Linda,

    It is a little known fact that distilled water will NOT boil because it
lacks impurities.  However, it can become very hot, and if anything with
impurities touches it, it can create an explosion.  I realize that most parents will
not be heating a bottle to that high a level, but I cannot help but think of
the safety involved because I believe a baby's saliva has impurities.  It is
very strange because my husband and I were just discussing this yesterday, and
I have not been following this discussion.  He just saw something on
television about this, and gave both of our sons a lesson about NEVER heating distilled
water.  Then I saw this on LACNET.

    I will be honest, as a private LC I have not given directions on how to
mix formula, so this is not something I regularly worry about.  If a mother
asks what type of formula I should give, I refer her back to her pediatrician.  I
have never been asked how to mix formula in all the 14 years I have assisted
breastfeeding moms, so I am not an expert on the subject.  I am just concerned
about heating distilled water.

Debbie Albert, Ph.D., IBCLC
Tampa Lactation Counseling
Tampa, FL
 -


In a message dated 5/31/04 12:05:22 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
Since taking the IBCLC prep course with Jan, Linda and Carole, I have
started routinely recommending distilled water for formula preparation to
the future parents (ie still pregnant) as well as the parents of my formula-
fed infants.  I think it is important for both safety to the child as well
as to fulfill my own agenda...making formula feeding more difficult!!  The
other pediatricians in my group think I have lost my mind!!!  So...I now
present each of them with the "BREASTFEEDIG TIP OF THE DAY" when I arrive
to work!!  It is a very slow process of educating MDs as I'm sure I do not
need to tell all of you!!

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