What water do i use for formula for my newborn

I also used bottled water and boil in the kettle. My formula is similac and it says to add formula to warm water of 37oc then either feed or store pre made in the fridge. I pre make my bottles up in the morning of 6 bottles then just take the chill off a bottle when needed so it's room temperature.

I use bottled water then boil it then let it cool and leave in fridge then make up batches as I need them (I have twins so lots of bottles to make up), this is how the NICU told me to do it so have done. I tried making it up with hottish water but it just goes clumpy and really sticky, was thinking as my boys are on special premmie formula that's why but have worried that I am using cold water to make it and people say it has to be 70 degrees?? I heard that the tap water is fine but its the pipes in the water that have pollutants that boiling wouldn't get rid of that's why it's best to use bottled water. So many mixed views!! I am confused too with all of this.. Xxx

Well really its a bit like the guidelines in term of foods to avoid while pregnant. Some women follow them and don't eat unpasteurised cheese, deli meats, rare meat, raw eggs etc at all and other choose not to worry, knowing that that even with eating those foods they are still unlikely to catch listeria or salmonella, the risk is there though and women do lose babies in some cases which of course is why the guidelines exist. Likewise I'm sure many women feel its too much hassle to mix at 70 degrees, or don't even realise there is a risk if they don't, and most of the time their babies will be absolutely fine, again though the risk is there. To be clear though the report I linked to is very much aimed at western countries, and guidelines are given under the assumption that [i'>"the person preparing (powdered infant formula ) has access to safe water; soap; a clean preparation environment; boiling water; and refrigeration."[/i'> the countries where infants have been infected and sometimes have died from powdered formula mentioned in the report include France, New Zealand, USA Spain, UK (in fact no third world countries are specifically discussed) so its not a case of WHO guidelines being really aimed at developing countries and Western infants not really being at risk. They do mention the fact that their advice is in contradiction to some manufacturers instructions [i'>"Currently, the instructions on many PIF (powdered infant formula) products lead to PIF being reconstituted with water that is around 50 °C. But, according to the FAO/WHO risk assessment, reconstitution with 50 °C water generally results in the greatest increase in risk, unless the reconstituted formula is consumed immediately. Under no circumstances is risk reduced when PIF is reconstituted with 50 °C water. Manufacturer's instructions should be reviewed in the light of the findings of the risk assessment."[/i'> WHO define infants under one year as being at risk, with preterm infants and infants under 2 months of age as being at greatest risk, and as pointed out by big blue, pre-term and immuno-compromised infants are recommended not be given powdered formula at all but rather [i'>"Where available, commercially sterile ready-to-feed liquid infant formula should be used for infants at greatest risk".[/i'> The report also mentions that it is very important to note that, although high-risk groups of infants have been identified, E. sakazakii infection has occurred in previously healthy infants outside the neonatal period" basically any infant under 1 year of age can get very sick, and if you want to greatly reduce their risk, then you should mix formula in water hotter than 70 degrees, clearly every mum is capable of making their own decision, but all mums should be aware that even in first world countries, powdered formula is never sterile and that there are ways to greatly reduce the risks to their infants.

Many different opinions obviously...as for WHO guidelines I personally believe we should use judgement as to when and how we apply them since they are intended as guidelines for the entire world, hence many different countries and medical systems. Quote from the WHO report: "In general, sterile liquid infant formula is recommended for infants at the highest risk of infection. Where sterile liquid infant formula is not available, preparation of PIF with water at a temperature of no less than 70 °C dramatically reduces the risk." As always premies and immunocompromised infants are obviously at the highest risk of infection, but these are presumably not the average infant we are talking about here. I have used 4 different brands of formula and all of them state on the box that they should be prepared with 40 C water so as not to compromise formula ingredients such as bifidus etc (don't recall the detailed ingredients). As for tap or bottled water, as long as it is boiled, both are equally safe. However, boiling water can increase the concentration of certain minerals or of chloride and therefore if you know your tap water is heavily chlorinated it's best not to use it for that reason. Also bear in mind that in the UAE, all bottled water is desalinated water, hence the same as your tap water minus the potential contamination from water pipes. So unless you are willing to buy Evian, Volvic etc you're probably just as safe using tap water.

