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EWmums

EWfood

ewmoda

Tap water or Bottled water for your baby's formula? Which one is the lesser of the two evils?

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Anonymous (not verified)

0

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 26 June 2011 - 12:49

One more question, I wonder: what do people use in the UK in terms of water..?! In the UK tap water, some might boil and cool first. Bottled water in the UK is quite expensive. Here I use filtered, boiled and filtered again tap water for DD now that I've introduced water as a drink.

61

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 26 June 2011 - 10:33

Thanks BFC - and yes next time I go to the paed with him I'll check with him too. I've made up my mind to look at Arwa next time I'm shopping too. The sodium bit looks considerably less than the C4 own. I have been using the tap water very recently for us both and we've been ok but I think I'll go back to bottles and discuss fully with my doctor soon. One more question, I wonder: what do people use in the UK in terms of water..?!

671

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 25 June 2011 - 20:23

Pav, if those numbers are indeed mg/L, then they look well below the limits. Remember that there is wide variation in the mineral content of various waters, and some are indeed quite low (and not really "mineral" water at all). To be on the safe side, though, I'd always recommend getting your baby's doctor's opinion.

1238

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 25 June 2011 - 15:26

My housemaid put a baby's sock over our tap because water was spraying all around and within a day, the sock turned deep brown. Bottled water for me!

904

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 25 June 2011 - 15:12

We use Arwa & it's always available in C4 & it's one of the cheapest bottled water available here, It has: Sodium: 3.3 Chloride: less than 1 Total dissolved solids: 115

61

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 23 June 2011 - 17:30

BFC - your numbers are very helpful but I wonder if you could help me on these below as I don't really understand - they're absolutely incomparable to your guidelines...! (The bottle says the figures are Mg / l) Sodium: 13 Nitrate: 0.1 Sulphate: 1 Bicarbonates: 35 Chloride: 45 Total dissolved solids: 115 THese figures are taken from Carrefour's '1' Pure Natural Spring Water. Can anyone advise as to these levels being too high or OK? Thanks!

671

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 23 June 2011 - 15:27

A few years ago, the UK Dept of Health issued the following guidelines for maximum mineral concentrations in drinking water used to prepare infant formula: Sodium 200 milligrams per litre (mg/l) Nitrate 100 mg/l (best below 50 mg/l) Nitrite 3 mg/l Sulphate 500 mg/l (http://www.babymilkaction.org/pages/bwater.html) Hope it helps a bit! xx

152

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 23 June 2011 - 15:05

As others recommend ARWA is what I've been using and it seems to have the lowest sodium content. Tap Water- Nope!

730

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 23 June 2011 - 13:18

ARWA bottled water.

Anonymous (not verified)

0

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 23 June 2011 - 12:39

I think I have made a decision....but before I confirm....will it make a difference if i use a water filter for tap water??? and then boil it or is it still risky....? Wht is the name of special baby water?

121

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 23 June 2011 - 12:15

There is no ideal water solution for formula in this region. I have no regrets at all about using bottled water for my baby's formula, at least you can read the label of the bottle for the mineral content, whereas you can never be sure what exactly is in the tap water. I don't even use tap water for my own tea. If you are worried about the mineral content and are using water from properly sealed bottles you can consider not boiling the water as that further increases the mineral content. As I said, no ideal solution here. You could use special baby water but that would work out very expensive. Please read this recent link from Arabian Business regarding the safety of water in the UAE. I would really not give tap water here to my baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!! http://www.arabianbusiness.com/dubai-warns-residents-over-drinking-water-46463.html

127

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 23 June 2011 - 12:03

The water put into supply by DEWA is perfectly safe to drink (but due to its high sodium content it can cause skin problems and hair loss) However the water coming out of your tap may or may not be. The problem is that whether you live in an apartment or villa the water will probably have been stored in a ground or roof tank on its way to your tap. The quality of the water coming out of your tap is highly dependent on how well these tanks have been constructed and are maintained. I would strongly recommend against drinking the tap water directly, unless you know categorically that any storages between you and the water mains are well constructed and well looked after.

fairycakeyumm21878

2239

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 23 June 2011 - 11:54

I used Arwa for my LO bottles since she was born for 2 years now, was rec to use it by my doctor....I wouldnt trust the tap water here. And i will use Arwa for my next one due in a couple of months. This has been discussed alot have a search on the forum lots of opinions on it.

61

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 23 June 2011 - 11:44

Hi Livinia, Funnily enough I've just had this dilemma and have now switched to tap water - boiled of course. My little one's now seven months. DH and I have always drunk the tap water here (for over four years now) and I only went to bottled when I was pregnant and later, for LO... My recent concern about the bottled issue was something I read that suggests mineral waters shouldn't be given due to the potentially high mineral content (not just sodium). Since it seems most bottled waters here are tap water any way, I thought I'd try and make a change. He seems to be doing fine with the switch... As usual there will be differences of opinion and there's no right or wrong answer unfortunately but good luck with your decision and know at least there's someone else who's going through this too! ;o)

Anonymous (not verified)

0

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 23 June 2011 - 11:06

Im not sure what to do...I have been giving my DS bottled water from day one for his formula which means for 3 months now he has drank it this way....he is 6mnts now. But i read it is bad for them...so now what? I know u get some water like Arwa that has less minerales but sodium is still high and then I know u should never boil bottled water as it actually brings out the minerales more...this i read in a book and on google btw. So tap water in the UAE....mmmmmm not so sure bout that...if it was in my country it wouldnt be a discussion..... I am thinking tap water, filterered with the filter jug, then boiled....? I really do hope that 3 months of bottled water did not mess up my son's kidneys...there doesnt seem to be a problem but then again I am not really that sharp when it comes to babies. Opinion?

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