:confused:
I know this has been gone over many times, but I just really need some clarification. When it comes formula:

1) Is it okay to use plain old tap water without boiling (I have well water if it makes a difference). If so, any particular age?
2) Can you use straight bottled water, without boiling?
3) What is this about fluoride supplements if you have well water??? Do you need that if breastfeeding as well (because if I'm not getting it, is he?)?
4) I only supplement (a few oz every few days), so is it okay to switch from one kind to another? I have all these free samples, but have been afraid to use them as they are all different brands. So far I have always bought the same kind.

Also, for the last few days my little guy has had extremely runny poop (soaked into diaper like pee). Is this diarrhea, and why (like I said before, he is majorily breast fed)?!!!!

Thanks!!

I use plain old tap water in town -- it's well water, but treated. At the lake, even though the water from the private well has been tested. So just to be safe, I bring out bottled drinking water. I have never boiled my water.

I have heard that you shouldn't give a baby well water, but check with your pediatrician. They sell nursery water especially for babies and I think it has fluoride in it. You might want to check into that. Personally, I would not change the formula. If DS is allergic to one, it would be hard to know which one and why if he is on different formulas or if a reaction was caused by something you ate. They say that it takes 3 days to determine an allergy, so if you must switch, I would at least stick with the same one for 3 days before switching to a different one. That way if there's a problem, you can more easily determine what caused it.

I don't know about the water but I wouldn't switch the formulas too much. We switched our babies once and he had such bad gas and constipation he was miserable. You could feel and hear it in his little tummy! He's a very good burper usually so it was pretty clear that lack of passing was not the reason for his gas. We were told by the pharmacist that it can take several days for the baby to work a new kind into their system. You may have a really unhappy baby if you are switching too often.

We have been using city water without boiling per the Dr recomendation. As far sa well water I would suggest having it tested for the basics, radon, lead (which can be found in old pipes) etc. Many drug stores have cost effective test kits. A good source bottled water should be fine without boiling.

The fluoride supplementation is a concern when the babies start getting teeth - and there is some conflicting opinions on fluoride. I would consult your ped and dentist on this one

I also concur on the switching formulas - if you encounter an issue it will be hard to isolate with multiple formulas.

We know our well water is not the greatest so when I do use powder mix and need water, I buy Gerber baby Water. I pay about .99$ per liter. Also Gerber baby water does not have flouride in it. I myself was wondering about the stuff so I stuck with water that didn't have it. I tried this bottle water myself and it tastes like air. There is nothing to it since it is so purified.

2Fast4U, where do you get the Gerber baby water?

Thanks everyone for all the great info :cool:. I will definitely stick to the same formula, and I'll donate the free samples to the local food bank.

To be ont he safe side l use boiled tap water and then keep it in a flask. :) for formula milk.

You don't need flouride until they are six months old. We use well water, I do use a filter water pitcher because we have hard water with some sediment in it. Our dr told me there was no reason to boil it.
Honestly, I would much rather use well water than city water, or bottled water. City water has been tested and shows traces of fesces, hair spray, fingernail polish remover, drugs, you name it it's in there. The dr told us she would use unboiled well water before she used city water at all.
Anyway, as for the bottled water, 20-20 showed a thing about bottled water and it was shown to have just as many germs as tap water, in fact Aquafina actually gets their water from the Hudson River! So, if it were me and I had to use bottled or city water I would boil that.
Anyway as for the formula I agree iwth them, don't switch it too much.
Good luck!