What a baby eats from a young age is very important, and many parents breastfeed their babies. However, sometimes family members will feed their babies some salt containing foods, thinking that babies love to eat salt. It is inevitable that a 5-month-old baby can eat salt, but many parents do not know. Let's take a look together.
Can't a 5-month-old baby eat salt
1. Adding salt too early to a 5-month-old baby can affect the development of their kidney function. Additionally, a 5-month-old baby should be exclusively breastfed to meet their physical development needs. Only when the baby is 6 months old can they start adding complementary foods. Even if the baby is six months old, it is still the stage when the baby practices swallowing function at first, and it is also the period when the baby adapts to complementary food, mainly adding liquid food, such as Rice noodles, fruit juice, vegetable juice, etc.
2. Salt is composed of elements such as sodium, potassium, and chlorine. Due to the underdeveloped kidneys of infants, excessive salt in complementary foods can be a burden on both the child's body and kidneys. In addition, it is difficult to correct the bad habit of being accustomed to salty foods since infancy.
3. At the same time, babies have very sensitive taste buds, and the natural taste of food is very delicious. At this time, letting children eat natural food is the best choice. If children are exposed to artificial seasonings too early, it can actually affect their taste development process.
How old can babies eat salt
1. Around 1 year old is a critical period for taste bud development and the formation of taste preferences. At this time, children should be encouraged to accept a variety of food and experience the original flavors of different foods. According to the recommendation of the Chinese Nutrition Society, the sodium intake of infants and young children under one year old is around 200 milligrams, which is equivalent to 0.5 grams of salt. Breast milk or formula milk powder, as well as the storage of infants' own metabolism, can provide sufficient sodium for growth without the need for additional additives.
2. Around the age of one, when rotten noodles and soft rice gradually become the baby's staple food, salt can be added appropriately, but the later it is added, the better, and it should be controlled at around 1 gram, not exceeding 2 grams at most. Children with heart disease, nephritis, and respiratory infections should limit salt intake even more. Do not give your baby MSG before the age of 3. If monosodium glutamate is added, the salt should be reduced.
So, babies at 5 months old should not eat salt because eating salt too early can cause poor kidney development and affect their taste buds. It is best to let babies start eating salt after 1 year old, but only slowly, because it is not very good for their health. Everyone must pay attention.
