Deciding how to feed a baby, whether breastfeeding or formula feeding, can be challenging for parents. The bottom line: Fed is best.
But parents who decide on formula may wonder: What kind of water should you use for making formula? Which water is best for baby?
When making formula for babies, parents have the option of using tap, fluoridated, well or bottled water. There are different factors to consider when deciding which one to use.
Parents have multiple safe options when choosing water for formula mixing. The two safest options are boiled tap water that has been cooled to room temperature, or any type of bottled water. If tap water is going to be the primary water source for formula, use bottled water occasionally to reduce fluoride exposure.
Parents should be most cautious about the water source for infants younger than 3 months, premature infants or babies with impaired immune systems, as they are at higher risk for serious bacterial infection from unclean water.
Best Water For Baby Formula
Tap, well, bottled or sparkling? (Just kidding.) Here’s how to choose the best water for baby formula.
Tap Water
Dr. Tye Winters, pediatric residency director and medical director of Overlook Medical Center Pediatric HealthStart Clinic, tells TODAY.com the best way to use tap water for baby formula is boiling it first.
“The recommendation is to boil the water for at least one minute in a pan with a cover, then allow it to cool with the lid on the pan," Winters says. "This should be followed especially within the first three months of age or if the infant was born prematurely, prior to 36 weeks of gestation.”
Water from a public source in the United States is usually very high quality and can safely be used for mixing formulas, but Dr. Hillary O’Boyle, a pediatrician in Richmond, Virginia, says it's always good to check.
"I would advise parents to make sure their tap water comes from a safe water source, as defined by your county health department or state environmental agency," O'Boyle says.
Fluoridated Water
Fluoridated water can be used to make formula; however, caretakers and parents should take caution to make sure their baby is not getting too much fluoride.
Infant formula contains all the fluoride your baby needs, so using tap water for mixing, which typically contains additional fluoride, may put your infant at a slightly increased risk for something called dental fluorosis, O'Boyle says.
This causes the appearance of faint white lines on adult teeth, which is not harmful, but may be a cosmetic concern.
"Parents who live in areas with fluoridated tap water may want to periodically use ready-to-feed (pre-mixed) formula and/or mix formula with bottled water, both of which do not contain fluoride," O'Boyle says.
If you are using fluoridated water, the American Dental Association suggests checking with your local water company to make sure that the fluoride level is less than 0.7 parts fluoride per million parts water.
Well Water
Winters says well water should not be used for formula, as it may contain harmful bacteria that can lead to life-threatening infections, especially in younger infants or babies with underlying health conditions.
Distilled or purified water should be used in place of well water.
If well water is the only water source, exercise caution.
Some wells have a high concentration of nitrates, which can seep in from fertilizer in the ground, putting babies at risk for something called methemoglobinemia.
“Boiling the water does not solve this problem. If interested in using well water for formula mixing, the water should be tested periodically for nitrates to ensure safe levels," O'Boyle says.
If the nitrate levels are safe, O'Boyle says, "All well water should be boiled prior to use.”
Bottled Water
Virtually any type of bottled water can be safely used for mixing formula. This includes purified, distilled, deionized or demineralized water, according to the CDC.
Using bottled water is the best way to ensure the water is safe, and also has the advantage of not containing additional fluoride. Per the CDC, the FDA requires companies to indicate on the label when fluoride is added.
When choosing bottled water, it is important to know if the water has been fortified with additives, such as fluoride or electrolytes, as this can lead to an excessive amount of electrolytes or fluoride within the infant’s body.
Regular bottled drinking water should still be boiled before using in formula, similar to tap water. Distilled or purified water can be used without having to boil the water.
What Kind Of Water Should Babies Drink?
As with anything else, getting advice from your child’s pediatrician is always the best bet.
One important thing to remember is that babies under 6 months don't need to drink water on its own. In fact, doing so can lead to water intoxication.
According to St. Louis Children’s Hospital, "Too much water dilutes a baby’s normal sodium levels and can lead to seizures, coma, brain damage and death."
Infants are receiving plenty of water from formula or breast milk.
Parents can premix formula or bring their own water with them when leaving the house. Prepared formula can be kept out of the refrigerator for up to about two hours after preparation.
