In April, 1993 and in 1994, the drinking water in Milwaukee, Wisconsin was determined to be unfit for human consumption for a two-week period. Well water in small or rural communities can become contaminated. Because it is impossible for parents to determine the day-to-day quality of the tap water in their community, I advise that formula be mixed with purified water found in most grocery stores and that all children drink either bottled water or water that has been run through a well-maintained, home filtration system. An added advantage to using distilled water is the avoidance of fluoride, which is a toxin.

I often have parents ask me if their children could drink too much water and flush the nutrients out of their system. Don't worry. You can't flush nutrients. If you drink water with a meal, the water is going to pass through the intestinal tract ahead of the solid food. If you're eating a healthy, high-fiber diet, you need to drink a lot of water to help move the fiber through your system. In fact, I encourage children to drink more water, especially in the winter when body secretions, such as mucous, become thicker. Drinking plenty of water is one of the best preventative measures for winter illnesses. Excessive drinking is rarely a sign of disease. If you are concerned, have your doctor do a urine test.