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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Original poster

how seriously do i take this 'no salt' thing?

21 replies

aitch71 · 03/07/2006 21:56

for example, i gave the baby some M&S hummous today on a kiddie rice cake, then later on she had the crust of some pizza. the poor thing is cutting her first tooth, needed something to chew on. we're doing blw, which should be fine as i cook most of our food (fgs forgive me one pizza every now and again) and amn't huge on adding salt anyway.
she had plenty of liquids and some banana too, but when i looked at the salt content of the hummous it seemed substantial. also i'm wanting to give her some cheese tomorrow which is salty...
anybody got any good guideline amounts?
h
PS my mum tells me her grandmother insisted on a few grains of salt being added to everything i ate when i was a baby, in order to stimulate my tastebuds. it's a wonder i'm not on dialysis.

OP posts:
2shoes · 03/07/2006 21:58

my dc's are 11 and 14 but i always remeber someone saying to me when ds was a baby don't give them salt until they ask for it.

NotQuiteCockney · 03/07/2006 22:02

How old is your baby? I really think you only need to be really antsy about salt before 6 months, and less and less concerned as they get older. You don't want them to develop a real taste for salt, but there's no point in worrying yourself silly about it, iyswim. If you don't generally salt the food they eat, a bit of pizza, a bit of hummous, etc won't do any harm.

Katymac · 03/07/2006 22:03

How old is the baby?

Under 6 months - I'd avoid all salt

6-12 months - don't add it too anything, avoid crisps and soy sauce and anything very salty

12+ just be sensible

arfishymeau · 03/07/2006 23:05

LOL at dialysis!

Agree, if you are making most food without adding salt I wouldn't worry too much. I think the biggies are processed pre-packed foods which have a lot of hidden salt. I wouldn't stress about hummus (or if it makes you feel better perhaps check other brands to see which has the lowest content, or even make your own - it's REALLY easy). I think you can probably find some cheddar or edam that isn't too salty.

edam · 03/07/2006 23:13

I'm VERY salty, thank you.

Seriously, if you search the Food Standards Agency website, you'll find the information about recommended max. salt intake for different ages.

monkeytrousers · 03/07/2006 23:21

I worried on when to introduce Marmite...but it had to be done

bramblina · 03/07/2006 23:36

I think 0.6g of salt per day between 6-12m is acceptable. But no point in adding it. Lots are salt free, it's quite easy to avoid.

Original poster
aitch71 · 03/07/2006 23:43

the baby is 6 and a half months old, there or thereabouts.(you'd think i'd know).
thanks for the advice, i'll start looking at labels more from now on but it's good to know i don't have to obsess about it.

actually i used to make my own hummous but funnily enough it's one of the few things that i would tend to add bucketloads of salt to. i like it lemony and salty enough to make your eyes cross, so M&S's one is probably a more benign option.
and i must say that i never quite managed to get it as creamy as the shop-bought ones. nor does my local lebanese cafe, which makes something more along the lines of what i used to make, more of a paste.

so does anyone know what miracle M&S has wrought to make their hummous so creamy? is it an ingredient or just their highly expensive 'woman's food' alchemists at work? any recipes for baby-friendly but smooth and creamy hummous gratefully appreciated.

again, many thanks for the advice. oh, and one more thing... does this mean i can start giving her oatcakes or am i still stuck with the stinky rice cakes?
h

OP posts:
bramblina · 03/07/2006 23:58

I wouldn't FWIW but that's just me- a bit ott! My ds likes the rice cakes (yes, actually likes them) and so we just stick woth them. If it isn't necessary I don't do it. But, if we did, we'd never know what harm, if any, it would do. Unless of course he actually did end up on dialysis....

It's all a personal choice. Some steer clear altogether, some introduce a little at a time.

Some can't be arsed!

A happy medium is good IMO.

Original poster
aitch71 · 04/07/2006 00:35

sorry bramblina, i don't know what FWIW means, i'm only new here. i was probably just showing off with my previous use of fgs. you've rumbled me...
h

OP posts:
CorrieDale · 04/07/2006 06:15

We all like ricecakes in CorrieDale Farm. Is that wierd?????? I add greek yogurt to my hummous and a bit of olive oil. Still not super creamy but better than nothing. FWIW is 'for what it's worth'. There's a page of acronyms in the 'useful stuff' at the top of teh page. Get a few of those under your belt and you can show off to your heart's content. Or make a few up and aim to confuse!

corblimeymadam · 04/07/2006 09:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

monkeytrousers · 04/07/2006 21:23

His 1st birthday breakfast - just a scrape

PrettyCandles · 04/07/2006 21:31

Hummus isn't meant to be creamy. But if that's your cup-of-tea, then try blitzing it very hard in the blender or processor with a little oil and lemon juice to help make an emulsion.

I always feel that what carries the salt is relevant, IYSWIM. Crisps: no goodness in them therefore unacceptable. Hummus: chickpeas provide good vegetable protein and roughage therefore acceptable. Cheese: also goodness in it therefore acceptable.

If you never add salt/soya sauce/stock cubes to home-made food, and use home-made food as much as poss, then I think the baby probably gets the right amount of salt. It's really difficult to avoid salt - even bread has a substantial amount.

But must also remember that the occasional crust of pizza may also mean the occasional relaxed mummy: therefore good!

Original poster
aitch71 · 05/07/2006 00:48

creamy hummous is very much my cup of tea, i just cannot get to like the thick paste so much. my magimix and i will pursue the elusive emulsion forthwith.
and thanks for the advice, i am highly relieved that i don't have to really stress about it.
although prettycandles has raised another issue... does anyone think that the Marigold Bouillon reduced salt stuff smells funny? i really do. funnier than rice cakes...
anyhow, thanks all.
h x

OP posts:
PrettyCandles · 05/07/2006 13:43

Hmmm dunno...I've been using the Marigold stuff for so long now, that when I use Knorr cubes they smell funny to me.

Original poster
aitch71 · 05/07/2006 18:19

i do normally use the ordinary Marigold stuff, which i think is grand but obviously with having the baby i decided to buy the reduced salt stuff. honestly, i think it does smell funny. anyway, hark at me, getting so het up about blinking bouillon... to think i used to want to smash the system... sigh.
h

OP posts:
stitch · 05/07/2006 18:21

dont add salt to food you make yourself, otherwise, just relax.

vitomum · 05/07/2006 18:22

Annable Karmel does a lovely veggie stock recipe i beleive

Original poster
aitch71 · 05/07/2006 19:49

why, thankyou for that sage advice, vitomum. i know you are such an enormous fan of the big-haired one.
can you believe i was given that book as a birthday present? quelle swizz.
cheers to all, i am actually quite relaxed about the whole weaning thing (despite the fact that if i re-read this post i appreciate i am coming off as highly neurotic). it's such a bonus being able to have MN as a sounding board.
h x

OP posts:
lofty66 · 05/07/2006 21:09

Does anyone use the low salt kallo veg stock cubes for their los...it says there is just a trace of salt???

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