Can you prepare a baby's bottle with tap water?

We know that newborns are far more fragile and less resilient to germs than adults. As parents, we therefore take extra precautions when it comes to choosing products for our baby, their food, what they drink, and so on — and one question keeps coming up: "Can you prepare a baby's bottle with tap water?"

Why might tap water not be suitable?

It's worth knowing that tap water can vary in quality and taste depending on where you live. Some water supplies can be heavily chlorinated or high in limescale, yet still safe to drink. Tap water is therefore not necessarily off-limits for your baby's feeds. There are two important factors to consider: the child's age and the quality of the local water supply.

Before the age of 6 months, a baby is fed exclusively on liquid food — some parents start introducing solids a little earlier, around 4 months, but we'll use 6 months as an average here. Breastfed babies feed solely on breast milk and therefore don't need any additional water, as breastfeeding meets their hydration needs. For bottle-fed babies, however, the powdered formula must be diluted with water, and that's when the question arises: "Is it safe to use tap water for my baby's bottle?" The answer is yes, provided you take a few precautionary steps.

What are the best precautions to take?

We recommend using bottled water for babies under 6 months, or tap water that you have first brought to the boil to eliminate any risk of contamination. Once your child is 6 months old, their digestive system will be more robust and better able to handle tap water. Never use hot water directly from the tap to prepare your baby's feeds — it contains far more bacteria, lead, and other contaminants.

Which bottled water is suitable for my baby?

If you opt for bottled water for your newborn, be aware that not all bottles are suitable for babies! Choose a water with a low mineral content, and look out for the label "Suitable for preparing infant formula" on some bottle labels. So, to sum up: you can use tap water to prepare your baby's bottles, as long as you take a few precautions — especially if your baby is under 6 months old.