Anything we provide to our little ones contributes to their health and happiness, even water. As moms, you might be curious whether it’s safe to give bottled water to your baby. Or can babies drink purified bottled water? Though all water mostly looks the same, it is not created equal. Read on to discover what are the types of water, what you can give your baby, and what you should consider before giving it to them.
Types of Bottled Water
Before we answer such a question, if can babies drink purified bottled water, let us first know the various types of bottled water.
- Packaged Drinking Water. Bottled water is manufactured with water, which is sourced from rivers, lakes, or public taps. It is purified utilizing UV rays, and all harmful inorganic ions, bacteria, gases, and other impurities are eliminated from them. Once the method is complete, bottled water obtains a distinct flavor.
- Mineral Water. You might be questioning whether mineral water safe for babies? Mineral water contains high amounts of melted minerals and is normally extracted from groundwater or from the underground spring water. Giving mineral water for babies is fine as long as the level of dissolved minerals (like sodium and fluoride) is considerably low.
- Distilled Water. The purest form of them all. This one doesn’t contain any minerals or gases. It is not used for consumption and is commonly used in industrial outfits.
Which Bottled Water is Safer for Babies?
Bottled water is manufactured and packaged by various companies. The way it’s collected, purification process, and constituting elements are different, meaning there can be huge differences between them. Some of the primary criteria that make these bottled water safe for babies include:
- Numerous bottled water companies actually add fluoride to the water. Adequate amounts, fluoride can be good for your toddler’s teeth and gums. But, high levels of such can also be very harmful to your baby as it can prompt ‘enamel fluorosis’ that can display on your baby’s teeth as white spots while still growing.
- Choose brands that have a reverse osmosis or ion exchange as a portion of their purification process because there are tons of places in the country which have arsenic in the water. These processes remove arsenic, which can’t be done through boiling.
- Studies show that large amounts of sodium in drinking water can lead to high blood pressure. Hence, low sodium bottled water is the best alternative for your babies.
Can Babies Drink Bottled Water?
So, can babies drink purified bottled water? The short answer is yes. You can actually give bottled water to your little ones only if they’re above six months old. Giving water too early to your baby can result in water intoxication. This is because a baby’s kidneys are too tiny and still developing, which means that they cannot handle too much load. Never substitute breast milk or formula with bottled water during these months.
What to Choose between Baby Water vs. Bottled Water
Nursery water or baby water is specifically made for babies, which means that it contains low sodium, no sulfate, and low fluoride. This gives the baby water an edge over bottled water.
Can I Use Bottled Water for Baby Formula?
Can babies drink purified bottled water as a solvent for powdered formula milk? If you are making a baby formula using bottled water, it should contain less than 200 milligrams a liter of sodium. See labels of any bottled water to check on this. Also, be sure that you boil bottled water as well as final care. Get more tips on baby diet.
Conclusion
So, can babies drink purified bottled water? Drinking water is an essential source of fluids for babies over six months. Bottled water is safe to give to your 6-month-old baby but be aware of the various types of bottled water and its contents. Some bottled water may contain too much sodium (salt) or sulfate, and you may want to check on this before you allow your baby to drink bottled water. Ideally, the bottled water should only contain less than 200 mg of sodium and less than 250 mg of sulfate per liter. If ever you decide to give your little one purified bottled water, just make sure that the seal on the bottle is not broken.