Is Baby Water The Same As Distilled Water?

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I’ll admit, might be an overprotective parent.  This tends to make me overthink even the simplest of things.  For example, most baby formula instructions say to pour water into a clean bottle.  Simple enough right?  Then I start to ask myself… What kind of water do I use for baby formula?  Should I buy baby water?  Can I use tap or bottled water instead?  The questions will go on and on.  It can get rather overwhelming sometimes.  And, I know there are plenty of parents out there who feel just as overwhelmed.  But, don’t worry.  Here’s everything you need to know about baby water.

Is Baby Water The Same As Distilled Water?

Why Is Water Not Good For Babies?

Before I go on with a whole article about baby water, I need to point out that supplemental water is not good for your newborn baby.  The American Academy of Pediatrics1 states that “During the first 6 months of age, even in hot climates, water and juice are unnecessary…” and might even “…introduce contaminants or allergens.”  So, the information in this article only applies to parents who want to know what kind of water to use when mixing up a bottle of baby formula.

With that said, it’s generally safe to give your baby water when you start introducing them to solid food.  For most babies, this occurs when they are around 6 months old.  And, you should start slow by allowing them to take small sips of water since they will still get the majority of their water requirements from their baby formula (or breastmilk).

What Kind Of Water Do You Use For Baby Formula?

You can use any type of clean water (tap or bottled water) when preparing baby formula.  But, the American Dental Association recommends that the baby water should be free of Fluoride.2  Or, if there is Fluoride, they advise that it not exceed 0.7 parts per million (PPM).3  Too much fluoride can put your newborn at risk for enamel fluorosis.  While not a disease, it can result in white lines or spots on your baby’s teeth.4  Seriously, who would what this to happen?

And, did you know that Fluoride is found in 70% of tap water and even in some bottled water?  So, if you plan on using your city’s tap water, make sure that it is clean and free of Fluoride.  You can do this by contacting your city’s water department.  To be extra sure, you might want to consider testing your tap water yourself with a home water testing kit (Amazon Link).  The same applies if you are considering using bottled water as well.

Can Tap Water Hurt The Baby?

If your tap water is clean and free of Fluoride, chances are it won’t hurt your baby.  But, it’s probably not the best option when looking for water to mix with baby formula.  The only way to make sure that it’s clean, sterile and Fluoride-free is to test it every time you intend to use it.  And even then, you should probably bring the tap water to a boil for at least two minutes and let it cool down before you use it.

Also, keep in mind that your newborn’s immune system won’t mature until they are two to three months old.5  Until then, you should be extra aware of anything that can introduce contaminants or allergens into their formula mix.

Is Bottled Water Safe For Babies?

Bottled water has the same problems as tap water.  You really have no way to know if it’s clean and sterile (free from bacteria) unless you are willing to test and boil it each and every time you intend to use it.  You also have to make sure that the bottled water is free of Fluoride.  And, some water bottlers even add minerals such as calcium, magnesium, or maybe a little bit of salt.6

Needless to say, there are a lot of variables that you can’t control when using tap or bottled water when mixing up your baby formula.  You can take the time to test and boil the water each and every time you use it.  But, who has time for that?  If you do, more power to you.  But, if you don’t, consider using some sort of purified water.  It will make your life so much easier.

Is Distilled Water And Baby Water The Same Thing?

Distilled water and baby water are for all intents and purposes the same thing.  That is, baby/nursery water is typically water that has been steam distilled to remove impurities.  Then, most companies infuse the water with ozone to further disinfect it.  Fluoride is optional.  If added, it is kept at 0.7 parts per million.  This is the ideal amount recommended by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Baby/nursery water is a great option to use when mixing your baby formula or cereal.  It can also dilute concentrated juice with it.  And, it’s also a good source of drinking water for children six months or older.

Is Purified Water The Same As Distilled Water?

Purified water and distilled water are essentially the same things.  The only difference between the two is the process that is used to purify the water.  Distilled water typically goes through a steam distillation process.  Purified water is typically purified via reverse osmosis, sand filtration, ion exchange or a combination of the three.

So, don’t feel like you have to only purchase nursery water for your formula.  If purified water is the only water you have access to, it will be fine to mix with formula or cereal.

Do I Have To Boil Baby Water?

Most areas of the United States has clean water.  So, you wouldn’t have to boil the water before mixing it with your baby’s formula.  But, as previously stated, your baby’s immune system isn’t fully formed until they are at least two to three months old.  So, boiling the water is an insurance policy that only costs you a little time.  That’s a small price to pay to make sure that it is sterile.  Just remember that the water has fully cooled down if you do boil it.

I don’t know about you but I am not willing to trust that my city is providing clean water at all times.  Especially since clean water is something that I can easily ensure by using distilled or purified water.  Or, even by boiling the water.  For me, this is a small price to pay for peace of mind.


By Grace – Child Development Associate Teacher in California

My husband Mark and I have been blessed with two beautiful, smart, positive (I can go on and on) girls… Kenzie & Kayla.  And, we have learned many tips and tricks while raising them.  Tips and tricks that we felt would be useful to other new parents out there.  So, we started WAYISAVE as a website built by parents for parents to share the best baby deals, coupons, tips, tricks and the occasional piece of advice.


References

  1. pediatrics.aappublications.org | breastfeeding and the use of human milk
  2. fluoridealert.org | 50 reasons to oppose fluoridation
  3. ada.org | ada statement on study in jama pediatrics
  4. wikipedia.org | dental fluorosis
  5. health.clevelandclinic.org | is your newborn babys immune system strong enough
  6. businessinsider.com | heres why your bottled water might contain strange ingredients

2 Comments
  1. Something to consider once moving babies to water:

    I live in Marin County and way back in the 80’s, San Rafael’s water tasted really great; no obvious chlorine, or other contaminants. However, when left (as drinking water) in a clean, sterile glass bottle in my truck, I noticed how awful the water tasted after a mere 3-5 days. I mean ‘awful/stinky (like a slimy pond)!’. So I started boiling the water before putting it into the glass container. ‘That’ boiled water lasted 3 – 5 times longer than the non-boiled water. This said allot about the quality of the water back then and I can only imagine what might be in our water today. ~~Mau

  2. Oh, I fully agree. People say that I’m too picky with the water I drink. But, my body is 50-60% water. Might was well make it the best water I can. =)

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