Flavours Can Wait: No Salt, No Sugar, No Problem

Your baby doesn’t need a sambal kick or a Milo tabur just yet.

Let’s get one thing straight: your baby isn’t a mini MasterChef contestant.They’re not out here craving nasi lemak with extra sambal or comparing rendang recipes. They literally just learned what a spoon is.

Yet somehow, every time you post your baby’s puree on Instagram, there’s always that one aunty in the comments going,

“Aiyo, like that no taste la. Add a bit of soy sauce, ok bah!”

No, aunty. Not ok.

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Why No Salt? (Not Even “Just a Little”)

Here's the truth: babies under 12 months have tiny kidneys and brand-new tastebuds. Salt and sugar are like drama—they don’t need that kind of stress in their lives (yet).

• Salt can strain their kidneys like your child strains your patience during car rides.

• Sugar? Great if you want a baby who turns into a hyper gremlin at 3am and potentially sets the stage for early tooth decay and lifelong sweet cravings. Fun times!

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Their bodies aren’t ready. Their brains are developing. And guess what?They don’t even know what “flavour” is yet. You could mash up cardboard and as long as it’s warm and mushy, they’d give it a try.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and Malaysian Ministry of Health, infants under 12 months should have less than 1g of salt per day—and that includes the natural sodium in breastmilk, formula, and food.

“Adding salt increases the risk of high blood pressure later in life. Babies’ kidneys can’t handle it, and their taste buds don’t need it.”

— Dr. Azlina Jamaluddin, Paediatric Dietitian

Salt isn’t just in your shaker. It’s hiding in:

• Chicken stock cubes

• Baby crackers

• Adult food leftovers

• Processed sauces and ready-made porridges

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So What Can They Eat?

Here’s what babies do need in those early months of solid foods:

• Natural flavours from real ingredients (sweet potato, pumpkin, fish, avocado, etc.)

• Textures and variety

• Repetition to build familiarity

• A calm, pressure-free feeding environment (read: not three aunties, one cousin and a cat all shouting, “Try laaa!”)

  
  

No chicken rice. No kicap. No condensed milk. And for the love of tiny humans, no teh tarik.

“But how will they learn to eat what we eat?”

Slowly. With patience. And ideally, with their kidneys intact.

Why No Sugar? (Even the Natural-Looking Ones)

Fun Fact: Babies Are Born with a Sweet Tooth

That’s why they take to breastmilk like it’s heaven’s milkshake. But that doesn’t mean we should ride the sugar train all the way to toddler tantrum town. Introduce natural sweetness from fruit, not sugary snacks disguised as “baby biscuits.”

Yes, even if it’s using “organic brown sugar from Himalayan unicorn farms.”

Sugar may seem harmless, but babies are little learning machines. The moment their taste buds fall in love with sweet, their brains go: “MORE OF THAT FOREVER PLEASE.”

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, added sugar:

• Increases risk of obesity and diabetes

• Can damage tiny teeth (even without visible cavities)

• May shape unhealthy food preferences for life

“Babies are born with a preference for sweet. We don’t need to encourage it further.”

— Prof. Zabidi Hussin, Paediatrician & Professor

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But My Baby Hates Plain Food!

Of course they do. They also hate car seats, naps, and not licking flip-flops.

Babies don’t need added flavours—they’re experiencing food for the first time.

A steamed carrot? Wild.

Plain potato? Delicacy.

Mushy banana? Instant obsession.

Let their little taste buds explore the real flavour of food before dressing it up like a nasi lemak buffet.

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But My Grandma Gave Us Salt and We’re Fine!

Yes, and your grandma also gave you Minyak Cap Kapak for literally everything, including heartbreak. Just because we survived, doesn’t mean it was ideal. Science evolves. Parenting evolves. You, my friend, are evolving.

So When Can I Add Flavour?

After 12 months, you can start introducing small amounts of:

• Salt (in home-cooked meals, not ultra-processed foods)

• Natural sweeteners like fruit, a touch of date or coconut

• Local herbs and spices (mild ones like garlic, turmeric, daun sup, cinnamon)

But keep it mild. Let real food do the talking.

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Baby-Led Weaning Doesn’t Mean Sambal Belacan

If you're doing baby-led weaning, great! But remember:

• Serve soft, age-appropriate, salt-free pieces

• Avoid processed foods like sausages, fishballs, or any “kids’ food” that comes in neon packaging

• Read labels. If it sounds like something a college student eats during finals week… it’s probably not for your 8-month-old.

  
  

Here’s the Big Win:

Your baby is building a relationship with food. One that doesn’t depend on artificial taste tricks or addictive flavours. You are literally shaping their palate. That’s powerful.

So yes, aunty may think the food’s too bland. But your baby? They’re discovering that carrots are sweet, broccoli is crunchy, and egg yolks are deliciously creamy.

No salt, no sugar, no problem.

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Real Parent Moment:

“I added just a little soy sauce to bubur once, and my baby refused to eat it plain ever again. I ruined him. He’s 6 now and dips everything in kicap.”

— Ain, mum from Tawau

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Final Word

This isn’t about guilt. It’s about giving your baby the best start—literally from the inside out. Let their kidneys chill. Let their taste buds bloom.

There’s plenty of time for complex flavours later.

No salt, no sugar isn’t a punishment. It’s a pause—until their tiny bodies are ready.