Question
Hi Savvy Mommy,
My mother says I'm killing the baby by using tap water to mix his
formula? Am I really hurting him?
- Tara, Albany, New York
Answer
Dr. Ari Brown, an award winning, Harvard trained pediatrician, mom and
co-author of Baby
411 : Clear Answers and Smart Advice for Your Baby’s First Year (Windsor
Peak Press, 2006)
graciously answers this question -
In
the 'olden days', parents were told to boil their water before using
it to prepare formula. That was before water purification became more
sophisticated. While problems with water purity can still occur, it
is quite rare. The only issue now with tap water is the amount of
fluoride that is in your community water supply. The American Dental
Association recently released an advisory (November 2006) that
suggests that babies under six months of age who eat powder or liquid
concentrate formula have it prepared with either fluoride-free
bottled water or tap water that contains low levels of fluoride (you
can get more information about their statement at ada.org).
About Dr. Ari Brown:
 
Ari Brown, M.D., FAAP, is an award winning pediatrician and
child health advocate. Before entering the world of medicine, Dr. Brown
completed a bachelor’s degree in child development. She completed her
general pediatric residency and fellowship in developmental pediatrics at
Harvard Medical School/Boston Children's Hospital. Dr. Brown is Board Certified
and is a Fellow of the American
Academy of Pediatrics.
She works full-time in private practice at Capital Pediatric Group in Austin,
TX. Dr. Brown’s passion to educate families about children’s health
led her to co-author the books, Baby
411 : Clear Answers and Smart Advice for Your Baby’s First Year (Windsor
Peak Press, 2006) and Toddler 411 (Windsor
Peak, 2006). Her
practical and reassuring style resonates with today’s parents. She is an
official spokesperson for the American
Academy of Pediatrics.
She has appeared on NBC’s Today Show, and regularly on the Rachael Ray
Show and Surviving Motherhood. She also serves on the advisory board for
Parents Magazine.
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