The Dangers of
Adding Salt to Baby Food
Why too much salt is dangerous
The human body needs some salt in order to function correctly. Salt cannot be reproduced by the body, so a little salt is a necessary part of our daily diet.
But a baby's salt requirements are VERY small (less than 1g per day up to the age of 12 months) - and these needs are met by his breastmilk or formula.
His kidneys are simply not equipped to process more salt than this - meaning that adding salt to baby food can lead to serious kidney damage. There have even been extreme situations in which babies have died as a result of consuming too much salt. This tragic story from the BBC is one such example, where a very young baby (only 3 months of age) died after being fed a diet of pureed adult food - which, of course, far exceeded the levels of salt appropriate for an infant.
There is also growing evidence that consuming too much salt from an early age can lead to high blood pressure in later life - particularly in families with a history of hypertension.
So should my baby's food be bland?
Well, you may find food bland if it's cooked without salt, because your palate is probably accustomed to saltier flavours. But remember that your baby's palate is undeveloped and that he hasn't yet acquired a preference for salty tastes! In fact, foods that you consider bland may be perfectly acceptable to your little one - after all, he won't miss what he hasn't yet experienced.
On the other hand, ensuring that your baby's food is 'salt-free' doesn't mean that it has to be 'flavour-free' too! In fact, one of the aims of our site is to help you create meals for your baby that are both safe AND delicious!
Adding flavour without adding salt
Instead of adding salt to baby food, try adding herbs, aromatic spices or garlic instead. These 'natural flavourings' actually offer many health benefits in their own right.
Some parents choose to use No-Salt Herbal Seasonings in their babies' meals - a little black pepper adds a flavourful boost to dishes, too - and is also a wonderful aid to digestion.
Do bear in mind that herbs, spices and garlic should be treated as new foods when you first introduce them to your baby - this means that they should be given separately, at least four days apart, to help you identify and avoid potential food allergies or digestive problems.
And remember - The introduction of ANY new foods should first be discussed with your child's doctor.
Adding salt to baby food - hidden sources of salt in your little one's diet
Be VERY careful when preparing formula for your baby. The instructions on formula cans tell you that it's important to ensure your baby's formula is not too concentrated - this is partly because too high a concentration of formula will contain too much salt.
Do not use commercial gravy or stock cubes when cooking for your baby, as these are high in salt. Instead, try these recipes for:-
chicken stock
beef stock
vegetable stock
If you use canned/tinned vegetables when cooking for your baby, check the label to make sure no salt has been added.
It may seem safe to give foods created for toddlers to your baby. But toddlers can tolerate slightly higher levels of salt than those recommended for an infant. Instead, make sure that any commercially prepared foods you give your baby are labelled as being appropriate for his age group.
Look for low sodium cheeses when shopping for your baby and check labels on bread very carefully - you'd be surprised by just how much salt some brands contain!
Avoid processes meats (like ham, pepperoni etc) and other processed foods like ready made sauces and baked beans. The levels of salt in these foods will be too high for your baby.
Tips to get your little one off to a healthy start
- DO wait until your baby is around 6 months and AT LEAST 4 months old before introducing solid food. Studies have shown that introducing solids too early can lead to obesity (source: WebMD).
- DO offer your baby a wide variety of fresh, natural, healthy foods - including a range of fruits and vegetables.
- DO steer clear of unhealthy snacks - sadly, many commercially prepared snacks intended for young children are not as healthy as the manufacturers would like you to believe. Offer cut-up fruits and veggies or cheese to your baby instead (see our finger foods page for more ideas).
- DO encourage your baby to be active - get on the floor and play with him as much as possible (you'll both enjoy it!).
- DO set a good example to your baby. Sit down and eat with him, including lots of nutritious foods in your OWN meal.
- DO switch off the TV when you eat - studies have shown that obesity is far less of a problem in families that sit down together to eat at the dinner table, away from the television. Mealtimes should be fun, "sociable" occasions, where your baby learns to enjoy his food - and also learns about acceptable behavior at the table!
- DON'T give your baby juice, which is one of the leading causes of excess weight in very young children in the US.
- DON'T add sugar to your baby's food - this encourages a sweet tooth and may cause your baby to reject fresh fruits and vegetables in their natural form.
