Salt found naturally in breast milk or formula is safe for babies, but for babies under 1 year of age, salt should not be added to solid foods and processed foods that are high in sodium should be avoided.
Why shouldn’t I give my baby salt before the age of 1?
- Babies’ kidneys are not yet fully developed, they may not be able to handle excess salt, and thus kidney damage may occur.
- Getting used to salty foods at a young age may increase the tendency towards salt and salty foods in adulthood. A diet high in salt poses a risk of high blood pressure.
- Recent studies link excessive salt intake to a weakened immune system. Consuming too much salt can cause the body to release substances that inhibit the functioning of the immune system.
What amount of salt should I give my baby?
- 0-1 year: less than 1 gram per day (no added salt)
- 1-3 years: no more than 2 grams per day
- 4-6 years: no more than 2 grams per day
After age 1, they can consume a very small amount, about as much as a pinch added to home-cooked food. However, prepackaged and restaurant foods tend to contain high amounts of salt, so babies should be avoided these foods whenever possible.
Resources:
- National Health Service. Salt: The Facts. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-types/salt-in-your-diet/
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most People Consume Too Much Salt. https://www.cdc.gov/salt/index.htm
- Waseem, A., Nafees, M., Murtaza, G., Sajjad, A., Mehmood, Z., & Siddiqi, A. R. (2014). Salt Toxicity (Sodium Intake): A Serious Threat to Infants and Children of Pakistan. Iranian journal of public health, 43(9), 1204–1211.
- Jobin, K., Stumpf, N. E., Schwab, S., Eichler, M., Neubert, P., Rauh, M., Adamowski, M., Babyak, O., Hinze, D., Sivalingam, S., Weisheit, C., Hochheiser, K., Schmidt, S. V., Meissner, M., Garbi, N., Abdullah, Z., Wenzel, U., Hölzel, M., Jantsch, J., & Kurts, C. (2020). A high-salt diet compromises antibacterial neutrophil responses through hormonal perturbation. Science translational medicine, 12(536), eaay3850. https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.aay3850
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