Well, it's impossible to totally exclude it without growing it hydroponically or in a soiless medium in an enclosed greenhouse environment since it's in the air as F2 and part of many mineral soil parent materials (feldspar, mica, etc) contain F. The soil F is mostly excluded in the roots of plants, though...not much makes it into the plant leaves/flowers/fruits. The exclusion of it in roots can effect the uptake of other nutrients via competition for uptake sites...especially Mg, Ca, Fe. In the air, F is highly soluble and it will also make it's way into the soil. You can lessen additional inputs by selectively choosing source inputs for water and certain fertilizers. Areas with excessive F (quite rare outside of industry polluted areas) can be remediated by additional Ca in the soil to help bind it up as CaF2 which is mostly plant unavailable. Long story short...you can't do much aside from managing your water sources and nutrient additions while not growing in a soil that has high parent materials that contain natural F.

I have an RO system that feeds the following: SZ refrigerator, Brizo prep sink pot filler, Brizo main sink aux. faucet, Charlie's Greenhouse plant water wand, HydroFogger humidifier, Waterstone solid brass aux. faucet at bar sink. Some of these are plastic or stainless steel and not at risk in any case. I am not in fear that any of the others will be damaged because I have tested my water and, post filtration, it is still slightly alkaline. I believe that this is probably due to Government requirements on public water systems that they be made significantly alkaline to avoid lead leaching. Because RO systems, even with the best membranes, are only about 98% efficient, some alkalinity is still present. What would I have done if it had tested acidic, as it might have if my water supply came from a well, and I were using dubious brass faucets? I would have added a post filter cannister specifically designed to buffer the water to be slightly alkaline. Although I can't find an example at the moment at SpectraPure, I know that they are out there somewhere as I looked them up while waiting for my PH tester to arrive a couple of years ago. Whether even acidic RO water would have any effect on your specific Waterstone faucet is something you should ask Waterstone. kas

I would probably go with what the doctor says. It may have something to do with where you live. I think certain areas have more flouride in their water than others. If it's below a certain number than supplements are recommended. You could call your water dept. What do other people in your area do with their babies? If no one else is, I would specifically ask your doctor why he thinks it's needed. Personally, I wouldn't use bottled water for a baby...too much chance of bacteria. Tap is usually better.

I "think" there is usually fluoride in the the water in most municipalites, but in some areas there is not, or it is very low so pediatricians recommend adding it after 6 months...at least that is my understanding of it. Oh, and I don't usually poin this out, because my spelling and typing is awful but just in case you are trying to do research on it I believe fluoride is spelled with the U before the O...got me when I was looking it up! Sorry I don't have an answer about the loose stools...I'd go ahead and call the pediatrician's office and ask. Here is a link that might be useful: Fluoride and Water