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Is filtered tap water safe for babies?

Is filtered tap water safe for babies?

We often get asked if tap water or more specifically is filtered tap water safe for babies?

As parents we are all super concerned about the well-being of our little babies. Two of the co-founders at Tapp Water recently became parents and therefore spent a lot of time researching this topic before making a decision. In this article we will share our research and conclusion.

Note that babies less than 6 months should not be drinking tap water so this article refers to water used for baby formula and drinking water for babies older than 6 months.

1. Why do we boil the water?

Babies have immature immune systems and therefore we want to make sure that the infant doesn’t get exposed to bacteria unnecessarily the first 6 months.

Therefore there are two reasons to boil water:

a) Neither tap water or bottled water is sterile straight from the source.

b) Powdered infant formula milk is not sterile. Even though tins and packets of milk powder are sealed, they can still contain bacteria.

By boiling the water for 1-3 minutes you can be sure that bacteria are gone. Adding the boiled water to the formula, according to some sources, also means that the formula milk will be safer to consume.

Boiling water does not remove other contaminants such as lead, nitrates, micro plastics or substances often added to the water including chlorine, chloramine or fluoride.

2. Is your tap water safe to drink?

Drinking water quality is location dependent. In most of North America public tap water is safe to drink after boiling but you never know for sure.

Recent incidents with lead in Flint, Michigan and PFOAs in the Venento region of Italy show that water could be contaminated even when locals governments report it to be safe.

Another problems is newly identified contaminants such as micro-plastics found in over 80% of all tap water. We simply don’t know yet what the health impact is for humans but we know that it’s harmful for micro-organisms.

If you’re concerned about fluorosis, consider ways to minimize your baby’s exposure to fluoride. Filtering (see below) is one option and other options include ready-made formula or low-fluoride bottled water. Often the fluoride exposure from vegetables and fruit is greater than tap water. Note that according to professionals mild fluorosis is a cosmetic issue and not harmful to your infants health.

So is tap water safe for babies and baby milk?

For the time being experts point to tap water being safe for infants. Most health institutions in the US (e.g. Mayo Clinic) recommend tap water rather than bottled water for infants.

Use water from a safe source to mix your infant formula. If you are not sure if your tap water is safe to use for preparing infant formula, contact your local health department.” – Source: CDC Website

https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/formula-feeding/infant-formula-preparation-and-storage.html

3. Is bottled water safer than tap water for babies?

The simple answer is no. A longer answer is available here . Bottled water may contain too much sodium or sulphates and it could also contain lead, nitrates or other harmful contaminants as quality testing is not as frequent as for tap water. There may also be bacteria as it’s not sterile.

In addition to this 93% of bottled water was found to contain microplastics in a recent test by OrbsMedia. As per above we don’t yet know what human impact is but you might not want to test your luck with a newborn baby.

Therefore avoid using bottled water for your infant if you can and if you must use it then make sure that the content is safe and that it’s boiled first.

4. What kind of water filter do I need for babies?

As mentioned above there are risks with tap water although currently perceived as very low. An affordable high quality water filter will reduce the risk for your infant. But make sure to use the right kind of filter.

Here are a few simple guidelines:

  • In most cases a Carbon Block filters installed on the faucet, under-the-skink or as a carafe is the best option
  • Check that the filter is tested to remove/reduce common substances and contaminants such as chlorine, lead, nitrates, fluoride and microplastics
  • Make sure the filter is independently tested by a certified lab
  • Ensure it is properly maintained (filters changed on time) otherwise you could be contaminating the water!

And make sure to boil the water the first 6 months even if you use a water filter.

Conclusion – Is filtered tap water safe for babies?

There is no absolute right or wrong. But after thorough research and analysis we decided that tap water is safe for our little babies but that filtered tap water is even safer. For the past 6 months we’ve used filtered tap water with TAPP 2 every day and our babies are healthy and happy.

Two of the co-founders of TAPP Water are recent parents and feed their babies filtered tap water every day.

Note: Our research concluded that filtered tap water is safe for babies. However, make sure your water is potable to begin with. Sterile liquid baby formula is recommended for infants in high-risk situations (if the babies aren’t breastfeeding), especially for premature babies in the neonatal intensive care unit.

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4 thoughts on “Is filtered tap water safe for babies?”

    1. Hello! Pediatricians generally recommend that children and babies drink weakly mineralized water. If your tap water is weakly mineralized, you can give it to your baby. Greetings!

  1. Where are your NSF testing results? Your company is making unsubstantiated claims about what your filter does, with absolutely no backup documentation.

    No, it’s not good to give a 10 month old baby tap water, especially from San Francisco. Lead is one of the most dangerous contaminants, and SF has some of the oldest municipal pipes in the country. So, giving a baby water from a filter certified by NSF to remove//reduce the widest range of contaminants possible – this is the only safe water to give a baby, be it for drinking or mixing with formula, or cooking the baby’s food, or, frankly, for washing the baby (using a chlorine-removing bath ball or showerhead is absolutely crucial)

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