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Original poster

Homemade baby food and water!!!!!

46 replies

Laura898 · 30/10/2019 17:56

Hello!
On my last visit to the pediatrician with my baby I got the green light for solid foods, before I was even pregnant I knew I wanted to make her baby food at home. My daughter is 4 months old and while starting my research i stumbled upon an article talking about nitrates. I may be overthinking and exaggerating but upon digging a little deeper I can’t find any kind of water that’s completely safe!?!?!? If it’s not the nitrates then it’s the Microplastics leaking into the water from the bottles you can buy at the store. If not it’s reviews from jugs like Gerber pure that have made babies 🤒 sick, to Flouride level and alkalinity levels in both tap and bottled water. I was so happy and excited about this first experience and now it’s turned into a nightmare. If someone can share their experiences to ease my mind and give me any tips or pointers I’ll appreciate it greatly!!
Thank you in advance 😊

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 30/10/2019 17:58

You're really over thinking this. Just use tap water. Your baby will be perfectly fine, I assure you.

dementedpixie · 30/10/2019 17:58

I think you need to stop googling on scaremongering websites and calm down a bit.

DartmoorDoughnut · 30/10/2019 17:59

Dude step away from google

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families Weaning
dementedpixie · 30/10/2019 17:59

Are you in the USA? Dont know if we have Gerber foods in the UK

CatFaceCats · 30/10/2019 18:01

Probably do more harm to the baby’s gut by feeding solids at 4 months than by tap water I’d assume? Milk has more than enough nutrients in and given that you haven’t mentioned any health issues that require early weaning then why the rush?

BlackInk · 30/10/2019 18:01

At 4 months your baby is too young for solid food really. Why are you wanting to rush into it? Milk is far more nutritious and filling than pureed veg/fruit or baby rice/porridge. By 6 months (the recommended age for weaning) your baby can drink tap water and eat almost anything you do. Why not wait until then?
If you really want to start, I'm sure boiled tap water is absolutely fine (unless you live somewhere where the tap water is unsafe?). However, I think most people just use whatever milk the baby is on (breast/formula) to mix with purees etc.

Original poster
Laura898 · 30/10/2019 18:03

@dementedpixie yes I am in the United States, i have never used Gerber but a couple reviews really scared me with Gerber pure water.

OP posts:
notso · 30/10/2019 18:03

Four months is young for weaning, guidelines suggest 6 months.

I wouldn't google any more about water maybe check out the signs of being ready to wean instead.

Original poster
Laura898 · 30/10/2019 18:04

My daughter has has pretty bad reflux since early on. My pediatrician started oatmeal cereal since 3 months.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 30/10/2019 18:05

Can you not drink tap water? Why would you buy overpriced 'special' water?

dementedpixie · 30/10/2019 18:06

You're already weaning then. What water do you drink?

Original poster
Laura898 · 30/10/2019 18:09

I buy the ready to use formula bottles, she had trouble with the powdered. I buy any bottled water that’s on sale at the grocery store; cook with tap water for myself and my husband.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 30/10/2019 18:11

Cook with tap water for your baby too then

dementedpixie · 30/10/2019 18:12

Do you not drink tap water then? In the UK we would mostly drink tap water rather than bottled if at home

melonhead · 30/10/2019 18:12

There are studies that show that microplastics are not in bottled water - it's not the plastic bottle that's the issue, it's more from the water itself as the particles are from other contaminants like washing clothes, so any water will have it to some extent, but anyway, we just wee/poo it out and it's not harmful.

ActualHornist · 30/10/2019 18:15

Pretty sure bottled mineral water isn’t good for babies. If that’s different to just bottled water then more fool me. All my babies had and do have tap water.

BertrandRussell · 30/10/2019 18:15

Why are you starting solid food so early? Does the baby have reflux?

Original poster
Laura898 · 30/10/2019 18:22

I tend to overthink A LOT but knowing that the optimum age IS 6 months for solids and also when their digestive systems are mature enough I don’t want any harsh chemicals in the water for my daughter. That being said my pediatrician recommends starting solids because of her reflux, she is sitting up perfectly in her high chair and is doing very well since the pediatrician started her cereal bottle. I’ve found out that my water supply is ground water which I’ve heard can be contaminated which is why I’m worrying. Should have clarified better before.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 30/10/2019 18:26

You put cereal in a bottle?? That's not recommended either. NHS says this about bottled water:

If you have to use bottled water to make up a feed, check the label to make sure the water contains:

  • less than 200 milligrams (mg) a litre of sodium (also written as Na)
  • less than 250mg a litre of sulphate (also written as SO4)
isabellerossignol · 30/10/2019 18:26

I don't think many people here are in a position to offer advice, as most will be in the UK. UK tapwater is very safe, is it different in the USA?

NeverGotMyPuppy · 30/10/2019 18:27

I've got to say I am surprised by your paediatrician's advice. It seems quite outdated from what I understand.

However if you are insistent that you properly wean her tap water will be fine.

Original poster
Laura898 · 30/10/2019 18:29

@dementedpixie that’s what my pediatrician advised specifically for me to buy a bottle for cereal and add one teaspoon per ounce.

OP posts:
BertrandRussell · 30/10/2019 18:31

Laura - that goes so much against the advice given in the U.K. I wonder if you’d be better off asking on a US forum?

GrumpyHoonMain · 30/10/2019 18:34

You need to go to a US forum because this weaning advice goes against most other parts of the world

Troels · 30/10/2019 18:41

Your Pediatrician must be a pretty old one. He's giving advice that is way out of date. My Dd is 14 and was born in the US, we were told no solids till 6 months and then only if they were sitting well/unaided in a high chair, nothing in bottles except milk or water, single foods introduced at a time, one each week. No eggs before a year, no peanuts/peanut butters before a year or longer.
Have a look on babycenter.com and Kellymom.com