Can you mix baby formula with spring water from the store? or do you still have to boil it?
Saturday, December 5th, 2009 at
6:07 pm
I recently switched to Enfamil baby formula but I have had mixed reviews on the water to mix with it. Some say spring water is ok, some say its not unless its is boiled first. Otherwise tap water can be used IF boiled. Is this true, does anyone know about this. Doctors arent much help. they have 2 different opinions. Also constipation in 2 month old? on formula just switched from breastmilk. he hasnt had a movement for a day????help
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Using bottled water is just fine you shouldn’t need to boil it but you can if you want to just to be safe, as for the constipation that is normal if you just switched to formula, you have to give the baby a chance to re adjust to the change. Go to this website and it tells you all kinds of waters and treatments. http://www.storknet.com/cubbies/bottlefeeding/faq.htm
Most people just use tap water. Spring water from the store can have bacteria in it, so boil it.
They say all water should be boiled until the age of 6 months. And for the constipation perfectly normal, but if he doenst have bowel movement in the next couple of days you might want to switch to Enfamil Lowe Iron
I would boil it to be safe. Try giving him baby food prunes to get things moving, or call the doctor.
No u don’t have to boil it.. I always used the infant water the fluoridated water its called nursery water it was easier than having to boil the water u just pour mix n go lol
Spring water is fine. My sister in law used spring water (without boiling it) for my two year old nephew with his formula after she finished breast feeding and he is fine.
I only ever used tap water, without boiling, but my water is good. If you have nasty tap water, you might want to boil first. Spring water from the store would be perfectly fine as is, you don’t need to boil that first.
As to the consipation - my kids were formula fed after the first 2 weeks, and my oldest had a BM every three days or so - and that was normal for her! As long as there’s no blood in the stool, or it’s not super hard or powdery, every few days is just fine. That’s just her body getting used to the switch.
Better to err on the side of caution. I would boil spring water too. There could still be something in there from the plastic it is stored in. Anyway, you only have to boil for the first few months til they build up the immune system.
Call your pediatrician’s office and ask to speak with a nurse about these questions. She should walk you through all this stuff as a refresher, or the first time. Alot of times, new Moms are so busy in the beginning and there is so much to learn that it can be overwhelming. She should be able to help you according to your baby, and maybe even send you some info!!
no need to boil water for formula, so says my doctor.
the water you use has to be your choice, bringing up children is about doing what you think is best, i do suggest that what ever water you use that u boil it first, the you are 100% sure its serile, and babies usually get upset stomachs on cold milk, but warming it will help mix the fomula, using warm milk will help bowel movements on the baby. if not u can get drops to give the baby,
I have only known to boil water for formula. and my little one had the same constipation issue when first switching from breast to formula… I didnt freak too much if one didnt happen in one day… make sure his tummy isnt hard and isnt vomiting… wait it out another day and then if nothing.. I would give just a drop of corn syrup on the soother… it worked like a charm within 12 hours. Also… the corn syrup was what the doctor recommended for me. Good luck with this. If all else fails and your not sure of yourself… call your doctor about the constipation and see what he suggests.
Ok,use bottled water. We do and no problems.
For the constipation try- mylicon drops (over the counter and tasty too, almost immediate relief)
OR Karyo syrup-1/2 teaspoon per ounce. PROMISE, try it for a few days it really works!
My doc just gave us permission to use baby apple juice too, My DD just turned 3 months. We use 25% juice mixed with 75% water (ex 1oz jucie, 3oz water) She loves it and it works best. GOOD LUCK!
number one if your child is a breastfeed baby switching the formula is going to make a child consipated and when the formula like enfamil cause it has been know for having iron in it number two spring water is ok it just that if you are in a hurry and you don’t have access to a sink or to boil it then spring water is fine that’s all he’s going to have to get adjust to the switch of breastmilk to formula with if you are switching fulltime you should wean him not completly switch all together if he gets 8 bottles a day take one bottle and give formula in it and every week take anoother bottle down next week two bottles with formula the body has to get adjust to it i breastfeed five kids and switch to formula i know
You can buy a gallon of sterile distilled water with FLOURIDE (or without) in your baby aisle at most groceries.
i would never use tap (and definitely not well water).
You can boil water and kill the bacteria but that doesn’t remove any lead or other contaminants.
You can call your local public water facility and get the fact sheet on your water, whether its flouridated and how many colonies of bacteria are allowed. Also you’ll find out if chlorine is added in your public water and the source of your water (lake, stream, etc).
I would never use spring water. I got a jug of spring water and didn’t use it for a year. Later I saw mold growing in it. Spring water is not sterile water. Water is supposed to be odorless and colorless. I always get freaked out when people say their water tastes so good. It shouldn’t taste like anything!!! (Best water I had was in Switzerland, tasted like liquid air).
Boil any water for a newborn. About one-fourth of bottled water is just tap water.
This article is great for opening your eyes to bottled water myths:
http://www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/nbw.asp
one day is not a big deal, even a few days. My son was constipated until he was 1 1/2 and we used two table spoons of Karo syrup with 2 ounces of water and that helped him go. My doctors told me to use bottled water (not boiled first) if i had well water (which i do) and city water was ok to use. Depends on the city though and what you are comfortable with.
I use bottled spring water all the time to mix my sons formula with and have used it since he was born(he is now 9 months) and never have boiled it and he is just fine. If you have concerns ask your doctor just to be safe. We use bottled water because we live in the country and have well water and it doesn’t taste the greatest. My doctor did put my son on fluoride drops just to be safe but then again that your doctors call.