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GD soon to be weaned - Water issues

(43 Posts)
NanaHolly Mon 25-Apr-16 09:44:11

My granddaughter was christened yesterday (she's 18 mos), so of course, she and her development were the topic of the day - for 3 GMs, 2 GFs, 2 GGM along with aunts, friends...
I generally keep the "you should try/ be doing" parenting suggestions to myself, and this was no exception. The discussion amongst a few others got rather intense. DIL will be going back to work this week, and will thus be forced to wean GD. Milk is out of the question for 'moral' reasons. Apparently there is vegan formula in powder form out there (news to me). Amazingly the controversy was not about the 'morality' of the formula itself - it concerned the water. DIL uses mineral water, her own mother says nothing but 'healing water' (must find out what that is) is appropriate. The other grandmother and I just gave each other a look and stayed quiet.
My specific dilemma: Now that I won't be able to give GD pumped mother's milk when I have her, what do I do? Our tap water is NOT potable (above ground water lines). Bottled water is a problem as I do not have a car and can't carry the weight over such a long stretch. We installed a reverse osmosis unit for exactly that reason and use it for everything other than the washing machine, shower and toilet. Can I use this water without saying anything? (In good conscience, probably not.) Do others use this? According to the literature, it's supposed to be good for baby food. What are your suggestions? I'm sure others out here have children with strong ideas about parenting?

Judthepud2 Mon 25-Apr-16 15:04:23

What does an 18 month baby need healed from?

Is mineral water not full of salts? I thought New Age people were all about going back to a more 'natural' way of life. Buying bottled water for a baby strikes me rather as the solution to a first world problem ?

shysal Mon 25-Apr-16 15:29:35

It doesn't sound at all suitable for weaning an 18 month old, which isn't mentioned in the blurb either.

thatbags Mon 25-Apr-16 15:36:41

I once tasted the supposedly healing water at Cheltenham spa (or was it Bath?). Well, anyway, it was disgusting. I wouldn't give it to a child.

I'm always intrigued by toddlers not wanting to be weaned because my three all weaned themselves before I expected it!

What do natives in Tenerife give their kids to drink, I wonder?

Luckygirl Mon 25-Apr-16 16:05:21

I presume this child at 18 months actually consumes something other than breast milk.

Mineral water is specifically contraindicated for babies. Tell her to provide you with everything you need - or she thinks the child needs. You are doing her a favour by looking after the babe while she returns to work. I look after two of my youngest DDs children and she recognises that "Grandma's house, Grandma's rules" - that is not to say that I do not try and follow what I know she does, but she also knows that there are a few Grandma rituals etc. that do not happen at her place.

Jalima Mon 25-Apr-16 16:21:26

Not mineral water, there are too many salts in it. And healing water would contain even more - very dangerous for a baby I would have thought.
I haven't come across a reverse osmosis unit.
Does it have the same result as a cheap and cheerful filter jug?
Our water does smell and taste very chlorinated and DD always uses the filter jug when she comes as they are used to drinking filtered rain water (no mains where they live). Perhaps theirs is a reverse osmosis unit. She thinks our tap water tastes disgusting.

Some alternative 'milks' don't contain enough calcium for a growing baby or toddler.

Jalima Mon 25-Apr-16 16:23:54

Does the 'healing water' come in a plastic bottle? shock
Not very ecologically friendly.

annodomini Mon 25-Apr-16 17:09:08

It would be interesting to have an analysis of this so-called 'healing water'. Is there any information available?

M0nica Mon 25-Apr-16 19:17:28

I googled the name and there is nothing special about this water. It is just a mineral water from a spa in the Czech Republic that claims it comes from a 'healing' spring.

I would be most concerned to find out what minerals are dissolved in the water. Many mineral waters are high in sodium, salt to you and me, and drinking a water with a high concentration of salt could be harmful to an 18 month old child.

Judthepud2 Mon 25-Apr-16 20:11:32

Good point Lucky. Surely the little one is on a mixed solid diet by now. Does she need breast milk? I would agree that cooled boiled water is probably enough for her to drink.

ElaineI Mon 25-Apr-16 22:01:42

Bottled water should not be given to children under 5. It has quantities of minerals that could be dangerous to small children. They should only drink fresh tap water.

Deedaa Mon 25-Apr-16 22:09:13

Surely being back at work doesn't stop her providing milk? DD always had some in the fridge and freezer and she was able to use an office at work to express milk during the day. She went back to work when GS2 was 6 months old and at 3 he's atill not completely weaned.

Lillie Tue 26-Apr-16 07:58:54

I too would ask for everything to be brought with the baby. When we lived in France and ran luxury holiday homes we were often asked to get mineral water in for babies so they didn't have to drink the tap water. We looked through the shelves at the supermarket and found several makes with a little picture of a baby sucking a bottle on the label - meaning the water was suitable.

harrigran Tue 26-Apr-16 12:23:44

What ? I think this water has too much in the way of salt and minerals for a young child, probably better for clearing the nose when one has a cold.

Elegran Tue 26-Apr-16 12:45:46

I googled "healing water" and found this article, skeptoid.com/episodes/4139 which makes it clear to me that "healing water" is just another trap for people anxious about their health to fall into.

Where does this baby's mother get the stuff from? Does she buy it in crates from the health-food shop, or has she invested in a machine to produce it (at $2,000 to $6,0000) ? Either way, she will be paying through the nose to have her natural concerns for her child soothed.

Nelliemoser Tue 26-Apr-16 23:42:43

This baby is 18months! I assume you mean mum is weaning her off breast milk and that she is eating a normal toddler diet.
I would worry about the "healing water" and what is in that.
A lot of "natural spring waters" can have a mineral balance that is not suitable for a small child.
If your tap water is potable just boil and cool it.

Vincentka® contains the biogenic elements (see analysis elevator sources) such as lithium, rubidium, cesium, copper, zinc, vanadium, chromium, cobalt in physiological proportional representation and is suitable as a natural nutritional supplement for athletes, children, pregnant women and convalescents.

I worry about what other fads that child will be subjected to.

Jalima Wed 27-Apr-16 17:00:09

A vegan diet is not suitable for a small child.
I know that some people will argue that it is, but there have been cases reported about children with malnutrition because their parents thought they were giving them a 'healthy vegan diet'.
www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/healthy-living/how-our-vegan-diet-made-us-ill-848322.html

Hippy Dippy Totnes
No offence, I do like Totnes but it is a centre for vegan, yurt dwelling alternative thinkers.

Nelliemoser Wed 27-Apr-16 18:09:40

That newspaper article! How does anyone seemingly educated not understand about the basic essentials of a balanced diet like high quality protein and proper vital vitamin intake. Calcium and vitamin D are hard to get from vegetable sources.

I would be prepared to bring up a baby as a vegetarian but not as a vegan. The basic recommedations for small babies once "allowed" cows milk is I think, full fat milk until 2yrs. The brain needs these fats.