My baby is about to turn one, and I heard somewhere along the way that they can not have additional salt before then. I have followed this very rigorously; I am not sure why I didn’t question it, but recently I have heard multiple comments of how crucial salt is for brain development, and newborns who were fed low sodium diets scored lower on IQ tests later in life. I am afraid I have screwed up my child now. 
It is as if I tried to protect him but instead put him at a disadvantage.
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Nope, my physician informed me they could not ingest enough to be detrimental, so I didn’t worry about it. However, in general, I do not add a lot of salt to foods. Usually, the herbs and spices I use are plenty for flavor.
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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.
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Before 1, we avoided additional salt at home but did not worry about it when we went out or had supper at someone’s house. She is 14 months old and eats whatever we eat.
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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.
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I had no idea this was a thing; the 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.