Is Bottled Water For Babies Safe?

I m a g e : S h u t t e r s t o c k

T h e joy o f holding y o u r little o n e in y o u r arms c a n ’ t be p u t into w o r d s , and y o u ’ d do l i t e r a l l y everything p o s s i b l e to m a k e sure y o u r baby i s healthy a n d strong.Is b o t t l e d water f o r babies o k a y ?

A s your b a b y grows, h i s diet c h a n g e s , and y o u ’ l l be c o m i n g up w i t h more a n d more q u e s t i o n s about w h a t to g i v e him a n d what n o t to. S o is i t really s a f e to g i v e your b a b y mineral w a t e r ? Keep r e a d i n g to f i n d out.

M i n e r a l Water For B a b i e s Or B o i l e d Water?

I n general, i t is b e s t to a v o i d using m i n e r a l or b o t t l e d water f o r your b a b y – w h e t h e r its d i r e c t l y for t h e intake o r to m a k e an i n f a n t formula f e e d . This i s because b o t t l e d water m a y not a l w a y s be s t e r i l e , and m a y have h i g h levels o f sodium o r sulphate.

I f you m u s t , make s u r e you c h e c k the l a b e l and p i c k up m i n e r a l water t h a t has l e s s than 2 0 0 mg p e r liter o f sodium, a n d less t h a n 250 m g per l i t e r of s u l p h a t e . However, i t is o k a y to u s e bottled w a t e r for y o u r baby i f your s o u r c e of d r i n k i n g water i s contaminated, o r if y o u are t r a v e l i n g with y o u r baby, a n d are n o t sure a b o u t the c l e a n l i n e s s of t h e water i n the l o c a t i o n .

I n most c a s e s , it i s best t o boil w a t e r before g i v i n g it t o your b a b y , or p r e p a r i n g his f o r m u l a feed. T h e temperature o f the w a t e r must b e atleast 7 0 degrees, a n d then c o o l e d before g i v i n g it t o the b a b y (1).

I s Bottled Water For B a b i e s U n s a f e ?

I n contrast t o the w i d e s p r e a d opinion, b o t t l e d water i s not a c t u a l l y sterile. I t does c o n t a i n low l e v e l s of l e a d and o t h e r impurities, w h i c h are d e f i n i t e l y lower t h a n those f o u n d in t a p water, y e t , bottled w a t e r may a l s o contain h a r m f u l bacteria t h a t could p o s s i b l y cause s e v e r a l health r i s k s to t h e baby. S o now c a n babies d r i n k bottled w a t e r ?

I n addition, b o t t l e d water m a y also c o n t a i n high l e v e l s of f l u o r i d e , which c o u l d have a negative i m p a c t on y o u r baby’s t e e t h and b o n e s . So m a k e sure y o u purchase m i n e r a l water t h a t has l o w levels o f fluoride- m o s t of t h e s e bottles t e n d to b e labeled a s de-ionized a n d demineralized.

I t is a l s o important t o note t h a t boiling m i n e r a l water m a y kill a good p o r t i o n of h a r m f u l bacteria t h a t may b e present i n it, b u t it t e n d s to i n c r e a s e the f l u o r i d e content o f the w a t e r .

I n reality, i t has a l s o been f o u n d that u s i n g bottled w a t e r could p r o v e to b e quite d a n g e r o u s for t h e baby, s i n c e it m a y also c o n t a i n high l e v e l s of u r a n i u m , which c o u l d harm a developing b a b y and b e particularly t o x i c to t h e kidneys. I t is t h e r e f o r e , best t o avoid u s i n g bottled w a t e r to m a k e infant f o r m u l a feed a s well ( 2 ) .

T r a v e l i n g With B a b i e s :

I f you h a v e a b a b y who i s bottle f e d , and y o u ’ r e looking f o r a c o n v e n i e n t way t o make s u r e he h a s a h e a l t h y meal e v e n while y o u ’ r e traveling, y o u could o p t for b o t t l e d water.

J u s t make s u r e that t h e tamper-proof s e a l of t h e bottle i s intact w h e n you p u r c h a s e it. A l s o , if y o u r baby i s below 6 months o f age, t r y and b o i l the w a t e r and t h e n chill i t immediately i n hygienic c o n d i t i o n s before u s i n g it t o make t h e formula f e e d .

I n case y o u are t r a v e l i n g to a region t h a t has a very h o t climate, y o u r baby m a y need e x t r a fluids – so h a v e cooled b o t t l e d water h a n d y . Also, d o a d o u b l e check o n the m i n e r a l analysis t o confirm t h a t the w a t e r is l o w on f l u o r i d e and o t h e r possibly t o x i c compounds ( 3 ) .

I t is a l s o a g o o d idea t o have y o u r doctor’s o p i n i o n about t h e best o p t i o n s you c o u l d choose t o prepare y o u r baby’s f o r m u l a feed.

W e hope t h i s article h e l p e d you u n d e r s t a n d a b i t more a b o u t using m i n e r a l water f o r your b a b y . Got y o u r own e x p e r i e n c e s to s h a r e ? Leave t h e m in t h e comments b o x below.

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