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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

Am I being too precious about salt?

32 replies

HensMum · 14/09/2008 14:39

DS is 11 months old. He's a great eater and I make all his food. I want to get him eating more of what we eat but I always freak out about salt. For example, I made a dish with gnocchi, mushrooms, spinach and cheese which I intended to give him some off, then I read the gnocchi packet and thought they might be too salty. I made a pie using ready made pastry but didn't give him any because I thought there might be too much salt.

I overheard a mum at clinic saying she gave her twins, who looked about 8 months, pesto. The HV said "oh that's great, just give them what you have and you'll be surprised what they'll eat" and I was sat there thinking "pesto is too salty, surely"

So, am I freaking out too much?

OP posts:
SmugColditz · 14/09/2008 14:54

yes you are.

pinkspottywellies · 14/09/2008 15:00

Yes you are a bit!! I never add salt to food and don't give her particularly salty things regularly but for the amount they eat at that age a little bit of pastry or gnocci once or twice a week won't overload them.

pinkspottywellies · 14/09/2008 15:02

Having said that, if you'd rather keep it out of his diet a bit longer it's up to you and you shouldn't let anyone else influence you.

misdee · 14/09/2008 15:04

a little bit yes.

LazyLinePainterJane · 14/09/2008 15:10

Yes you are. Don't add any salt to their food, and don't use it to cook. DS loves pesto and always has. If you are worried, then balance it out. Maybe one day give pesto and then something low in salt the next day.
It's all about balance.

YumeeMumee · 14/09/2008 15:11

I agree that it's up to you....if you'd rather keep it out of his diet then do so.

We're trying to keep chocolate out of our DS's diet for as long as poss along with fizzy drinks/juice....I figure that DS will have enough time to stock up on that kind of stuff when he gets older and has more control over his diet. Until then I will continue controlling his diet!

Original poster
HensMum · 14/09/2008 15:14

Yeah, I thought I was! Well, that's opened up a whole new world of food to DS then, thanks.

OP posts:
LazyLinePainterJane · 14/09/2008 15:16

YEs, YM< but there is a difference between witholding chocolate and not giving home made bleeding gnocchi!! "That kind of stuff", imo does not apply to home baked gnocchi, pastry or pasta pesto of any kind! Hardly the same.

YumeeMumee · 14/09/2008 15:32

mmm...must read my post again as I realise that I'd compared chocolate and gnocchi LLPJ Not that "reading the salt content on the packet" constitutes home-made in my mind but there you go.

I was merely saying that IMO if you want to restrict something then do so - I then went on to say that I was doing the same with chocolate. So my point was about restricting something if you feel the need to do so NOT about comparing actual foods.

YumeeMumee · 14/09/2008 15:34

Meant to say that I DIDN'T realise that I'd compared chocolate to gnocchi...which upon reading my post again....I haven't?!

LazyLinePainterJane · 14/09/2008 15:42

MAybe I should read again as well

OP did say "i make all his food"...so when she said about the gnocchi I assumed it was home made. Have reread and she did mention the packet. Mind you, if I had gone to the trouble of making bleeding gnocchi, I would be too knackered to think about the salt

YumeeMumee · 14/09/2008 15:44

LLPJ me too!

Original poster
HensMum · 14/09/2008 16:01

Just to confirm - gnocchi was from Sainsbos. Recipe did tell you to make it yourself but life is too short for making gnocchi

OP posts:
Tinkjon · 15/09/2008 13:55

I don't think you are being precious - too much salt IS bad for babies, simple as that!

megcleary · 15/09/2008 19:08

am having salt obsession myself i check how much in slice of bread and then had a tiny panic when i rralised there was sodium content in egg so empathise with you oodles but have bugger all advice sorry just wanted you to know you are not alone

SmugColditz · 15/09/2008 19:58

Too much salt is bad for babies, but too much neuroticism is worse.

likessleep · 15/09/2008 21:18

I am a bit of a salt-a-phobic too. You're definitely not alone. I am trying to be more balanced

pudding25 · 16/09/2008 09:02

I was talking to MIL about the kind of food dd can eat when I do start weaning her. I don't eat meat so mil said she could make some meat dishes. I mentioned about how she should not have any salt. MIL said' didnt do my children any harm, they won't eat it if it is tasteless'.

AAAAAH.

nappyaddict · 16/09/2008 09:09

we don't have much salt but that's because i don't like the taste of it.

i make both pastry (unless it's filo or puff cos they are a pita to make)and pesto without salt. however we do have shop bought bread which is both salt and sugar in.

jimjamshaslefttheyurt · 16/09/2008 09:10

Haven't read thread, just OP. But in a word. Yes.

taipo · 16/09/2008 09:20

Probably yes.

I was really surprised at a recent trip to the doctor though. I mentioned that dd had been complaining of leg pains and the doc said that it could be cramps and that I should make sure that she eats plently of salty snacks in the hot weather. My mum always used to say this too but it seemed to go against everything I'd read about how bad salt is for you.

nappyaddict · 16/09/2008 09:28

you can be too precious though. i mean even bananas and milk contain some sodium!!

i just try to avoid most ready made stuff, i don't add salt when i cook, nuts (except for almonds - they are sodium free), ham/bacon/salami/pepperoni etc and we don't eat much bread or cheese. i buy both unsalted butter (for cooking and sandwiches cos you can't taste it) and salted butter (for putting on plain bread/toast)

nappyaddict · 16/09/2008 09:29

oh and we don't eat too many eggs either.

FourArms · 16/09/2008 09:42

Bananas are great for leg cramps taipo

SmugColditz · 16/09/2008 10:05

having weaned two children on salt free food (as I am a good, if eye rolling, student)

I can report a HUGE upsurge of interest in food that naturally has more salt in it.

When we eat out, and the veg are slightly salted - all the veg gets eaten.

When I started allowing gravy - all the meal gets eaten.

When I allow ds1 a sprinkle of garlic salt on his pasta - the whole meal gets eaten.

All the mother-in-laws are RIGHT about that I'm afraid, children do like it.

It's about getting the balance right. I am not Annabel Carmel, I do not have that level of skill or patience. I will not make apple, leek and fenugreek puree for a toddler to smear around the plate with a carrot stick. He can have some passata, with its natural sodium, and if we are out he can have some ketchup with its added salt!

For what is meat without salt?