Agree with Sey83, i dont boil bottle water. i find using bottles water much easier than boiling etc... i dont heat the milk either so its always at room temperature... i just make a bottle up when and as i need to. I have done the exact same with both of my kids and when we are in the states i use the tap water and dont boil it either.... when i was in kuwait i used "bottled baby water" but cant find it here something to do with the floride, but i cant remember why the ped reccomended it...??? i have also never used a sterilizer <em>edited by ShannonB on 29/01/2013</em>

You need to use boiled water (or water that is at least 70C) to make up the formula not to kill nasties in the water but to kill bacteria in the formula. Tiptoptoni is right http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/micro/pif_guidelines.pdf WHO Guidelines for Preparing Formula The World Health Organization issued guidelines on the safe preparation, storage and handling of powdered infant formula after experts recognized that powdered formula was not sterile and was sometimes putting babies at risk for serious bacterial infections. To reduce this risk, the WHO recommends cleaning and sterilizing feeding and preparation equipment and then making a fresh bottle of powdered infant formula for each feed by: cleaning and disinfecting all surfaces you will be using and washing your hands properly boiling water, [b'>even if it is bottled water[/b'> let the water cool ([b'>not more than 30 minutes though, so it doesn't get below 70 degrees[/b'>) and pour it into a cleaned and sterilized bottle add the exact amount of powdered formula to the water assemble the bottle and mix the powdered formula thoroughly quickly cool the bottle by holding it under running tap water or by placing it in a container of cold water or iced water dry the bottle with a clean cloth check the temperature of the formula so that it doesn't burn your baby's mouth feed your baby if the formula is at an appropriate temperature

that was also what I was told....

I've always been told we cannot use just bottled water. It must be boiled first.

I always thought water must be pre-boiled. I used to boil bottled water then use it when it is at room temperature.

i always use bottled water and my son has been fine. its whatever you are comfortable with.

In Malaysia I used a water filter and boiled the water. Paeds out there advised against using bottled water for lengthy periods of time due to both high mineral content and pba's in bottled water. I did use bottled water on occasions but tried to stick to the boiled, filtered tap water when possible

You need to use boiled water (or water that is at least 70C) to make up the formula not to kill nasties in the water but to kill bacteria in the formula.

I do the same as mrsg1. Use the 5 gallon masafi that comes to our house and use it at room temperature as needed. We don't have our dispenser plugged in, so it's always at room temp. I don't heat the formula once the Bottle is made. In the US our tap water is already clean and purified so nothing to do there! Ahh I miss my cool, refreshing Lake Michigan water!

Agree with Sey83, i dont boil bottle water. i find using bottles water much easier than boiling etc... i dont heat the milk either so its always at room temperature... i just make a bottle up when and as i need to.

Ermmm whoops. I've just been boiling the kettle and using boiled cooled tap water, I didn't realize I was supposed to use bottled water, since boiling kills off any nasty germs. Is it unsafe to do so? Should I buy a separate kettle for preparing her formula? I think you're fine TDB don't worry. The tap water is safe to drink as advised by the authorities and you are boiling it. This is exactly how you are advised to prepare water in the UK. When i used to use bottled water I wouldn't boil it, or if I did it was only when my baby was very young and then I stopped. My midwife in the UK advised that bottled water didn't need to be boiled. i know not everyone agrees with that and some peole are stricter but I have never had any issues. <em>edited by SEY83 on 29/01/2013</em>

I would have use any brand of water which is in glass bottle, to avoid any toxins from plastic.

Any "local brand water such as Al Ain, Masafi, Arwa..." should be fine. I have not and would not use tap water. Enjoy your holidays.

i use arwa water- my midwife told me its one of the best as it has the least amount of sodium in it.

Some of the Mums I know use 'imported' brands such as Evian or Volvic. Other use 'local' brands. Just do what you think is right. Any bottled water that you can buy will be fine. If you're staying at a Hotel they often provide bottled water free of charge in the rooms. I do agree that I wouldn't use tap water. It is actually safe to drink, but personally I don't like the taste.