Water For Baby Formula: Which Type Should You Use?

It is normal for many caregivers and parents to look for the best water for baby formula. Preparing baby formula is a complex process, and selecting the right water to mix can be challenging since many water sources may not be safe for the little ones. Although bottled water or tap water is commonly used to mix infant formula, water quality can be a concern. Contaminants and high mineral content in water can be a health risk for babies.

Read on to know the best water for baby formula and the quality and safety of different water types.

Can You Use Tap Water To Make Baby Formula?

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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates tap water quality by testing it for over 90 different contaminants (1). In the majority of locations across the United States, tap water is deemed safe to drink. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), if your tap water is safe and pure,  you can use it to mix powdered formula and prepare formula milk for your baby (2).

However, if you are unsure about its safety, it is advisable to boil cold tap water to a rolling boil for no more than one minute and then cool the water at room temperature for no more than 30 minutes before use. Boiling tap water is necessary to kill any disease-causing organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites, present in the water (3). Boiled water can be kept in sterilized, properly sealed containers for two to three or for 24 hours if kept at room temperature out of direct sunlight.

Can You Use Bottled Water To Make Baby formula?

Most others may be ridden by the question ‘Can I use distilled water for baby formula?’ And the answer is yes, you can. If you are unsure about the quality of tap water, you can use boiled bottled water to make baby formula. However, some experts recommend avoiding bottled water as it may contain large amounts of sodium or sulfate. If you use bottled water, check the label, and ensure that the sodium (Na) level is less than 200mg, and the sulfate (SO or SO4) level is less than 250mg per liter (4).

Bottled distilled water is a better alternative since it may contain fewer contaminants than mineral or spring water that usually have added minerals, such as fluoride (5). You will still need to boil it to be on the safe side. Another bottled water option that parents might consider for preparing baby formula is nursery water. Nursery water is bottled distilled water with added fluoride curated especially for babies. While it is quite suitable for babies, nursery water might be expensive and less readily available than other alternatives.

Can You Use Distilled Water To Make Baby Formula?

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Yes, you can use distilled water to prepare baby formula (6). Distilled water can be prepared at home by collecting steam in a clean container and cooling it into water (3). You may also use domestic/household water distillers. Since the water is derived from steam, it is usually unlikely to have any contaminants.

You may purchase bottled distilled water available at supermarkets. Pick distilled water meant for human consumption and not those made for industrial use. Distilled water usually does not require boiling. If you suspect possible contamination of bottled distilled water, you may boil it.

Can You Use Well Water To Make Baby Formula?

If the well water is certified as safe by a state-certified laboratory, you may use boiled well water to prepare baby formula. The EPA is responsible for the safety of public water supply, and the safety rules do not apply to privately-owned drinking water systems, such as wells (7) (8). Well water can also get contaminated with toxins from the dirt or water around it. Therefore, it is the well owner’s responsibility to ensure the quality and safety of the well water. If your tap water comes from a well, make sure it is tested regularly.

The EPA does not monitor well water safety, but several state-certified laboratories may offer services to test well water for a fee. You may check with your state or local environmental or health department for more information.

If you are unsure of the safety certification of the well water or suspect the well water might be contaminated and may compromise the formula’s nourishment value for some reason, then choose the tap, bottled, or distilled water to prepare baby formula. Some experts advise against using well water for formula due to the lack of constant monitoring of well water’s safety (6).

Quick tip

If you live in an area where the water may be contaminated with lead, refrain from using water from the hot water tap. Also, let the cold water run for a few minutes if you have not used the tap water for some hours (13).

What About The Fluoride In Water?

Fluoride is a vital mineral that helps prevent cavities and is naturally present in water and certain foods. through soil but the levels are quite low to have any benefit. Drinking water is usually fluoridated. The US Public Health Service recommends drinking water to contain 0.7mg of fluoride per liter of water (9).

Excess of fluoride beyond the recommended value may cause dental fluorosis, whereas too little could pose a tooth decay risk. Both conditions are irreversible. Thus, parents and caregivers should check the fluoride levels in the drinking water and the baby formula. Boiling tap water and home water filters cannot remove fluoride. Knowing the fluoride levels can ensure your baby isn’t getting too much or too little fluoride.

If your infant is exclusively consuming formula mixed with fluoride water, then you can sometimes use low-fluoride bottled water to mix infant formula, to lessen the risk of fluoride excess. Bottled water with low fluoride content is usually labeled as deionized, demineralized, distilled, or purified. You may also use distilled water, which does not contain fluoride (10). Alternatively, you may also consider using liquid low-fluoride baby formulas. It is always good to let your pediatrician know what kind of water or alternatives you are using.

When To Boil Water For Formula Preparation?

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The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends boiling water if you are unsure of the safety of tap water (11). Bottled and packaged distilled water may not require boiling, but it is safe to do so to avoid any risk of waterborne illness. Distilled water is the safest option to use when boiling water isn’t possible (6).

Do note that boiling water neither removes particulate matter, nor does it eliminate dissolved compounds, such as nitrates. If the water is cloudy or dirty, it must be filtered before boiling. Well water tends to have a high level of nitrates, a compound that may increase the risk of methemoglobinemia, a blood disorder, in babies (12). Make sure to know the dissolved compounds in water before boiling and using it for baby formula.

Precautions To Take While Using Water For Baby Formula

Here are some tips to ensure you safely use water for preparing the baby formula.

1. Discuss the safest water option with your pediatrician as recommendations and water safety norms may vary as per the location.

2. Boil well water, tap water, and bottled water before using it to prepare the formula. Distilled water could be boiled if contamination is suspected.

3. Boiling water is necessary even if you are using a home filtration system, such as reverse osmosis.

4. Always use clean utensils to boil water and use a sterilized feeding bottle to prepare the formula. You can also use an electric kettle to boil water.

5. Avoid boiling water for more than a minute as it could concentrate the impurities in the water. Let the boiled water cool to about body temperature and come to room temperature by setting it aside for 30 minutes. Do not leave the water out for long as it could lead to bacterial contamination.

6. Always test the water and formula temperature before feeding the baby. You can drop a few drops on the inside of your wrist to check the water temperature. If it is too hot for your wrist, its too hot to feed to your baby.
   

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7. Mix the quantity of water and formula recommended by the manufacturer or the pediatrician to ensure proper nutrition. Avoid adding excess water or formula powder to prevent underfeeding or overfeeding a baby.

8. Handle boiling water carefully as you will need both hands while near a stove; so do not hold the baby while making the formula.

9. Discard the prepared formula after two hours and an unused bottle of mixed formula after 24 hours, as it is no longer sterile.

Quick tip

If you use a cold-water sterilizer, remove any remaining liquid from the bottle and the teat by shaking it off or rinsing with cooled boiled water from the kettle (14).

Infographic: How To Ensure Water Safety For Baby Formula While On The Go

Ensuring water quality when traveling can get tricky for parents. Understanding your woes, we bring you an infographic that shares tips on water safety when traveling. If you are a frequent traveler, keep this information handy to make sure you do what’s best for your baby.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Illustration: Water For Baby Formula: Which Type Should You Use?

Image: Dall·E/MomJunction Design Team

Learn which type of water is best for baby formula in this informative video. Get the facts on the safest and healthiest water for your baby.

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Seeemaa BudhrajaDDHE & DNHE

Seeemaa Budhraja is a Delhi-based dietitian and nutritionist. She specializes in weight and lifestyle management. She is a healthy recipe designer, works as a health motivator and wellness coach as well. She has worked as a slimming head with one of the top organizations in India.

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