Baby only likes salty foods, rejecting unsalted meals?

I understand your concern, especially during the transition to family meals when babies often reject unsalted tastes. This is a very common challenge for parents.

Under 1 year, kidneys can't process salt efficiently, so extra salt isn't recommended - that's correct. Here are some ways to make unsalted food appealing:

• Use natural flavor boosters: Add naturally sweet vegetables like carrots, sweet potato, squash, or pumpkin to the meal. These add flavor without salt.
• Herbs and spices: Dill, parsley, basil, fresh mint, cumin, or sweet paprika are safe and flavorful aromatically.
• Texture and consistency: Sometimes it's not the taste but the texture that's rejected. Try mashed instead of pureed, or slightly chunky consistency.
• Mix with familiar taste: Adding a bit of breast milk or formula can bring a familiar taste and ease acceptance.
• Own plate presentation: If baby sees you eating salted food while giving them unsalted, they may see it as "different." Serving it in their own bowl looking similar to yours helps.
• Persistence without pressure: A rejected food can be tried again 5-10 days later in a different presentation. Babies may need 10-15 tries to accept a new taste.

Unsalted eating is very important for kidney health during this sensitive period, and within a few weeks your baby's taste buds will start to adapt. Make sure one regular meal is always something they enjoy and eat easily.