5 min readNew DelhiJun 8, 2023 12:00 PM IST
First published on: Jun 8, 2023 at 12:00 PM IST
Baby food–a truly challenging subject for all new parents. What should you put in it, what should you not put in it, how you can prepare it, and when to prepare; all of it might confuse you and leave you hopeless. But the biggest question can be about salt. A staple for all dishes prepared, we can hardly imagine our lives without salt. However, can you feed it to your baby whenever?
Baby digestive systems are not like our own. They are much more complex and sensitive. You must have heard doctors and older parents constantly nagging you about being careful with what you put into your baby’s food. Salt is one such ingredient that you must be cautious of. Though a wonder to our dishes, it can have long term effects on the digestive systems of babies. Therefore, before you add even a pinch of it to your baby’s meals, you must know when, how and what to do.
Dr. Santosh Yadav, in a reel shared on Instagram, helps out with this exact problem. He explains why salt can be harmful and how it can be so. Moreover, he also talks about alternatives to salt for baby food.
In the reel Dr Yadav says that babies up to 12 months should not consume any salt at all. This is because a baby’s kidneys are not as strong as adults and will not be able to process it out. Therefore, this may lead to kidney damage which can be a lifelong problem. Moreover, he says that the child, in the future, might suffer from hypertension if he consumes too much salt in infancy.
He further says that babies’ taste buds are automatically more inclined towards neutral taste or sweetness. So, if a baby is introduced to salt too early in infancy, it might make the child more inclined to saltiness later in life which can, again, lead to hypertension.
Dr Kanchan S Channawar, Senior Pediatrician and Pediatric Intensivist, Kamineni Hospitals, Hyderabad added some other problems consuming excessive salt for infants might have. “The intake of excessive salt can result in increased thirst and dehydration. In the long term, high salt consumption may contribute to the onset of high blood pressure in adulthood.
Instead, Dr Yadav recommends that babies from 0 to 12 months should avoid salt altogether, while babies from one to four years only consume half a teaspoon of salt per day. “Babies from one to four years old only require half a teaspoon of salt each day,” he added.
Dr Channawar though agrees that babies below one year should not consume salt at all, she also says that babies from two to four years should have less salt than recommended by Dr. Yadav. She said, “For children between the ages of 2 and 4 years old, the recommended daily intake of salt is about 2-3 grams (less than half a teaspoon). It’s important to note that this recommendation includes both the salt naturally present in foods and any added salt.”
She explained, “At this age, children are still developing their taste preferences and habits, so it’s beneficial to limit their intake of salt. Excessive salt consumption can lead to health issues, such as increased blood pressure and a preference for salty foods.”
Dr. Yadav suggests you use other ingredients like garlic, onion, cumin, pepper or thyme to add taste to your baby’s food. “You can use all of these ingredients to bring taste to your baby’s food. Please don’t add salt to your baby’s meals before 12 months of age,” concluded the doctor.
In addition, Dr. Channawar suggested using different kinds of herbs and spices in baby food as well. “When preparing baby food, there are numerous alternatives to salt that can enhance its taste. One option is to incorporate various herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, ginger, thyme, oregano, and basil. It’s important to introduce these flavors gradually to monitor for any potential allergies or adverse reactions. Moreover, since babies’ tastebuds prefer sweetness, ingredients like mashed bananas or applesauce with natural sweetness are also good for baby meals,” she concluded.
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Dr. Santosh Yadav, in a reel shared on Instagram, helps out with this exact problem. He explains why salt can be harmful and how it can be so. Moreover, he also talks about alternatives to salt for baby food. (Source: Pexels) 
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