Posted by
ShazP
20 yrs ago
I had been told by a DR that distilled water is like using boiled water. Even so, I used to boil distilled water. Once the water reached boiling point, I used to let it simmer for about 4-5 minutes & then put it in a flask & use it for my baby's formula. It worked well for me. For a brand, I would think any distilled wter would be fine.
Please support our advertisers:
Yet, I'm fairly sure it's not advisable to use distilled water for babies anyway. My research suggested that a low mineral water, like Volvic, is what's appropriate.
Please support our advertisers:
Yet, I'm fairly sure it's not advisable to use distilled water for babies anyway. My research suggested that a low mineral water, like Volvic, is what's appropriate.
Please support our advertisers:
@@
20 yrs ago
If in Hong Kong there is a brand sold at Bumps to Babes and Great that is appropriate for bottled water. Personally I just use Bonaqua from the bottle - I don't bother to boil it.
Please support our advertisers:
Many years ago, my pediatrician told me to use mineral water for my baby or else get a prescription for fluoride. At home now, I always buy mineral water which I assume is fluoridated (but I don't know in China -- I recently read a caution that there is a lot of fraud involving bottled water!). I think this is a question that maybe I will revisit with my kids' doctor, including to ask what brands of water are reputable.
Please support our advertisers:
I don't mean to alarm anyone but it's really not appropriate to use mineralised water for a babies bottle. An infant under the age of one does not have the ability to process the minerals in such water due to the imaturity of their livers and kidneys. For instance bonaqua contains sodium which is an elecrolite derived from salt. You wouldn't add salt to your childs formula and therefore it isn't safe to use mineral water. All formula milks contain the appropriate levels of electrolites such as potasium, sodium and magnesium etc, even for sweaty HK. so there is no need to supplement. As for fluridated bottled water, again I wouldn't advise as fluride is basically the same chemical compound which is used for rat poison. I would even go as far as to use non fluridated tooth paste for babies and children under two. Good dental hygiene and a healthy diet is all that is required to prevent cavities in children. Basically distilled, non mineralised water is appropriate and to avoid concerns over hygiene choose a reputable brand such as watsons water, or even boiled cooled tap water is safe although this will contain a certain ammount of chlorine due to the process used for sanitising tap water.
Please support our advertisers:
cd
20 yrs ago
I have 5 kids and have always used boiled tap water for tham. Boiled in a normal kettle, as does everyone I know
Please support our advertisers:
Hmm, nickqwen, as for mineral water, I have no problem believing what you say because the definition of "mineral water" could mean anything. Calcium is a "mineral," for example, and babies need it. I'm sure it's important to know specifically what minerals are in the water you are using and to make sure that nothing in the mineral water would be harmful to baby. I would not give my baby perrier or high sodium mineral water, either. So maybe you are talking "apples" and I am talking "oranges" even though we both use the term mineral water. On the other hand, I think that your statement comparing fluoride to rat poison is outlandish. True, fluoridated toothpaste should never be used for any baby that might swallow it, because too much fluoride is very bad. On the other hand, trace amounts of fluoride -- I mean properly measured trace amounts, not just unmeasured doses -- give strength to teeth over a lifetime. That's why every community in the United States puts fluoride it its drinking water (which we freely drink from the taps by the way). (Is this lack of fluoride during formation of the teeth one of the reasons so many Asians have rotten looking teeth?) BTW, my grandfather was raised in an area where the ground water was naturally mineralized and fluoridated. He lived into his 90's and never had a tooth cavity in his life.
Please support our advertisers:
I did just catch a huge mistake I made, Em. My apologies. I just didn't catch that you were asking about water used for formula. I breastfed my babies, so my discussions with my pediatrician were all aimed for babies who are just getting water for thirst and pleasure, not receiving quantities of water in their formula. For the quantity of water used to mix formula, I would think distilled water the proper way to go, since formula is supposed to be complete nutrition on its own. Sorry for my oversight. I still think the bottom line is, talk with your baby's doctor. It's an excellent "well baby" question any pediatrician would be happy to discuss.
Please support our advertisers:
Water and Formula
You don't need to use bottled water in your baby's formula unless there's a problem with your water supply. Check with your health care provider and with your local water utility about your water if you have any questions. Many municipalities will issue a notice if water is unfit for babies or pregnant women. After they're 6 months old, babies also need fluoride. Bottled water may not contain any, and your water supply may or may not have adequate quantities.
A few guidelines:
Run COLD tap water a minute or so. This helps reduce the risk of lead or other mineral contamination
Make sure to allow the water to return to room temp *before* mixing the formula. The extreme heat of boiling water can destroy some of the nutrients in formula, and of course, you don't want to burn the baby!
Do not boil water more than once. This concentrates any impurities that might be present.
If you use bottled water, make sure it specifically says "sterilized," because not all bottled water is sterilized. If it does not say "sterilized," then you should boil it, just like tap water.
Well Baby Clinic 2849 1500
Tuesdays and Thursdays
Matilda International Hospital
Hong Kong
Please support our advertisers:
You must be logged in to be able to reply.
Login now
Copy Link
Facebook
Gmail
Mail