I'm thinking of starting to supplement one of DS feedings in the early evening (before bed). What kind of water is best to use with the formula? I read that distilled water is best to use but do you think it is ok to use water from the tap that is filtered with the Brita system? I'm not sure what the Brita system is filtering, but it does make our water taste better. Or should I just stick with the distilled water or maybe bottled spring water?

We use tap water and just boil it. I'm not sure about the Brita filter though, it may be doing enough. I wouldn't trust it with our water here, it's not very good water! :) I've used bottled water as well but never distilled.

I'd do filtered tap water.

I am pretty sure distilled is what is normally recommended, but, I just don't dig distilled. I was just reading, yesterday in fact, about different bottled waters and such and the source was really down on distilled. (mercola.com - not sure just where at his site as I received it via his email newsletter) I'm having pg brain though and can't quote you anything, so sorry. :blush:
And then with all the other bottled waters, you really don't know what you're getting anywho.
Yeah, I'd just do my own filtered tap.

Then of course, you had to have seen this coming...
Why are you wanting to supplement anyway?

we used plain ol' tap water from day one with both our boys....

I'd do filtered tap water.
Then of course, you had to have seen this coming...
Why are you wanting to supplement anyway?

Well, DS still seems so hungry all the time even though he has at least 10 feedings in a 24 hour period. He still is eating every 1.5 - 2 hours and at night I'm lucky if he goes 4 hours (I think it's only happened 3 times). Now that he's just turned 4 months, yesterday, I started feeding him a small amount of infant cereal mixed with breast milk after his morning feeding and I'm thinking that formula before bed may last in his stomach longer.??? I don't know...maybe I'm just listening to those "older" mothers who are so surprised that he was not eating cereal yet and then giving me that look as to say, 'No wonder he is not yet sleeping through the night...he's starving'. :( But he's in the 50 percentile for his weight?? I know my milk supply is ok, but DS starts pulling away after about 10-15 minutes like he is full?? Is that how long a feeding should take for his age? I was thinking that maybe he is just a big snacker (like his dad). But if I try and force him to feed longer, most of the time he spits up a bunch of milk...ah what a waste, right? lol I'm up for any advice here, of course.

Well, DS still seems so hungry all the time even though he has at least 10 feedings in a 24 hour period. He still is eating every 1.5 - 2 hours and at night I'm lucky if he goes 4 hours (I think it's only happened 3 times). Now that he's just turned 4 months, yesterday, I started feeding him a small amount of infant cereal mixed with breast milk after his morning feeding and I'm thinking that formula before bed may last in his stomach longer.??? I don't know...maybe I'm just listening to those "older" mothers who are so surprised that he was not eating cereal yet and then giving me that look as to say, 'No wonder he is not yet sleeping through the night...he's starving'. :( But he's in the 50 percentile for his weight?? I know my milk supply is ok, but DS starts pulling away after about 10-15 minutes like he is full?? Is that how long a feeding should take for his age? I was thinking that maybe he is just a big snacker (like his dad). But if I try and force him to feed longer, most of the time he spits up a bunch of milk...ah what a waste, right? lol I'm up for any advice here, of course.

Oh, sweetie, your DS is doing fine, by the description that you gave! It's very normal for breastfed babies to need night feedings to six months of age or older. My DD almost always breastfed during the night until very recently. If you keep him close to your bed, the night feedings shouldn't be as big of a hassle. He sounds like a very normal baby in terms of feeding and it sounds like he's doing fine on the weight gain. You certainly can supplement if you would like to, however you don't need to do so for his health. He's right on target. Go mama! :)

The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, not the 4-6 that they used to. Cereal doesn't necessarily help a baby sleep longer anyway and it's mainly a filler without a high nutritional density. Many moms, myself included skip cereal and start solids with fruits and veggies. (I did give her some organic baby cereal later on, but not because I thought that it was critical)

And side note, formula fed babies don't necessarily sleep through the night any earlier than breastfed babies. Many mamas, and probably some on this board can vouch for that.

GL with whatever you decide to do.

