GD soon to be weaned - Water issues

You're right jingl life for a dairy cow is far from good. They feel emotions just as much as humans or any other mammals and removing their calf is every bit as distressing for them. Why do we humans think we have the monopoly on suffering?

Re the OP, I agree with others that you should ask the mother to supply everything needed when you look after your GD. I'm sure that someone who gives so much thought to the food she gives her child would want to do that anyway.

'Discomfort to the cow being milked' I certainly experienced that whilst breast feeding my two. That's not a grin that's gritted teeth.

Jingle My farming friends would argue that the cow was bellowing because her carefully bred, oversized mummeries were swollen and she needed milked. Today's dairy cows produce far more milk than is needed to feed one or two calves. A dairy farmer would consider it cruel NOT to milk his cows.

Yes. Alea mentioned that. But it's worth repeating. We can't always go gaily conscience free about our business.

Actually, milk producing can be considered very cruel to the cow. Have you heard a cow bellowing for it's calf when said calf has been taken away in the interests of supplying milk from the mother cow to humans? And continuing, yearly, pregnancies where the same thing happens over and over again.

Life for a cow isn't always that great. TBH.

DiL clearly has specific rules when it comes to her child. I think they are totally off the wall but should be respected. I would definitely ask that she provides everything your GD needs when she's with you.
Just an aside, I'm sure I read you shouldn't use mineral water to make up formula.

Oh yes, air! Gosh, let's hope you don't live too near a busy road with all the exhaust pollutants . She may have to bring oxygen cylinders along too

Indeed you should ask her to provide everything - water, air to breathe, the whole lot!

Oo-er luckygirl
I could understand the morality of taking calves away from their mums so that the rest of us can enjoy dairy produce, but "discomfort to the cows being milked" well, there's a thought.
Is that OP's point, that dairy is out of the question? I hope the baby doesn't miss out on her calcium etc in that case.

If DIL is going to be so fussy, then I'm with Shysal. Ask her to provide what is needed to feed the little one. IMO at 18 months, she needs to be exposed to the real world or she will end up full of allergies!

Heaven preserve us from these neurotic parents!

The moral reasons are clearly to do with causing discomfort to the cow when squeezing her teats - heaven forfend.

We used to boil water then let it cool. Won't that do? If not, then bottled I suppose. Can't you have it delivered by Internet shopping? But by the age of 18 months most babies are past needing everything to be sterilised.
Now, healing water really makes the mind boggle!!
I am surprised though tha your DIL has left weaning to the week she goes back to work - leaking boobs, inconsolable baby etc ? All too complicated, I would have thought a "trial run" might have been a good idea.
How about soya/almond etc milk if formula or cow's is unacceptable? What are the "moral reasons"??

I'm with jings on this one. Why do people go out of their way to make their lives so flipping complicated?
Hope you find some solution NanaHolly - I'd do what shysal suggests. Good luck.

I suggest you ask to be provided with everything you will need each time she comes to you.
I hope you enjoyed the christening.

Just give her the same water you drink? Any drinking water laid on by the authorities in the UK is safe

God save us from the cranks of this world!

Sorry. Can't help. But sympathies to you.