How to serve, by age
Under 1 yr
No added salt — and none of the workarounds: soy sauce, MSG, chicken bouillon, or "children's soy sauce" (check the sodium line; most are not low).
1 yr+
Small amounts are fine; keep the family cooking mild. Ask your pediatrician about specifics.
Choking risk: Low
No choking risk. The hazard is kidney load: a baby's kidneys cannot yet handle adult-level sodium.
If choking ever happens: act immediately — call emergency services (911 in the US) and seek emergency care. Do not wait.
Allergens
Salt is not among the eight most common food allergens (milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish, shellfish). Any food can cause a reaction in principle — introduce new foods one at a time, during the day, and watch your baby.
Common questions
- Is "no salt, no strength" true?
- That saying dates from an era of genuinely salt-poor diets. Sodium in natural foods plus breast milk or formula already meets an infant's needs; extra salt is all burden and no benefit.
- What about naturally savory things like dried shrimp, seaweed or pork floss?
- They carry a lot of sodium — hidden salt. Rarely or never during infancy.
Practical tips
- Natural umami trio: tomato, onion and shiitake — cooked and puréed, they read as savory on their own.
- Check the sodium line on any packaged baby food before buying.
Sources
This page is general guidance assembled from the public sources above. It is not medical advice. For questions about your baby — including allergies, prematurity and any health condition — ask your pediatrician. See our medical disclaimer.