Cooking baby food requires salt?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Bui Thi Ha - Pediatrician - Neonatologist, Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Ha Long International Hospital
Weaning is considered a turning point in a child's development, so mothers need to pay special attention to help the baby pass this stage well. At birth, breast milk is an important and essential source of nutrition for the baby. But only a few months later will come the stage when breast milk is not satisfied enough and enter the phase of weaning. So what kind of foods should the baby eat at this stage? Does cooking baby food need salt?

1. Learn about the weaning phase

1.1. What is weaning?

Weaning is the transition period from a diet entirely with breast milk to a diet with solid foods such as flour, porridge, rice, vegetables... According to experts, the best time to introduce solid foods to babies usually falls around 4-6 months old. At this age, your baby will have enough mouth-to-mouth ability to swallow solid foods.
Weaning is quite an arduous and enjoyable process for both mother and baby. It is the process of going from a liquid diet to a paste then to a pellet and finally to a piece. Therefore, the mother can not be in a hurry, must do it slowly so that the baby gets used to and adapts gradually.

1.2. Food requirements for weaning

Weaning foods must be nutritious foods and in sufficient quantity so that the baby can continue to grow. At this point, your baby's digestive system is developed enough to digest most foods. However, some risks also often occur when starting solid foods such as not getting enough nutrients from outside foods to meet the growing needs of children, which can lead to malnutrition. and micronutrient deficiencies such as rickets due to calcium deficiency, anemia due to iron deficiency, ... Besides, in the complementary meals of children, salty spices such as salt and sauce are used.
Therefore, weaning not only needs to ensure diversity, provide enough nutrients, but also pay attention to the reasonable use of salty spices. A diet low in or excess in salt (sodium) both adversely affects a child's health.

2. Do baby food need salt?

Sodium and Chlorine are the main components in salt and are two elements that play a very important role in the body's fluid balance, affecting the existence and normal functioning of all cells. function of all organs and parts of the body. This means that, during all stages of development, children need extra salt.
However, depending on the stage, the amount of salt provided is different. In Vietnam, on June 16, 2016, the recommended nutritional requirements for Vietnamese people were approved by the Ministry of Health.

3. Is cooking food for babies under 1 year old really necessary for salt?

Adding salt to the food of children under 1 year old has many potential risks to the baby's kidneys, because the kidney function of children at this age is very immature. Tasting too much salt can create a habit of eating a lot of salt for children when they grow up, affecting kidney function and putting the risk of hypertension and heart disease in the future. In addition, some studies also show that children who eat a lot of salt at this time are prone to brain damage.
When cooking weaning food for children under 1 year old, mothers should not add salt, because in fact, in some daily foods such as milk, eggs, chicken, fresh vegetables, ... all provide enough sodium for children. 6-12 months old.

4. Some other notes for moms when cooking baby food

Processing salt-added snacks for children 1-2 years old should only be given very little, if including the amount of salt in fish sauce, soup powder, food, it is only limited to about 2.3 grams/day. When the mother tastes the baby's solid food and finds it to her mouth, it means it will be more salty than the baby. Therefore, the mother seasoned the amount of fish sauce and salt just right, eating a little pale is just for the child. Cheese can be added to the baby's weaning bowl instead of fish sauce or salt. Cheese should be added after adding cooking oil, so the food of children will also be fragrant, delicious, greasy and not too pale. Weaning is an extremely important stage in a child's development, so parents need to pay special attention. At this stage, it is necessary to supplement important and essential nutrients for children. If children show signs of anorexia, rickets, malnutrition, slow weight gain, etc., parents should take their children to reputable medical facilities for advice and examination.
The period of baby eating solid foods is an extremely important period to help children develop comprehensively. Children who do not eat properly are at risk of micro-mineral deficiencies, causing anorexia, growth retardation, malabsorption, etc. If they notice the above signs, parents should supplement their children with supportive products. The supplement contains lysine, essential micro-minerals and vitamins such as zinc, chromium, selenium, and B vitamins to help fully meet the nutritional needs of children. At the same time, these essential vitamins also support digestion, enhance nutrient absorption, help improve anorexia, and help children eat well.
Parents can learn more:
Signs of zinc deficiency in children
Micronutrient deficiency and failure to gain weight in children
Please regularly visit Vinmec.com website and update useful information to take care of your child. Take care of the baby and the whole family.