Should you sterilize the water you use to prepare bottles? Is bottled water better than tap water? Is tap water safe? Find out about important information and precautions for formula preparation.
To boil or not to boil, that is the question. Whether or not you should boil the water to sterilize it before preparing your baby's bottle is a decision you have to make, but you should consider the following: pediatrician recommendations, your water supply, and the health of your baby.
If you choose to sterilize the water, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises heating the water until it reaches a rolling boil, boiling for two minutes, and then letting it cool. It is very important not to boil the water in anything that could be lead based. To save time, boil large amounts of water at a time and store it in your refrigerator.
Bottled water is an option many mom's turn to, however it is not the same as sterilized water. One of the pluses to using bottled water is that it unlike tap water, it doesn't contain fluoride.
If you choose to use tap water, use cold water run it for at least thirty seconds before using it. This precaution helps to flush out any impurities that may have collected in standing pipes. Cold water is better than hot water because hot water tends to draw more lead out of the pipes.
