System for evaluating an infant's perception of aroma

A system for evaluating an infant's perception of an aroma, the system comprising:

• a first sensor adapted to detect non-nutritive sucking events produced by an infant;
• a second sensor adapted to detect a property characterizing the presence of an aroma proximate to the infant;
• and
• an information device operatively connected to the first sensor, said information device adapted to accomplish one or more of receiving, storing, processing, displaying, or transmitting information corresponding to the non-nutritive sucking events detected by the first sensor.

A method for evaluating an infant's perception of an aroma, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) detecting non-nutritive sucking events produced by an infant proximate to a change to an aroma;
• (b) characterizing the change;
• and
• (c) relating the detected non-nutritive sucking events to the characterized change to the aroma.

A method for evaluating an infant's perception of a product attribute, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a plurality of pacifier models adapted to detect non-nutritive sucking events and wirelessly transmit data corresponding to the detected non-nutritive sucking events to a remote information device;
• (b) selecting one of the pacifier models for the evaluation;
• (c) using the selected pacifier model to detect non-nutritive sucking events produced by an infant who is exposed to a sensory stimulus that corresponds to the product attribute;
• (d) relating the detected non-nutritive sucking events to the sensory stimulus, the product attribute, or both.