Daily intakes of sodium, potassium, chloride and magnesium in infants between the ages of 1 and 3 years were determined. Diets of infants attending a nursery in Osaka Prefecture were collected by the duplicate portion method. Dietary intakes of sodium and potassium were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry after low-temperature ashing, the dietary intake of chloride was measured by Mohr's method, and the dietary intake of magnesium was measured by ICP emission spectrometry. The mean sodium intakes were 1.91g (1-year-old), 1.77g (2-year-old) and 1.66g (3-year-old), the mean potassium intakes were 1.33g (1-year-old), 1.26g (2-year-old) and 1.02g (3-year-old), and the mean chloride intakes were 3.50g (1-year-old), 3.07g (2-year-old) and 3.06g (3-year-old). The mean salt intakes estimated on the basis of chloride determination were significantly greater than those estimated on the basis of sodium determination. The mean magnesium intakes were 139mg (1-year-old), 118mg (2-year-old) and 106mg (3-year-old).