Baby Water: The Good, The Bad, and The Misunderstood

When it comes to your baby, only the best will do. You take time to research formulas, cereal, and more. With so many options, this can be confusing. You may wonder if you are making the right choices – including baby water.

Baby water is marketed to parents to make formula and cereals. There are several popular brands, such as Parents Choice and Gerber. What’s the difference between baby water and regular water? We thought you might have the same question, so we did some research.

What Is the Best Water to Use With Baby Formula?

The FDA is vague when it comes to what the best water is to make baby formula. According to their website, “water should be safe to drink.” Self-explanatory, but the point is, if you have any doubt, or have well water, you must take precautions. They go on to say, you should boil tap water for one minute before using it to make a bottle. If you want to skip this step you can use distilled water instead. According to Nationwide Children’s, since distilled water is purified, you can use it to make formula without boiling.

Is there a difference between distilled water and baby water?

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. 

Does nursery water have fluoride? 

Some nursery waters have fluoride – some do not. Manufacturers list the additive on the bottle if their product does contain fluoride. Distilled is fluoride free water. You should consult with your pediatrician on which is best for your child. Keep in mind, some formula also contains fluoride so you will want to make sure your baby does not ingest too much.

Can Adults Drink Nursery Purified Water?

Yes. By now, you know that nursery purified water is distilled water with a trace amount of minerals added. It may be easier to stock one type of water in your home. If this is the case, it is suitable for everyone in the household to drink nursery water (or distilled water for that matter).