Is it Safe for Toddlers to Drink Alkaline Water?

Can Toddlers Drink Alkaline Water?

Water is essential for toddlers, just as it is for all life on earth. But is there a significant difference between giving your child tap water and alkaline water?

A developing body, like that of a toddler, requires more nutrients, vitamins and minerals than an adult. As parents, we have the responsibility to be providing children with the best foods and drinks for their growing bodies. Children are more sensitive; they quickly absorb and process whatever they are fed. Especially when a child is taken off breast milk, this becomes the most crucial time to be supplying them with adequate nutrition and clean water. This suggests there could be great benefit ensuring your child has access to filtered mineralized alkaline drinking water.

Hazards of Tap Water

You will be shocked to find out that tap water contains hundreds of harmful particles. Research shows that public water contains micro-plastics, fluoride, chlorine, rust, sediments, bacteria, parasites, herbicides, pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, tri-halomethanes, heavy metals, organic chemicals and particulates, resulting in unpleasant odours and tastes. Just imagine what all these toxic particles are doing to your developing toddler!

Chlorine

The health effects of chlorinated water on fetuses, infants and children are even more severe than the health effects on adults. Giving your child water contaminated with chlorine can cause respiratory problems, including the development of lower respiratory tract infections and asthma (1). Chlorinated water can also cause irritant dermatitis of the skin (2).

Chlorine exposure can cause serious heart problems in infants and fetuses. Research shows that there is a link between cardiac defects and chlorinated water. Chemicals within chlorine (trihalomethanes or THMs), increase the risk of holes in the heart, cleft palate, and anencephalus during the development stages. This can result in the underdevelopment of the brain, skull and scalp in infants (3).

Prof. Jaakkola of the Journal of Environmental Health stated that “our findings don’t just add to the evidence that water chlorination may cause birth defects, but suggest that exposure to chlorination by-products may be responsible for some specific and common defects” (4).

Heavy Metals

Children, infants and fetuses are more sensitive to heavy metal exposure. This is due to the rapid development of their bodies, which can be disturbed by the toxins in heavy metals. In children, exposure can cause growth problems, learning difficulties, memory impairment, nervous system damage, and behavioural issues such as ADD or ADHD. Extreme exposure can cause irreversible brain damage (5).

Pharmaceuticals

When you take medication, your body does not always metabolize the whole amount. Around 10% or more of the drug is flushed down the toilet and eventually into our waterways (6). One team researched how hormonal drugs, like the contraceptive pill, are affecting our environment and our health. They found that additional estrogen in water can affect female and male fertility, reproduction, pregnancy, breastfeeding and cause other hormonal disorders (7).

Micro-Plastics

A recent report by Orb Media found that some of the most popular bottled drinking waters like Aquafina, Nestlé, Evian and Dasani contain small plastic particles. This means that millions of people, including children, have been drinking plastic. The side effects of drinking plastic are yet to be discovered, but the results are most likely to be grave, especially for infants. The most significant conclusions drawn in the report included:

• Bottled water has twice the amount of micro-plastic in it than tap water.
• Some bottled water brands have as many as 10,000 micro-plastic parts in a single litre.
• These plastic particles are the same kind of plastic used to make the bottle caps.
• The micro-plastics are the same width as a human hair.
• 93% of the bottled water brands that were tested contained some micro-plastics (8).

Benefits of Alkaline Water

If you are questioning whether toddlers can drink alkaline water, rest assured that filtered mineralized alkaline water is safe for toddlers to drink. It is definitely much safer than public tap water.

Drinking alkaline water has many benefits, including balancing pH levels, better hydration, strengthened immune system and the elimination of free radicals. pH simply means the level of acid or alkaline in the body. The higher the pH level, the more alkaline the body. However, the average American diet is very acidic, and therefore alkaline-rich foods and water is essential for balancing pH levels in the body. If the body remains in an acidic state, this can open up doors to diseases, illnesses, and digestive issues like acid reflux. Drinking alkaline water can neutralize the acidity and restore overall health.

Replacing Lost Minerals Water is a nutrient; it contains various minerals that are essential for the growth of a toddler’s body. Many minerals are lost during the processing and cleaning of public water. A mineralized alkaline filtration system is able to put those lost minerals, like magnesium and calcium, back into your water and into your baby’s body.

Final Thoughts

Water is the most important element for the growth of your toddler. As such, investing in a mineralized alkaline filtration system is a wise choice. Santevia water filters are able to reduce harmful chemicals from your water, including chlorine, herbicides, pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, trihalomethanes, heavy metals and organic chemicals. Plus the filters oxygenate the water, raise the pH level and add essential minerals like calcium, potassium, zinc and magnesium. Water is a basic need of life, and with a mineralized alkaline water filter, you will be able to provide healthier water for your family.