I totally agree with BlessedMommy, I have a 6 month old, and a few months ago he hardly went two hours without nursing. I have PLENTY of milk (trust me. It sprays. Everywhere.) So don't worry a smidge about your LO, you sound totally normal. Night feedings can be hard on a mom, but the baby years do fly by quick (at least that is what I hear.) Anyhow, sometimes when my DS hits a growth spurt he eats like every hour or half hour and I go [whatwacko]... but it's ok. He is happy and healthy and that is all that matters. Yeah it can be taxing having to be on call 24/7, but I guess that's just motherhood. Anyhow, yeah... sounds like you and your DS are doing good.... I don't think you have anything to worry about (except possibly not getting enough sleep. LOL)
:mrgreen:

Yep yep, another ditto for Ruth.
Sounds perfectly normal...he's likely hit another growth spurt and formula and cereal aren't necessarily going to 'fix' anything. He's only 4 months. That's what he does...eat..a lot...as in frequently. Even through the night. Day/night, makes no difference to babies. They just know they still need to eat. That's what their bodies are telling them.
Just keep letting him nurse all he needs. He'll pass this spurt and settle back down. He'll sleep more hours at night....in time. When his body is ready.
My kids have always nursed every 1.5-2 hr for the first 6 months..they might get more consistent at every 2 -2.5 hr from then. But that's about it. It's not until nearly a year that I have a 4-6 hr stretch...even at night.

I'd say it sounds like you've just been doing a good job in nursing him often. Keep it up! :)

Yep yep, another ditto for Ruth.
Sounds perfectly normal...he's likely hit another growth spurt and formula and cereal aren't necessarily going to 'fix' anything. He's only 4 months. That's what he does...eat..a lot...as in frequently. Even through the night. Day/night, makes no difference to babies. They just know they still need to eat. That's what their bodies are telling them.
Just keep letting him nurse all he needs. He'll pass this spurt and settle back down. He'll sleep more hours at night....in time. When his body is ready.
My kids have always nursed every 1.5-2 hr for the first 6 months..they might get more consistent at every 2 -2.5 hr from then. But that's about it. It's not until nearly a year that I have a 4-6 hr stretch...even at night.

I'd say it sounds like you've just been doing a good job in nursing him often. Keep it up! :)
The 3 ladies above me have said it all. All I need to add is a great big ditto from me as well!:-D

I did want to add though, that if you do decide to try supplementing with formula, that you should ask your baby's doc about using distilled water. Generally, you aren't supposed to drink distilled water very often, because the distillation process actually removes the good minerals, as well as everything that might have been bad. Now it might be different with formula, since you're adding formula to the water, but I'd check with your doc. just to be sure....plus, there may be some difference between just boiling the water yourself, and commercial distillation...it could be that commercial distillation removes even more of the good minerals...I have no idea.

From what I've read, bottled water may not be any purer or safer than tap water, though it all should be safe. I read some info off of this site regarding this topic awhile back, and it was pretty interesting: http://www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/qbw.asp I don't know anything about that site, other than what I've read there, so you may need to do some further digging if you want info about that group.

Personally, I found this table: http://www.waterfiltercomparisons.net/WaterFilter_Comparison.cfm really helpful for me when we just bought a new water filter for our tap. It gives info about the Brita filter too.

I just boiled water ahead of time and used it! I think you have to do what works best for you and your ds :) I supplemented too, he may not sleep any better but if you feel you need to do it for yourself then I think that is ok!

i ditto the other mom's encouragement for continuing breastfeeding and getting through the growth spurt.
d:)

Because of low milk supply we do mostly formula during the day and I bf at night. Even with a bottle before bed, it has not helped my ds sleep any longer then when I was bf only. Also, I know for me and with my low milk/low flow, now my ds prefers a bottle because of its flow (I have NEVER had nipple confusion and in my case it actually helped him learn to latch....BUT I have always had "flow confusion") If my ds sees a bottle thats what he wants. I made a mistake yesterday by starting him on a bottle, and when he was fussing because the nipple was clogged, I decided to let him have some boob....well he hated it and bit me because he was SO upset that I took his bottle away. It breaks my heart because I really wanted to nurse until he was 2, but I am just hoping to be able to nurse at night till he is 1. I say that as long as he is growing and you are comfortable with everything, just keep going (sing that song from nemo...just keep swimming, just keep going.....)