My baby is about to turn one, and I heard somewhere along the way that they can’t have additional salt before then. I’ve followed this very rigorously; I’m not sure why I didn’t question it, but recently I’ve heard multiple comments about how crucial salt is for brain development, and newborns who were fed low sodium diets scored lower on IQ tests later in life. I’m afraid I’ve screwed up my child now. 
It’s as if I tried to protect him but instead put him at a disadvantage.
Nope, my pediatrician assured me they couldn’t drink enough to be detrimental, so I didn’t worry about it.
But, in general, I don’t put a lot of salt on foods. Usually, the herbs and spices I use are plenty for flavor.
I questioned my pediatrician about this, and they said the baby can eat whatever we cook at home as long as the salt isn’t too much. They very much just said no, honey. That being said, the majority of what we give him in the first year will consist of one or a few ingredients. Yesterday, he ate homemade refried beans and carnitas, which include some salt but not an overwhelming quantity. Other meals, he eats plain fruit and vegetables, so I’m aware of it, but it doesn’t consume my thoughts.
Before 1, we avoided additional salt at home but didn’t worry about it when we went out or had supper at someone else’s house.
She is 14 months old and eats whatever we eat.
This happened to us as well. For extra salt, and in general. Food at home was closely controlled and prepared from scratch. Then, when we went out or to someone else’s place, I decided not to worry about the food. The balance worked.
I had no idea this was a thing; baby has simply been eating what we eat. We cook from scratch and utilize spices, though I’ve been flavoring more lightly. Oops.
He appears to be in good health, since he walks early and is quite active and communicative. My main focus has been on balancing food groups, trying new things, and incorporating vegetables and protein into his diet. As a parent, there is so much to worry about; this one was not on my radar, I guess lol.
Same. Our toddler has always eaten what we eat. I made sure our meal was less hot, but I never left it underseasoned. I didn’t even realize that was something people did.
We were instructed not to worry about it, just avoid adding excess salt to their meals. However, you can make family meals with a normal amount of salt without any problems.
I mean, a lot of food contains naturally occurring sodium, so I wouldn’t worry about the infant not receiving enough salt. That said, I attempt to minimize my son’s salt intake, but I’m not a puritan. For example, he ate some potatoes for dinner tonight, and I sprinkled salt on them. Who wants bland potatoes? 
I also feed him Mac and cheese, but I use Annie’s reduced salt version. I feed him tofu and lightly season it with salt. You get the picture. I don’t think babies should be eating McDonald’s French fries, but I do think they can have a sprinkling of salt on things where it’s appropriate.
I’m not a nutritionist, so take everything with a grain of salt. 
I did not. I read somewhere that the increased salt worry is mainly related with manufactured goods, rather than the salt you add to your meals when you make them yourself. We cook almost every meal at home, and I always use a little less salt than the recipes call for.
I don’t add salt or much salt if I can avoid it, but I see a difference in his eating habits when he eats salted foods. Aka he likes it more.
I gave my daughter some mashed potato from my homemade corn chowder tonight because she has recently expressed a desire to eat with the rest of the family. She’s just been on solids for a few weeks (6.5 months old), and this is the first “seasoned” food she’s eaten. Also, avoid added salt, but don’t worry about the tiny quantity found in items like a teaspoon of potatoes. She thought it was the best and kept lunging for more! 
I don’t think I ever even thought about this
Our pediatrician recommended a snack with added salt, but he also suggested using added salt in moderation as a method to start forming excellent eating habits.
The advice mainly concerns children who might be consuming a lot of ultra-processed convenience foods and excessive takeout, which are very high in sodium and can overwhelm their small bodies. My doctor mentioned that it’s fine to season home-cooked meals. My little one primarily eats a whole foods diet and only consumes high-sodium foods about once a week. Because of this, I’m comfortable seasoning our meals a bit while cooking. I just avoid adding any salt after cooking and don’t salt foods I’ve specifically prepared for her, like scrambled eggs or toasted sandwiches. Instead, I use herbs and spices in those cases.
I highly doubt you’ve harmed your child. You were following general public health advice given to many parents worldwide. If there were a crisis of children with low IQs due to inadequate sodium intake, the recommendations would be changed or made more nuanced. The potential for low IQ due to hyponatremia (low sodium) comes from studies on premature babies.
We have not given her any salt and intend to do so till she is at least one year old. That is not to say we have not seasoned her food now that she is eating solids. We’ve utilized cinnamon, nutmeg, dill, parsley, oregano, tarragon, and other spices. But there is no extra salt or sugar.