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Is salt bad for babies?

Yes, too much salt is bad for babies. Babies' kidneys aren't mature enough to process excess sodium, so pediatric guidelines say don't add salt to baby food and rely on breast milk, formula, or age-appropriate foods for the small amount of sodium babies need.

Regulations cap sodium in infant formula, and health organizations note infants under 12 months don't have an established safe upper sodium limit because so little is needed.

Strength of evidence

Good

Backed by a national pediatric guideline (AAP/HealthyChildren) and a pediatric society position statement, supported by a peer-reviewed review article. Long-term outcome data (like blood pressure decades later) come mainly from smaller studies, not large RCTs.

What the evidence says

Babies need only a tiny amount of sodium, and their young kidneys can't handle much extra. Because of this, health experts recommend not adding salt to a baby's food and choosing infant formulas and baby foods that are low in sodium (regulations limit how much manufacturers can add).

This is different from newborns' need for some sodium to grow, especially premature babies, whose care teams monitor blood sodium closely in the hospital. But for healthy babies at home, extra added salt has no benefit and may set up a preference for salty food and contribute to future high blood pressure risk.

Most of the sodium in a modern diet comes from processed foods, not the salt shaker, so the main thing to watch for is store-bought baby snacks, broths, or table foods that are high in sodium, rather than needing to add salt yourself.

Sources

✓Reviewed by CH, MD, FRCPC

Reviewed by a specialist physician certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, who has read this answer against the sources listed above and confirmed it reflects them. That is not medical advice about your child. How we review

Answer checked July 24, 2026

Educational information only. Not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and no doctor-patient relationship is created by using this. Founded Parent has not examined your child and does not know their history, so this may not apply to you. In an emergency, call your local emergency number. What Founded Parent cannot do

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