- DON'T limit fat in your baby's diet. Whilst low fat foods are recommended for adults, restricting the amount of fat in a baby's diet can be dangerous. Your baby needs fat as he grows and develops, so he should be given the full-fat versions of food until at least 2 years of age.
- DON'T restrict the amount of food you offer to your baby - instead, ensure that the foods you ARE giving him are healthy.
- DON'T encourage a baby who appears full to have "one more spoonful", or insist that he clears his plate. This interferes with a baby's innate ability to judge for himself just how much food he actually needs. This confusion can lead to lifelong weight problems.
Baby Foods To Avoid - Honey
NEVER give honey to a baby under one year of age.
Honey can contain botulism spores. In babies, the spores can grow and produce life-threatening toxins.
Do not use honey to sweeten yogurt, or in any other form, before your baby's first birthday
Baby Foods To Avoid - Foods More Likely To Cause An Allergic Reaction Or Digestive Problem
- Eggs (especially the whites)
- Cow's milk
- Peanuts or peanut butter
- Shellfish - lobster, prawns, crab and shrimp
- Wheat
- Chocolate
- Soy
- Pork
- Gluten - contained in wheat, oats and barley
- Fish - particularly tuna, salmon, halibut, mackerel and sardines
- Berries - especially strawberries (but blueberries are NOT considered highly allergenic)
- Cinnamon
- Citrus fruits - orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime and tangerine
- Sesame seeds/sesame oil
- Corn
- Tomatoes
- Yeast
Baby Foods To Avoid - Foods That Present A Choking Hazard
- Nuts
- Large chunks of fruit or vegetables, raw or cooked
- Large chunks of meat
- Whole grapes or cherry tomatoes - always cut into quarters
- Popcorn
- Seeds
- Raisins - wait until your baby has teeth and is chewing well
The four day rule
The four day rule is a simple strategy to help spot baby digestive problems or potential allergies and easily identify problem foods.
The rule is easy to follow...
Each time you introduce a new food to your baby, you need to continue feeding your baby that same food for four days. You can continue to feed your baby other foods you have safely introduced.
But don't introduce two new foods at the same time.
It's an effective strategy ...
Allergic reactions usually appear quickly - sometimes within 1/2 an hour of your baby eating the food responsible. But it can take up to 3 or 4 days for a reaction to occur. Baby digestive problems, too, tend to take a few days to appear.
By sticking to one new food for 4 days, you will immediately be able to tell which food is causing the reaction or digestive problem. You can then eliminate this food from your baby's diet, although it may be possible to re-introduce it later on. Identifying the problem quickly means you won't need to "experiment" to find its cause ... and you won't risk provoking the same reaction again.
A useful tip is to try introducing new foods in the morning or at lunch time.
If your baby suffers a severe allergic reaction, it will be easier to get medical help then, rather than later in the day.
If the food causes your baby digestive problems, he may experience diarrhea, gas (wind) or some other discomfort. If you've given him the food late in the day, then he - and you - will probably be in for a sleepless night!
If you are introducing solids to your baby before he is 6 months old, you might want to increase the "four day rule" to seven days. Some medical experts believe that, in a younger baby, digestive problems and allergic reactions are more likely to occur.
What is an allergy?
When your baby's immune system mistakes a harmless substance for a harmful one, an allergic reaction occurs. The immune system produces antibodies to protect your baby from future exposures. The first time your baby is exposed to the problem food - the allergen - there will be no symptoms. But on the second and subsequent exposures, the antibodies against the allergen cause an allergic reaction.
What is the difference between baby food allergies and digestive problems?
A digestive problem - or food intolerance - is not the same as a food allergy. An allergic reaction is a response by the immune system. A baby with food intolerance would have difficulties in digesting a certain type of food. This is caused by many things besides an allergen. Your baby could be lacking an enzyme to a particular food, for example.
How are baby food allergies diagnosed?
A true baby food allergy can only be diagnosed by a medical professional, such as your child's doctor or allergist. This is done by performing a skin prick test or blood test.
What symptoms should I be looking for?
When your baby digests foods and his intestine absorbs the nutrients, substances in the food may trigger an allergic reaction. Sometimes the reaction is in the intestine. This can cause your baby to experience cramps or diarrhea.
Or the reaction could be in the skin, which can lead to eczema. Other allergy symptoms include:
- Excess gas/wind
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Possible blood in stools
- Constipation
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Watery or red eyes
- Wheezing
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