Salt for toddlers: how much is too much?
Salt is one of the easiest things to overfeed a toddler without realising it. Bread, cheese, stock cubes, and packaged snacks all add up quickly. UK guidance sets clear daily limits by age.
Daily salt limits
- 1–3 years: 2g salt per day (0.8g sodium)
- 4–6 years: 3g salt per day (1.2g sodium)
- Adults: 6g salt per day
Babies under 1 should have very little salt because their kidneys cannot process it well.
Common high-salt foods
- Processed meats: bacon, ham, sausages, salami
- Cheese and cheese-based snacks
- Crisps and salted crackers
- Stock cubes, gravy, and salty sauces
- Some breads and breakfast cereals
Check labels for sodium or salt per 100g. As a rough guide, more than 1.5g salt per 100g is high; 0.3g or less is low.
How Tenderheart flags salt
When you forward your supermarket receipt, Tenderheart highlights items that are typically high in salt for toddlers. The reply names the concern, explains the limit, and suggests lower-salt alternatives when there is an easy swap.
Check your next shop. Forward your order confirmation to [email protected].