Formula and food prepared with
well water can cause nitrate poisoning in infants
, leading the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to issue a warning for families using wells for their drinking water.
What happens if a baby drinks well water?
In infants, they can lead to a condition called
methemoglobinemia
, a dangerous and sometimes fatal blood disorder that interferes with the circulation of oxygen in the blood. Babies whose formula is prepared using well water may have a high risk of nitrate poisoning.
Can well water make a baby sick?
Formula and food prepared with well water
can cause nitrate poisoning in infants
, leading the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to issue a warning for families using wells for their drinking water.
What are the symptoms of contaminated well water?
Symptoms include
diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, nausea, headaches, fever, fatigue, and even death sometimes
. Infants, children, elderly people, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to get sick or die from disease-causing microorganisms in drinking water.
At what age can a baby drink well water?
Your baby may be ready take their first sip of water at
six months
. However, it’s important to realize that newborns, infants, and toddlers have very different hydration than from adults.
Can I boil well water for baby formula?
If your home uses well water, you must get it tested before drinking it or using it for baby formula.
Don’t simply boil it and assume it’s safe for your baby
. Most well water contains minerals such as nitrates and iron, which you can’t boil away. Boiling the water may even increase the concentration of these minerals.
Which water is best for babies?
Purified water or distilled water
is recommended for infant formula feeding. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), over 300 contaminants can be found in the U.S. tap water. More than half of the chemicals detected are not subject to health or safety regulations and can legally be present in any amount.
Can you get parasites from well water?
The most common way to become infected with
giardia
is after swallowing unsafe (contaminated) water. Giardia parasites are found in lakes, ponds, rivers and streams worldwide, as well as in public water supplies, wells, cisterns, swimming pools, water parks and spas.
How do you fix contaminated well water?
Shock chlorination
is the process by which home water systems such as wells, springs, and cisterns are disinfected using household liquid bleach (or chlo- rine). Shock chlorination is the most widely recommended means of treating bacterial contamination in home water systems.
What are the disadvantages of well water?
- Hard Water and Scale Buildup.
- Harmful contaminants such as bacteria, lead, and arsenic in drinking and bathing water.
- Pumps need to be replaced every 10 or so years.
- Bad taste.
Is it OK to give a 2 month old water?
“
Water is not recommended for infants under six months old
because even small amounts will fill up their tiny bellies and can interfere with their body’s ability to absorb the nutrients in breast milk or formula,” Malkoff-Cohen said.
Can tap water hurt the baby?
She told us a few things about bottled baby water and emphasized that baby water is not sterilized water, it’s simply been purified or distilled. In fact, she says that
tap water is completely safe for babies to drink alone or mixed with formula if the baby is under 6 months old
.
What bottled water is safe for formula?
To lessen this chance, parents can use
low-fluoride bottled water
some of the time to mix infant formula; these bottled waters are labeled as de-ionized, purified, demineralized, or distilled, and without any fluoride added after purification treatment.
What is better distilled or purified water for baby formula?
Purified water or distilled water
is recommended for infant formula feeding. … According to the Mayo Clinic’s hospital website, the American Dental Association does not recommend mixing formula with fluoridated tap water; it can create enamel fluorosis, which develops while teeth are forming in the gums.
What happens if you don’t boil water for formula?
Water that hasn’t been boiled can also
contain bacteria
. Formula therefore needs to be made up with water hot enough to kill the bacteria, which is at least 70 degrees C. This means boiling the kettle and leaving it to cool for no longer than 30 minutes, so that it remains at a temperature of at least 70 degrees C.
Can I use filtered water for baby formula?
You can also use filtered water in your baby’s formula. You can easily find
water pitchers
that are made with quick water filtration systems. It is critical that you change the filter as often as the product instructs in order to keep your water pure. Different types of filtration systems filter different contaminants.
