How to Safely Prepare Baby Formula With Water (2024)

FAQs

What is the safest water to mix with formula? ›

Unless there is a known contamination of your local water source, you can use tap water to prepare concentrated liquid or powdered formula. In general, though, it is best to primarily use safe tap water that is fluoridated and occasionally use some non-fluoridated bottled water.

For the formula, it has been shown that you should use distilled water. Boil your water and let it cool to 70 C, then add the formula mixture. According to Health Canada, any water you give a baby under four months of age should be brought to a boil for two minutes and then cooled to make sure it is sterile.

Adding too much water to formula reduces its nutrient levels and could slow a child's development. It could also cause an electrolyte imbalance that can lead to severe health problems, including seizures.

Using distilled water will minimize the risk of your baby developing fluorosis. You could also use the following alternatives to lower their risk: Mixing their formula with purified, demineralized, or deionized water. Using the ready-to-feed formula, although this can be quite costly.

The American Dental Association recommends that water containing high levels of fluoride should not be used for making baby formula. This is because increased levels of fluoride in water can put your tiny human at risk for developing enamel fluorosis, potentially affecting developing teeth.

Powdered infant formula milk is not sterile. Even though tins and packets of milk powder are sealed, they can still contain bacteria. Water that hasn't been boiled can also contain bacteria. Formula therefore needs to be made up with water hot enough to kill the bacteria, which is at least 70 degrees C.

On average it will take a full kettle around 30 minutes to reduce down in temperature to 70 degrees Celsius. This is the ideal temperature to make up a feed, as any bacteria present will be killed and the powder will also mix effectively.

A significant concern when selecting water for baby formula is the risk of dental fluorosis. This condition, caused by excessive fluoride during tooth development, leads to changes in the appearance of tooth enamel. In the United States, many local water supplies contain fluoride, which helps prevent tooth decay.

While diluting milk with water may not directly impair calcium absorption, it can lead to lower calcium intake.

If that does not work, water down their milk e.g. 2 scoops to 6 ounces of water. The idea is to make it not so tasty so the baby will not bother to wake in the night for it and encourage him to take all the milk he needs during the day.

Can you boil water for formula in advance? ›

Boiled water can be kept in sterilized, properly sealed containers in the refrigerator for 3 days or for 24 hours if kept at room temperature out of direct sunlight.

Distilled or purified water can be used without boiling it.

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.

Distilled water for babies is the same as baby water except for added minerals. After baby water is purified, a few trace minerals are added for taste. So, baby water contains a small amount of magnesium, potassium, and calcium. Distilled water does not.

“Cold formula is typically not recommended for premature infants, who often require sterilized formula, which has been hot enough to kill bacteria and then cooled to human temperature before serving,” she says, “It's also not recommended for those with slow weight gain because bringing the formula up to body ...