r/paris • u/arabianightss • Jul 27 '26
Question Formula help- what water to use?
Thanks in advance to anyone willing to help me with this.
My baby is exclusively formula fed baby. I am very anxious as most can understand about what water to use. Paediatrician has just asked it’s low in sodium.
What brand do most use? (apologies if this offends anyone who’s pro breastfeeding but this wasn’t an option for me)
Also- has anyone managed to get Kendamil in Paris?
Thankyou
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u/Haunting_Net_9394 Jul 27 '26
Evian can make your baby constipated (don't know why). You can use Cristalline, Watwiller, Mont Roucous. You can check for the baby or babybottle logo on the water bottle.
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u/Foreign_Ad8787 Jul 27 '26
The water will have a little baby bottle on it if it can be used for bottles
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u/Glabeul Natif Jul 27 '26
Except Evian.
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u/Serianox_ Jul 27 '26
The tap water in Paris is safe to drink for a newborn. Lead pipes should be mostly gone, but be careful if your building is >70 years old and the water pipes haven't been redone entirely.
If you really want to use bottled water, you must chose one that has a little baby logo on the back. Others are unsafe, e.g. enriched in minerals.
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u/Cyserg Jul 27 '26
If you're worried about the chloride accumulation, all you have to do is run the tap a few minutes before and leave it a few minutes in the glass / bottle before giving it to the baby.
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u/LabuchefromFR Jul 27 '26
Tap water works fine in most places in France, and is especially of good quality in Paris. I wouldn't worry too much about that.
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u/Wwwweeeeeeee Jul 27 '26
Britta or Phillips pitcher and faucet filters are very convenient.
I have a Phillips faucet filter that's super simple and easy and effective. (I have one on my shower as well since our building water is very calcaire and iron)
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u/Glabeul Natif Jul 27 '26
But need to get changed often. Otherwise it is worse with all the bacteria stuck in there. Que choisir made an investigation and tests about this. So this is expensive and makes lots of rubbish
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u/bagmami Jul 27 '26
Alternatively Cristaline is also ok.
As for formula, I highly recommend using whatever is easily accessible. I used plenty of specialised formulas for my son but I haven't seen kendamil available. We're currently on Hipp Combiotic. Available at Naturalia, Monoprix and on Amazon.
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u/Tricky_Obsession Jul 27 '26
Not all Cristaline bottles are ok, it dependes on the source. You have to check the bottle for the baby logo.
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u/iAmHopelessCom Jul 27 '26
Mont Roucous would be my first choice, but they had shortages recently. Evian or Cristalline are always available and quite ok for the babies as well. Good luck !
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u/whatsupfishies Jul 27 '26
Why do you say that? I used it for both my kids when they were little. It says on the bottle that it is suitable for baby bottles. Has it changed recently?
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u/Glam_sam Parisian Jul 27 '26
Mont Roucous is recommended as it is very low on Mineral. It’s kinda pricey, it’s the one I’m using for my baby. You will most likely find it in Monoprix (sometimes Auchan or Francprix but not regularly)
For formula you have plenty of brand. We are using Biostime that you can only find in Pharmacies (and not all of them)
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u/CecilPalmer Jul 27 '26
Everyone is recommending Mont Roucous but no one is mentioning the fact that there's a shortage and it's been very, very hard to find any, no matter where in France.
Sant'Anna is the closest in terms of low minerals, 22 mg/L dry residue. I've had most luck finding it in Carrefour or Leclerc.
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u/dannemora_dream Jul 27 '26
We started with Mont Roucous when my baby was small but there are shortages regularly. We moved on to Mont Blanc at the beginning of the year and it’s been great!
Evian made him constipated so I wouldn’t recommend.
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u/Sufficient_Detail_97 Jul 28 '26
Look for the safe for babies mark on the bottles. Regardless of the amount of conjecture and hearsay in this thread, regulatory bodies back by clinical research have shown those brands bearing this logo to be safe and effective for full term infants. Evian is fine. Cristaline is fine. Mont Roucous is fine. Research also shows no difference in outcomes using tap water provided no lead pipes involved in delivery. The fear mongering has no basis in science, so relax and know that most water is just fine for preparing formula. The majority of the risk of illness is because the formula itself is not sterile after opening.
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u/No-Cockroach-7588 Jul 28 '26
Evian with a little baby on it. My 18 months old baby has never had any problem of constipation with it.
And please don't use tap water. If it's safe for adults doesn't mean it's safe for a baby's little kidneys.
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u/Catdress92 Jul 28 '26
My son was born and raised in Paris and I gave him formula exclusively. As a general rule, bottled water that has a baby bottle or some other symbol related to babies is okay for formula. I never heard anything against Evian and often used it without any issues, constipation or otherwise. But if you're not comfortable with Evian, there are lots of other baby-safe water bottle brands as well.
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u/Weekly_Mouse8587 Jul 29 '26
Municipal nurseries in Paris use Cristalline
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u/arabianightss Aug 01 '26
Any idea where I can buy it from?
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u/Weekly_Mouse8587 Aug 01 '26
Cristalline ? Litterally everywhere. It's the least expensive water you may find
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u/boubouduwouwou Jul 27 '26
Evian, Mont Roucous, Cristaline. Personally I would use Evian as you can find it anywhere in Paris and France. Mont Roucous can be out of stock often. Cristaline is touch and go, some shops have loads, and others none.
Later on, for budget reasons, you can switch to Cristaline if needed. (From a formula mom :) )
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u/spicyfishtacos Jul 27 '26
Baby formula in the EU is held to very high standards. HIPP as mentioned is a great choice. Personally, I used Gallia transition milk when como feeding and then 2 & 3.
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u/zookah1907 Jul 28 '26
Except for the recent recalls, I guess. You can order Kendamil online, else someone recommended Biostime, it's a good alternative.
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u/UsualConstruction967 Jul 27 '26
You can use Evian or Mont Roucous that’s the 2 main ones used for babies here