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Original poster

Any reason I can't give filtered water to a baby?

12 replies

GeorginaA · 09/10/2004 18:54

I don't know why, but I've got a feeling you're not supposed to give filtered (i.e. like a Brita water filter) water to a baby but should give it straight out of the tap. Is this right or am I getting confused?

I don't really want all the chemicals in ds2's drink when I start weaning him, but if there's some medical reason that filtered water is "bad" then obviously I'll just give it to him straight out of the tap.

Another silly drink question: I have a cup that you can adjust the flow on as they get older. Are you supposed to start on the slower or quicker flow for babies?!

OP posts:

Tissy · 09/10/2004 19:14

I'm sure you're right but can't remember the reason....something to do with bugs lurking in the filter, I think.

yurtgirl · 09/10/2004 19:18

Message withdrawn

Twiglett · 09/10/2004 19:19

IIRC you can't filter water for babies, it condenses something or other .. its best to give cooled boiled water

and the teats get quicker as they get older so I assume the flow does too

..thought you weren't doing it yet

Original poster

GeorginaA · 09/10/2004 19:22

I'm not I'm not! I just bought all the stuff ready so he could play with them pre-food to get used to them and started wondering!!

Hmm, I've been to the Brita site and it says it's okay for babies. But then they would say that, wouldn't they?!

Babycentre also says you only need to boil drinking water (as opposed to water for milk) until 6 months, but I've also seen the 1 year advice elsewhere. I think I've got myself even more confused now.

OP posts:

Poo2 · 09/10/2004 19:28

I've only ever used filtered water in ds's bottles, and he's still ok! I also have never bothered sterilising his things either - his fingers and clothes weren't sterile, and I certainly hadn't planned on steaming my nipples before bf either! Don't mean to poo-poo your concern, but am sure we all worry too much about things like this. But I do know you aren't supposed to give babies mineral water because of the high concentration of things in it. You're right - this is confusing!

Original poster

GeorginaA · 09/10/2004 19:34

Ah, I've found something that says water softeners are bad because they have a higher sodium (salt) content than normal water. Is that what I'm getting confused with?

Yes, I remember the mineral water thing, Poo2 - although I think some is okay if it says it is on the bottle...

I'm sure you're right that I'm just worrying too much about this, but I can't believe how much advice has changed even since ds1 was born (3 years ago)... and I can't believe how much I've forgotten from first time around as well!!

OP posts:

Poo2 · 09/10/2004 19:53

I watched a programme the other day with that little guy off Top Gear, about water and the like. According to some water board type, if you fill a jus with tap water and let it stand for 30 minutes any smell from the additives they put in it will evaporate, as will the chlorine they add.

SofiaAmes · 09/10/2004 22:58

Filtered water is not the same thing as "softened' water. A water filter like a Brita filter takes out the chlorine and not much else i think. I believe it's perfectly fine to give to a baby. However, just because it's filtered doesn't mean it's sterile and if the baby is under 6 months you shoud sill sterilize. On the other hand I think a water softener takes out important minerals and I think it adds sodium as well (though I could be wrong on the latter) and they recommend not using softened water as the main source of drinking water.

Portree · 10/10/2004 00:14

When ds was tiny, like just a few days old, the midwife said not to use the filter jug as the filter material was carbon. I didn't check this out in any way. That said, ds is now 11 months and I give him water from the Brita filter.

mears · 10/10/2004 09:06

Here is a helpful site. Seems to be OK to give filtered water
filteredwater

Original poster

GeorginaA · 10/10/2004 11:19

Portree ... how odd! Surely carbon is common enough (burn the baby's food a bit and you have some nice black carbon bits in it!!) - it can't be harmful can it?!

Thanks for the link mears!

OP posts:

edam · 10/10/2004 11:43

We used filtered water when we moved here (ds 7 mos then) as the water is soooooo hard unfiltered boiled was giving ds a really bad tummy. Even harder than London water, which I didn't think was possible!

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