Brita Water Filter Kettle

[cocococo]

Have just bought one of these, it's a kettle with a built in Brita water filter and it makes tea and coffee without the yukky, slimy aftertaste our tap water seems to have.

Just wondering if anyone knows whether it's safe to use this fitlered boiled water for DS? It says it uses carbon to filter the water. DS is 15 months so I'm not making formula up with it just using it for him to drink.

Have'nt really thought about it before cocococo - have seen these advertised, and have been sorely tempted - I loathe the film you get on the top of your tea sometimes - and our area has particularly hard water.
Anyways, I've got a Brita Filter (jug), and give dd the water from this to drink (not, to my knowledge, adversly) - could be wrong tho'. Can't help thinking the filtered stuff has got to be better - certainly tastes better. Our tap water can have a very odd metallic taste at times - makes tea and coffee taste foul.
Has anyone got one of those water softener devices installed, which filters the water before it comes out of the tap? Seen these advertised, and wandered if they are any good?......

cocococo I use one of these too. I used to always use an ordinary brita filter jug, but thought this was a perfect solution! I do use it for bottles, but we also have a water cooler that dispenses mineral water at either room temp or chilled. The water that we have delivered for that is in 19 liter bottles and is certifie for use in babies bottles for feeds.

I can't see any reason why filtered water should be bad, as long as it hasb't been standing too long.

leese, we have a Franke water filter plumbed into the sink, the water from that tastes good (mind you our water is quite soft here and tastes OK anyway) - it does take the chlorine smell/taste out, I used to fill a container and keep it in the fridge usually.

Unfortunately we can't use it at the mo because it is leaking. They are quite expensive to install and so is the chalky filter tube that goes inside, so I'm not sure whether to recommend it or not!

My mum has a water-softener device fitted (very hard water in our area) and the difference in taste is amazing. She saved money by having it fitted to one specific tap to use for drinking, so only needed a small unit. The filter bit needs replacing about 6 monthly and costs £15 approx. We were advised however NOT to use this tap for babies as the chemicals can be quite harsh on young immune systems.

The filter jugs are fine as they use carbon, not chemicals.

I was told that no-one must drink softened water from those tap things, as the amount of salt that is added to soften the tap water could be very dangerous to adults (and even more so to babies and children)

I have a Brita water filter as the water in our area is incredibly hard. With DS nos 1 I asked the Health Visitor about using water from this to boil for bottles.

She recommended not as even though it is carbon, when removing some minerals it causes concentrations of others.

She didn't say to waht age they shouldn't have it, but to be on the safe side I always use tap water.

Just had the following respone from Brita - perfectly safe!...............:

We do occasionally hear of cases where parents are informed that filtered
water is not suitable for babies, but this is often based on out-of-date
information and is generally for one of two reasons:

1. There has been some considerable confusion among the public and some
   health professionals about the difference between filtered and softened
   water. Water softened with a sodium water softener, which is regenerated
   with common salt, will reduce the temporary hardness from tap water, but in
   doing so the sodium content of the filtered water is increased and therefore
   should not be used for drinking water by adults or babies. Brita water
   filters do remove most of the temporary hardness i.e. scale, but do not
   increase the sodium content of the filtered water.

2. When water filters were first introduced, there were concerns that
   bacteria may grow in the filter cartridge. However, all Brita cartridges
   are specially treated with an inhibitor to prevent bacterial growth. The
   anti-bacterial action is achieved by treating the carbon with a minute trace
   of silver, which is a very effective disinfectant. The silver content of the
   filtered water may be slightly increased, but it remains within the EC
   recommended levels for drinking water.

As with all water used to prepare babies feeds, the filtered water should be
boiled before use, until the Health Visitor advises otherwise. Brita water
filters significantly improve the quality of tap water by reducing levels of
impurities such as aluminium, lead, copper, chlorine, pesticides and other
organic substances, therefore making it more suitable than tap water for
preparing babies feeds. The contents of the cartridge are 100 percent
food-grade materials and are perfectly safe.

I hope this answers your questions.

Kind regards

Margaret Chase
BritaCare Advisor