[BrandyHagz]

I see this topic come up from time to time: Bottled water vs. tap water and baby detergent vs. regular detergent – the overall consensus is to use bottled water and baby detergent – but it got me to wondering.

What did your parents do for your bottles? Bottled water is a modern convenience – not something that was around in the 70’s and before…when we were bottle fed…I assume you all turned out ok (I can only speak for myself) – so – why the sudden need to use bottled water. (of note, my 12 year old was a tap water, tide wearing baby).

What did your parents do for clothes washing? Dreft has been around for years – but not near as long as babies! I personally never used Dreft, as our Dr. subscribed to the ‘expose him so he can form a resistance’ attitude.

So, what side of the fence are you on? Are you a Tap Water Tide Wearer – or are you a Bottled Water Baby Detergent Wearer? Or are you a mix of both? Share with us your decision and what made you to make that decision!

[mom2justynsarah]

Brandy,

When my kids were newborns, I boiled the water as an extra precaution. But in general, I tend to use bottled water.

As far as laundry detergent, both of my kids were allergic to "regular" detergent. So I used "Dreft" for babies and they were fine.

Thanks,
Julie

[MicheleB]

Bottled water for us - but that was only because it was recommended to us because our babies came from Guatemala and was told by our agency/hogar that it is easier on their tummies to start them out on bottled because they were on bottled water at the hogar (children's home) in Guatemala. We transitioned them to regular tap (through a filter in our fridge door) within about 6 months.

With our first son - baby detergent all the way. After the second came home, we just used regular Tide, however we did use the dye and fragrance free brand of TIDE.

The other thing that made me want to use tap water was the floride content. Bottled water has no floride content unless you buy the florinated baby bottled water that I recently saw in my local grocery store at a ridiculous price.

[InBlindFaith]

I have to admit...I used bottled water for DD, until I realized the bottled Baby Water came from Houston, TX. After that I just used filtered water (because Dallas water is better than houston's)

I used Dreft for DD for the first 18 months then started washing her clothes in tide while the blankets and sheets were washed with Dreft. By the time she was two I was successful in weening her clothes off of Dreft.

[Vogi2002]

Tap Water - was told to do this from our Dr. and part of that is I figure my mom did it with us, and I know a lot of people that do this too and thier kids are good But we have okay water too.

Regular detergent - I started with this and if a rash came up ONLY THEN would I try that Dreft stuff...but that was after I tried Gain and other detergents that are softer than the Tide I use.

Of course to each thier own!!

[BrandyHagz]

Nat, are you seeing Dr. Arca in Grapevine!?

[mrsdatabits]

DD is/was a tap water 'tide' baby.

We did use bottled water from time to time (when our city tap water was mucked up) and in the beginning or when we travelled. Our pediatrician said since it was city tap water there shouldn't be any problem. No, we did not boil it either. I honestly got tired of paying for bottled water when we would hardly drink bottled water ourselves.

For the detergent, everyone said we *had* to use dreft or else DD would have a horrible rash. I was like 'um... have you SEEN the price of dreft?!?'. My mom said what she did for me as a baby was to use a little bit of what she used on hers and my dads laundry and then double rinsed it. So, we did that with DD and never had any problems.

[HappyTwinsMom]

My daughters are both tap-water, Tide-laundered kiddos, too. Sometimes I would use filtered water from our Brita pitcher, but for the most part it was tap water.

[HBV]

City tap water through a Brita filter. Tide w/ a double rinse until he was about 6 months, then I started skipping the double rinse. No problems on either front.

[Vogi2002]

Brandy - Nope...i don't really care for my dr, although I do trust him...he's a little...I don't know...cold maybe?

[SaraRae]

Well, our dd was on bottled baby water only because we live in the country with well water and she needed the fluride. But I used regular detergent for her laundry.

[jaenelle]

We use tap water and regular detergent -- whatever they call the Dollar General brand, usually.

[SamIAm2]

With my older kids we boiled the water until they were a few months old and then switched to bottled water for convenience. With Natalie we use the filtered water from the fridge dispenser (that's what I drink too, just because it's there). I never used the Nursery Water that was recommended by her pediatrician because it has flouride in it and I thought that was bad for them?? Isn't that why you shouldn't swallow tooth paste? I'm confused about that one.

I've always used Gain or Tide along with Downy for their clothes and it's never been a problem.

[OnTheJourney]

We would love to just use tap water, but in our little town the water is the pits! It is so alkaline it leaves white stains everywhere and I won't even drink it! So until that is fixed, its bottled water for the whole family. A bit frustrating, really...
Detergent, Tide if I do the shopping, whatever is on sale if DH goes shopping!

[ContactChar]

At home, I use tap water (no boil). I considered switching to bottled out of concern about flouride (after recent reports), but my pediatrician said the research was "mixed" and that he did not see a problem with continuing the tap water. As for detergent, I tried Dreft, but it just doesn't get the clothes as clear as All Free and Clear. Once that runs out, though, I may just switch over to Tide (what I use on my own clothes).

As an aside, when can you start using fabric softener? Is it just the liquid that's off limits, or are the dryer sheets a problem as well? Also, is it just the sleepers that have the flame retardent, or do you have to keep softener off of all the clothes?

Char