Are you a new mom or dad? Are you paranoid about the water your baby is drinking? Well, we're here to make things worse!
There's no denying that babies need plenty of clean, fresh water. But with so many options out there, it can be hard to know what's safe and what isn't. In this article, we'll take a closer look at bottled water and whether or not it's an appropriate choice for infants.
Let's Talk Tap Water
Firstly, let's clear up one common misconception: tap water is perfectly safe for most babies! Unless your local municipality specifically warns against drinking the water due to potential contamination issues (which is rare), there should be no problem giving it to your little one.
In fact, some experts even argue that tap water is preferable over bottled thanks to its fluoride content which can actually help improve dental health in young children. Plus,you don't have to lug those heavy cases of bottles home from the store - win-win!
That being said,if you do opt for tap water, make sure you have a good filtration system installed in your home. This will remove any impurities that may find their way into your pipes and give you peace of mind when it comes time for bottle making.
A Closer Look at Bottled Water
Nowadays,it seems like almost everyone chooses bottled over tap,but why?
While there are certain instances where opting for bottled might make sense (such as when traveling abroad),the reality is most parents who buy it simply believe that they are providing their child with better quality H20 than what comes out of their faucet.
The truth? In many cases,bottledwater isn't nearly as regulated as people think.In fact,some brands contain additives like minerals and other substances that aren't necessary (or potentially healthy)for infants.Moreover,plastic bottles are a breeding ground for bacteria (gross).
What About Distilled Water?
Another popular option for baby bottle filling is distilled water, which involves boiling water to purify it and then collecting the steam as it condenses.
While this process may step up hygiene levels slightly by removing unwanted contaminants like lead and chemicals from tap H20,there's no real evidence that distilling improves overall safety or nutrition content.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'dev-county-now_testing-box-4','ezslot_1',119,'0','0']));Plus,it can actually strip away vital mineralslike calcium and magnesium that your little one needs in their diet.Plus,you have to deal with having giant apparatuses taking up valuable counter space.
The answer? For most babies - just use tap water!
As we mentioned earlier,the majority of tap sources are perfectly safe.That being said,if you live in an area where there are specific concerns about drinking the local H2O,your pediatrician might advise using filtered instead,to be extra cautious.
When buying bottled,it's always smart to research options thoroughly.Look out for phrases like "spring"and terms like "mineral-enriched"; these usually indicate unnecessary additives. Instead,optfor plain bottledspring or mineralized brands if necessary,making sure any plastic containers used aren't damaged or old.
The Risks Associated with Bottled
In addition to potential quality issues,bottles also pose certain risks specifically when it comes to infants.Exposure torepetitive minor infections originating on unclean surfaces isthe primary concern,sinceimproperly sterilizingwater bottle nipples can spread germs quickly.Moreover,given how sensitive babies' immune systemsare at such a young age,simple exposure could make them sick.For good measure,every parentneeds atleast more than threebottle rinse before reuse to decontaminate bottles and nipples.
Another concernis plastic itself,since the material certain bottles are made from concerns experts in terms of chemical leakage.That's not to say your perfect baby will burst into flames holding a bottle, butit might be worth at least considering glass options or limit use of those plastic ones for too long.
Summing Up
Overall,babies need plenty of proper water,and while bottled does come with its benefits,it ultimately poses more risks than rewards when it comes to infants.As such,always optforsimple tap sources instead;it's generally safer,easier on your wallet,and hascausesless environmental harm overall.
If you must go for bottled,risky mineral additives can usually be avoided byopting for plain spring instead.Just make sure any containers are clean from manufacturers And while cleaning holds true even after purchase,don't forget that repeatedly washing themwill take care to eliminate bacteria buildup over time.