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EWmums

EWfood

ewmoda

Safe water to use for baby's formula?

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178

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 16 January 2011 - 16:08

WA I did read somewhere that some research had shown that the nutrients are NOT destroyed by using 100c water, but I am not sure if this has been confirmed by wider studies. Would be interesting to know. Pav, WA has good advice there - just start making up the feeds as she suggests and you can rest easy. Read the guidance notes I posted too. X

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 16 January 2011 - 16:08

this sounds like an absolute palaver to me - when he wants to be fed, he can't wait! can i microwave the 1oz of water? and can i use boiled tap water? being v brief as bubs is in one arm! ;o)

648

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EW GURU

Latest post on 16 January 2011 - 16:06

Does anyone know if you can get S26 Gold in the ready made cartons? Ask one of the supermarkets to ship it in for you, Spinneys used to do this for me

904

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EW GURU

Latest post on 16 January 2011 - 16:04

You should add formula to water at the temperature of 70 oC to kill the bacteria (boil water & leave it to settle for 10 mins) 1 oz of water is enough to sterilize the whole amount of formula, then you can top up with cold water directly from the water bottle. It's not adviseable to add boiling watet to formula without leaving it to cool down a bit as it kills the nutrients in formula

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 16 January 2011 - 16:00

I'm a bit shocked to read this about formula not being sterile.... my little chap is 8 weeks and fed a combination of my milk and topped up with formula (Aptimal). I've been boiling up C4 bottled water and refrigerating it until making up a feed, so far no problems but am still a bit unclear from this thread what's the correct thing to do. It sounds as though I've been doing it all wrong and now am worried!

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 16 January 2011 - 15:51

Does anyone know if you can get S26 Gold in the ready made cartons?

178

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 16 January 2011 - 15:44

I've done lots of reading on different forums (mumsnet.com is a great resource) and the WHO website etc on this. Trouble is the "breast is best" message is so strong (rightly) in many countries that health workers/GPs etc are either ill informed about formula or actively discouraged from giving advice on the subject. What I have learnt can be summarised as: 1. Formula is NOT sterile. The bacteria in formula CAN IN SOME RARE cases cause a very severe form of food poisoning that has led to infant deaths in many parts of the world (more so in the developing world as the problem is compounded by lack of access to sterilising equipment/clean water - but there have been cases in the not too distant past in France and Belgium - hardly 3rd world). The only way to ensure that said bacteria are nuked is to make it up with water that is OVER 70C 2. Formula cartons are sterile and therefore a great back up for night feeds/when out and about The only government I have seen be truly brave enough to give out formula feeding advice is the Irish Government (they do have the highest incidence of bottle feeding in Europe so I guess they have to). A link to their guidelines (NOTE 22) can be found here: http://www.fsai.ie/resources_and_publications/guidance_notes.html

648

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EW GURU

Latest post on 16 January 2011 - 14:40

http://www.timeoutdubai.com/bodyandmind/features/3874-dubais-best-bottled-water When my children were little I only used the SMA readymade pouches as I really didn’t trust the tap water. If I gave them water I would only use Arwa or Evian due to the low sodium content.

178

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 16 January 2011 - 12:27

That's what I do too fairycakeyumm - it's easy and safe! ETA I use cartons for night feeds and when out and about. <em>edited by frannie on 16/01/2011</em>

fairycakeyumm21878

2239

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EW EXPERT

Latest post on 16 January 2011 - 11:54

For both of my dd here i used Arwa water, boiled in a kettle leave for 10 min pour in say 8 oz of water then scoops of formula ..then cool down straight away in a bowl of cold water....10 min later they drink the formula. In the UK i done exa ct same thing but used tap water instead of Arwa water.

904

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EW GURU

Latest post on 16 January 2011 - 10:48

I'm not sure I agree WA - formula is not sterile and should therefore only be made with near boiling water in order to kill any bacteria present. So you are saying we need to use hot water to make the formula and than let it cool down? I thought we had to boil the water, let it cool down and than make the formula. confused now!:\: Yasmin, you only need to boil 1 oz (30 mls) of water if you'r using bottled water, add it after 5-10 mins to the bottle, all the amount of formula needed for the feed, stir with a sppon or shake, then top up with the remaining amount of water directly from the water bottle. If you'r preparing 150 ml bottle for example, add 30 mls of hot water to the feeding bottle, 5 scoops of formula, stir/shake (to sterilise the formula) then top up with the remaining 120 mls of water directy from the bottle of water.

178

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 16 January 2011 - 10:40

Yes! The World Health Organisation recommends: Reconstitution with boiling water and consumption as soon as the formula is cool. Where boiling water is not available, reconstitute PIF with safe water at room temperature, and consume immediately... See this thread for discussion... http://www.expatwoman.com/forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=54476 ET change to the correct thread! <em>edited by frannie on 16/01/2011</em>

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 16 January 2011 - 10:34

I'm not sure I agree WA - formula is not sterile and should therefore only be made with near boiling water in order to kill any bacteria present. So you are saying we need to use hot water to make the formula and than let it cool down? I thought we had to boil the water, let it cool down and than make the formula. confused now!:\:

178

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 16 January 2011 - 09:04

I'm not sure I agree WA - formula is not sterile and should therefore only be made with near boiling water in order to kill any bacteria present.

904

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EW GURU

Latest post on 15 January 2011 - 13:24

Slightly off topic, but when do you stop boiling the water they use just for drinking? In Europe it was 6 months, but we used tap water which I would not here. If you are using bottled water for drinking, you dont need to boil it even before 6 months.

