
it. (He is pretty verbal.) He also likes to take things and rub them
on his face to feel them - he does this with many things he encounters,
and has done this ever since he was a tiny baby. Do I have a
particularly sensory-focused kid or something? He is also very
compassionate and will comfort others if crying, and will try to "help"
when he sees someone in need. In all of these ways he is different
from all of his peers. I am just wondering if these behaviors are
indicative of anything, or if I should keep my eye on anything else.

I don't know why you would see this as abnormal.
In my experience, this is quite common. Maybe it's just
the group of peers that is out of the ordinary?

Best wishes,
Ericka

toddler likes intense flavors, smells
 

-L. wrote:
Engram wrote:

So maybe he'll just be culinarily adventurous?

I hope so. He will eat almost anything now.

Don't bet the farm. Some kids like this
continue being adventurous, but others will pull
back and become much less adventurous. In my
experience, it is quite common for 2yos to be
quite adventurous eaters. My firstborn would eat
all kinds of unusual things as a 2yo and is quite
picky as an 11yo. Palates change as they grow.

Best wishes,
Ericka

toddler likes intense flavors, smells
 

"-L." wrote in
oups.com:

Is this normal? DS (2.25) LOVES intense flavors - lemons,
pickles, curry sauce, Ranch dip (this he would eat by the
spoonful if I let him), garlic, onions, etc. Is he likely
to continue to like intense flavors as he grows older? He
also smells *everything*. He will ask what something is
and then ask if it is "smelly?" and then he smells it. (He
is pretty verbal.) He also likes to take things and rub
them on his face to feel them - he does this with many
things he encounters, and has done this ever since he was a
tiny baby. Do I have a particularly sensory-focused kid or
something? He is also very compassionate and will comfort
others if crying, and will try to "help" when he sees
someone in need. In all of these ways he is different from
all of his peers. I am just wondering if these behaviors
are indicative of anything, or if I should keep my eye on
anything else.

he could be a sensory seeker, but that's not a bad thing
unless it really is to excess (which it doesn't sound like it
is).
among Boo's collection of sensory seeking things are strong
flavors (he *loves* green Tobasco sauce like many kids love
catsup), textures, & smells (he adores those stinky candle
shops). he also likes fast rides, like roller coasters & giant
slides.
i just see it as someone who likes experiencing all the cool
sensory things around him... although i could do without the
candle shops. artificial smells really bother me.
BTW, i don't see ranch dip as being a particularly strong
flavor, but, yeah, Boo would eat that & sour cream by the
bucket.
lee


--
If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the
guise of
fighting a foreign enemy. -James Madison, fourth US president
(1751-1836)

toddler likes intense flavors, smells
 

enigma wrote:

he could be a sensory seeker,

Oh, that's an awesome term! It describes him perfectly.

but that's not a bad thing
unless it really is to excess (which it doesn't sound like it
is).
among Boo's collection of sensory seeking things are strong
flavors (he *loves* green Tobasco sauce like many kids love
catsup), textures, & smells (he adores those stinky candle
shops). he also likes fast rides, like roller coasters & giant
slides.

We haven't done anything like that yet, but he does love slides and
climbing on dangerous things.

i just see it as someone who likes experiencing all the cool
sensory things around him... although i could do without the
candle shops. artificial smells really bother me.
BTW, i don't see ranch dip as being a particularly strong
flavor, but, yeah, Boo would eat that & sour cream by the
bucket.
lee

This ranch dressing is extremely garlicy and pungent - I love spicy
stuff and this dip is on the edge of what I would eat.

Thanks to everyone who replied. :)

-L.

toddler likes intense flavors, smells
 

Ericka Kammerer wrote:

I don't know why you would see this as abnormal.

I didn't really see it as "abnormal" but just a little "different". I
just didn't know if other kids do this or not.

In my experience, this is quite common. Maybe it's just
the group of peers that is out of the ordinary?

Perhaps. The other Moms comment on how their kids would never eat "X"
or "y" and comment on how he seems to be fascinated with smells and
textures. He also is obsessive about the lemons and pickles thing -
will cry for lemon slices and would eat an entire lemon if I'd let him.

-L.