A baby with a large teat has a large skin surface, which is proportional to its weight. In general, babies can lose considerably more water through excretion and perspiration when the temperature rises. So, in the first months of life, it seems that the recommended water intake for infants should not be lower than that of older children. However, the mineral composition of this water must be taken into account.
Criteria for choosing the right water for mother and baby
Maternal and infant waters must meet several criteria, whether they are used to dilute infant milk or are drunk plain. Adequate water should have a lower nitric acid salt content. It should not exceed 15 milligrams per litre. These nitrates can be harmful to babies as long as they are not older than six months of age while they still have an immature digestive tract. Nitrates can be converted into nitrous salts and esters that may prevent oxidation of the organs. In addition, in order to avoid overloading their immature kidneys, parents must ensure that the waters used do not have very high mineralization. They must not have too much sodium, sulphuric acid salt and fluorine. Since a concentrated drink is likely to cause the evacuation of liquid stools and to tire the kidneys, the prepared infant milk must be diluted according to the manufacturer's instructions. Therefore, water suitable for the preparation of an infant or mother's bottle should be low in mineral content. As for tap water, it is important to obtain information from the town hall to examine its quality and composition. For bottled water, simply check the label. The label must state "suitable for preparing baby food". Click here to find out more.
What water should be avoided for your young child?
As long as a young child continues to feed on infant milk, water will be an essential element in the preparation of his food. In any case, tap water with a filter is not adequate and should not be used for an infant under six months of age. This device is not effective in limiting problems related to nitrates, bacteria or pesticides, although it does seem to be effective for tartars. However, it can significantly increase the amount of sodium. Similarly, it may cause the elimination of some of the calcium and magnesium, which are important elements for the infant's body. A young child's kidneys are not yet able to handle the elimination of a significant amount of salt. Therefore, for mineral waters, it is not advisable to use a water softener or filter. Water that is too softened is not suitable for young children. They are corrosive. They can be loaded with metal elements that can be dangerous for the health of the infant. From now on, the mother can use natural mineral water.
Tips for buying water for mother and baby
For a mother with a baby in her udder, it seems that not all types of water are appropriate. Generally, she is forced to use water in such a way as to optimise the dilution of the infant milk for the preparation of the bottle. However, she must ensure that the level of mineral substances in the water is not very high. Breastfed babies may be vulnerable to nitrates or salts of nitric acid. The mother should take into consideration the label used to indicate the dry residue content, which should not exceed 500 mg/l, when buying bottled natural mineral water. Suitable waters must not contain salts of nitrous acid. Nitrous acid salts may be harmful to the still fragile organism of small children. Since tap water contains nitrates, it is not recommended to use it in the preparation of a baby's diet under six months of age. However, it may be perfectly suitable for feeding a toddler over six months of age, as it contains less nitrous acid salt. The appropriate water should be lightly mineralised.
How to choose between spring water, mineral water and tap water?
Some mineral waters, such as water for a baby with constipation, for example, include a better composition for the baby's health. The advantage of natural mineral water lies in the fact that it has an almost invariable composition regarding the quantity of its mineral salts or trace elements. Subsequently, it appears that the quality of tap water is not necessarily constant depending on the geographical situation, despite the fact that it is drinkable and that standards always seek to guarantee its composition. Thus, the use of tap water for the preparation of food for infants under six months of age should be minimised. The ingestion of large quantities of lead or nitrates can cause health problems. Although, from now on, tap water appears to be suitable, it is still essential to check its hardness, nitrate, sodium and fluorine content in addition to its quality. Secondly, as mineral water is optimally constituted of a low nitrate content and dry residues. However, in order to prevent excessive strain on the kidneys of infants, it is advisable to alternate between spring water and mineral water. As regards spring waters, their composition is variable. Some may contain a low level of nitric acid salts, while most waters may be over-mineralised. Spring waters may therefore have a less balanced mineralization. In addition, mineral waters are not synonymous with very high mineralization. To use spring waters, it is important to consider their mineral content.
Tips for selecting the right water for a toddler's diet
There are some basic rules to follow when selecting and using the right water for the baby. Firstly, parents should only use waters that are less mineralised. They should not neglect to examine the label on the bottle. Tap water can also be used as long as the child is over six months old. After that, mineral waters must be kept away from heat and radiation. A bottle of water that has already been opened for more than a day should no longer be kept and used. An indication "suitable for the preparation of infant food" should be checked when parents buy baby crystal water. However, it is not advisable to take a bottle of water that has already been used for more than one day, as mineral water is not light or heat resistant. Secondly, waters that are too mineralised are not very suitable for babies. As long as your newborn baby is occasionally constipated, water with a high mineral content should not be used. Nevertheless, parents can choose mineral waters. Furthermore, they should not change the preparation of their baby's food. They need to seek advice from the certified pharmacist or specialist practitioner for medical prescriptions. Also, since the neck of the bottle is intended only for newborns, it should not be used for older children to prevent the transmission of batteries or germs.
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