Accidentally been giving baby artificially softened water

[Jellybean4774]

I have twins who are 4 months old and we’ve been combi feeding from the beginning. Some weeks half their feeds have been breast milk but others I’ve needed to feed them full formula feeds. In the first 3 weeks we were just using pre-made formula but from then on we’ve been making up powdered formula. My DH and I only realised a couple of days ago that you shouldn’t make up formula with artificially softened water. We knew about the rule of not making up formula with bottled water but this rule on softened water completely passed us by!

We live in London and our house is supplied via a water softener which we add salt to. None of our taps have a hard water supply. I’m now so worried we’ve been feeding our children a large portion of their feeds with higher sodium water. They seem fine in themselves and not dehydrated. Just the usual reflux symptoms that babies can have at this age.

I’ve stopped now with the powdered formula and have switched back to pre-made formula while I wait to call the water softener company on Monday to fit a hard water tap and I’m going to get a GP appointment to ask for some checks on the twins’ kidneys but I was wondering if anyone else has done the same in the past and their baby has been fine? Just looking for some reassurance in the meantime but I know it’s not great what we’ve been doing and feel so guilty now for not thinking!! I’m hoping that combi feeding and the fact that they got pre-made for the first 3 weeks may have helped avert some damage?

Don’t worry, it’s not advised but it’s not that awful. The softened water doesn’t actually have salt added to it in the softening process it’s just used to refresh the resin that actually softens the water.

Also doing blood tests on babies to look at their kidney function in this scenario would not be advised.

Thank you, that's good to know

Oh okay, that's interesting to hear. Why would it not be advisable?

I know I’m late to this but curious what did the doctor say? We did the same thing and didn’t know

We didn't go to the GP in the end as we called them and they didn't seem worried. We called the health visitor too who also didn't sound too worried (although I don't think either the GP or health visitor really understood what I meant and thought I meant naturally soft water rather than artificially softened!). We've now had a reverse osmosis filter fitted on the same tap as we can't get a hard water supply into our kitchen. The reverse osmosis tap reduces the sodium content though and is safe for prepping formula. Just to reassure you though, our twins seem absolutely fine so no adverse effects thankfully! Provided you stop once you realise it should be okay.

Thank you I appreciate your feedback. I feel so dumb that it took us so long to realize. We did it probably 6 months!!!!!!! I hadn’t even thought of it truly. I hope she will be okay