At what age can infants start eating salt?

In general, infants can begin to consume a small amount of salt after the age of one year. The detailed explanation is as follows:

Infants over one year old may have a moderate amount of salt added to their food, but intake should be strictly controlled to avoid adverse effects on their health. This is because, by this age, an infant's kidney function has gradually matured, enabling more efficient metabolism of salt and reducing the risk of excessive strain on the kidneys due to high salt intake. As infants are introduced to a wider variety of complementary foods with more diverse flavors, adding a small amount of salt can help enhance taste, making it easier for infants to accept and adapt to different foods. In contrast, infants under one year old have not yet fully developed kidney function and have limited capacity to metabolize salt. Introducing salt too early or in excessive amounts may easily overload the kidneys and lead to health problems such as edema and high blood pressure.

When introducing salt into an infant’s diet, caregivers should closely observe the infant’s reactions. If any discomfort occurs, adjustments should be made promptly and medical advice sought. Additionally, parents should foster healthy eating habits by providing nutritionally balanced, mildly seasoned meals to support the infant’s healthy growth and development.