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 15 January 2011 - 03:36

Slightly off topic, but when do you stop boiling the water they use just for drinking? In Europe it was 6 months, but we used tap water which I would not here.

904

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EW GURU

Latest post on 15 January 2011 - 00:26

Thanks for all your replies ladies! We are also using Arwa for our son, when he's just NB upto now that he's 6 months. Arwa has the lowest sodium content. Masafi has a large amount of sodium. I never thought that Arwa has a large fluoride cOntent, but do we need to worry about this? What's the effect? We also boiled the water first with the formula & cool it before giving him. Masafi has 10 mg/ltr. Babies usually drink around 500 mls of water in formula, which is 5 mg of soldium. Babies are allowed 1 grm of salt before the age of 1 so 5 mg in 24 hrs is almost nothing. Arwa has lower around 3.5 mg/ltr. But all those amounts dont really count. As for fluoride, they'r not suppose to have it before the age of 1 year. Boiling meneral water will increase the concentrate of menerals. As I mentioned earlier, you can boil 1 oz of water, add the whole amount of fomula to the hot water, then top up with room temp water directly from the bottle. Babies exposed to fluoride are at high risk of developing dental fluorosis - a permanent tooth defect caused by fluoride damaging the cells which form the teeth <em>edited by wickedangel_78 on 15/01/2011</em>

35

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 15 January 2011 - 00:06

Thanks for all your replies ladies! We are also using Arwa for our son, when he's just NB upto now that he's 6 months. Arwa has the lowest sodium content. Masafi has a large amount of sodium. I never thought that Arwa has a large fluoride cOntent, but do we need to worry about this? What's the effect? We also boiled the water first with the formula & cool it before giving him.

1029

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 14 January 2011 - 19:41

Evian for any formular that I give him. It does get expensive but it is one of the only options on the market that does NOT contain fluoride (actually there is very small amount but less than the others). Wickedangel, I always thought that Masafi was quite high in sodium. Arwa is much better (but contains fluoride if you don't mind that) Masafi doesnt have flouride & it only have 10mg /ltr of sodium. Ahh cool that's less sodium than I thought. And v.cool that it doesn't contain fluoride. That is the one that DH and I drink.:)

904

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EW GURU

Latest post on 14 January 2011 - 15:31

Evian for any formular that I give him. It does get expensive but it is one of the only options on the market that does NOT contain fluoride (actually there is very small amount but less than the others). Wickedangel, I always thought that Masafi was quite high in sodium. Arwa is much better (but contains fluoride if you don't mind that) Masafi doesnt have flouride & it only have 10mg /ltr of sodium.

1029

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 14 January 2011 - 15:02

Evian for any formular that I give him. It does get expensive but it is one of the only options on the market that does NOT contain fluoride (actually there is very small amount but less than the others). Wickedangel, I always thought that Masafi was quite high in sodium. Arwa is much better (but contains fluoride if you don't mind that)

AzaniaKhayaLam10671

329

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 14 January 2011 - 15:00

Thanx wickedangel_78!

904

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 14 January 2011 - 14:47

Does anyone know if getting the Masafi h2o from the hot side of the dispenser guarantees that the water has been heated up to 60C or either way you still need to boil it? TIA edited by forever 21 on 14/01/2011 No hun, you dont need to boil it, the hot water from the despenser should be fine

AzaniaKhayaLam10671

329

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 14 January 2011 - 10:35

Does anyone know if getting the Masafi h2o from the hot side of the dispenser guarantees that the water has been heated up to 60C or either way you still need to boil it? TIA <em>edited by forever 21 on 14/01/2011</em>

200

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 14 January 2011 - 00:46

Oh thanks wikedangel , That makes sense now! I'm on my 3 rd child and never realised formula wasn't sterile ! I suppose because in uk you use boiled tap water, so never cold for making formula, so it wasn't an issue. And il definitely being using those brands of water you mentioned, Thanks for answering my question x

904

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 14 January 2011 - 00:20

Hi dollymud, Arwa & masafi have the least sodium in them (I compared all available bottles here). As for using bottled water to prepare formula, you can boil 1 oz of water leave it to cool for 15 mins add it to the bottle, then add all the amount of formula to it to sterilize it (formula is not sterile), then add the remaining amount of water. Boiling the whole amount of water will increases the concentrate of minerals.

200

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 January 2011 - 18:12

BFC, which water do you recommend even for babies to drink ? This thread has confused me, I didn't realise that certain water had high sodium levels for example, I had my other two babies in uk so it's boiled , cooled tap water basically but I don't know what to do for the I'm expecting in a few weeks, help ! It's a minefield ! thanks !

671

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 13 January 2011 - 15:30

I'm a little surprised that nurses recommended using any kind of water without heating it to at least 60C, particularly in a hospital setting. This is necessary to kill any bacteria which may be in the formula (E.Sak - Enterobacter Sakazakii - being the greatest concern), and is reflected in current recommendations for the safe preparation of formula. That said, E.Sak is more dangerous to preemies and newborns (which is why liquid rather than powdered formula is often recommended for these groups when formula is necessary), so perhaps they felt that at 5 months your little one could cope in the rare event that her milk was contaminated. <em>edited by BFC on 13/01/2011</em>

5

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 January 2011 - 14:02

Hi! My daugheter was hospitalized here in Dubai when she was 5 months. The nurses told me to use the mineral water (dispenser) at the hospital. Without boiling or nothing. So now I do the same at home. I don't thinkj I would use tap water if I don't have a good good filter. Krr

179

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 January 2011 - 12:53

I think that the best is actually to boil tap water in order to avoid the minerals. Never gave formula though so not entirely sure.

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