How Long Do I Use Sterilized Water for Bottles?

Updated on September 10, 2007
D.C. asks from Wheaton, IL
17 answers

How long do I have to purchase the bottled nursery water to make formula bottles? My son is almost three months, and I'm wondering if I can use tap water.
If not, I have a Brita water filter; would that make a difference? Or, could I boil the water on the stove and then fill the water jug with that?

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Y.S.

answers from Chicago on

I've been using filtered tap water with both my kids. It gets filtered through my refrigerator. I started giving them both water to drink at @ 4-5 months. They were both on breast milk so I didn't have to worry about formula..

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K.

answers from Chicago on

You don't need to use sterilized water for bottles anymore... the recommendation is from way back when drinking water quality was not reliable. It's fine to use just tap water.

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N.

answers from Chicago on

I never used nursery water at all, I used tap right after I finished breast feeding and it was fine.

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J.Y.

answers from Chicago on

I used tap water for both of my children and they did just fine. There is flouride in tap water that is good for a child's teeth. Also, you don't have to warm a bottle because you can use slightly warm water from the tap. Believe me, you don't have to pay for store bought water.

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D.A.

answers from Chicago on

I was told by my ped to just use regular disiled water for the frist nine months then use the nursery water because babies dont need floride... My son is also 3 months...

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F.J.

answers from Chicago on

It depends on what you feel comfortable with. Are you nursing at all? When we supplemented with formula we used tap water... it really is fine. Although we bought a lead test strip to make sure there wasn't lead in the water from the pipes. We also woudl fill the bottle with water from a drinking fountain if we were in a pinch so it depends on what you are comfortable with. Some people prefer to buy water. - Good luck

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M.R.

answers from Chicago on

My baby took expressed breastmilk for 3 months then we switched to formula. We have a water dispenser in our refrigerator that has a filter, and have used that ever since. We've experienced virtually no problems whatsoever.

Be careful with washing your bottles in the dishwasher too much. Recent news and research indicates that some bottles have a harmful substance in them that can be released when bottles are overexposed to high heat over and over again. Hand wash them daily and maybe dishwash them only once every two weeks (if at all).

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C.G.

answers from Chicago on

You really don't need to use sterilized water at all. That's kind of a throwback to when the water supply may not have been as safe.

One concern would be in lead in your water- which boiling will not get rid of. If your house is newer you are probably pretty safe. You can always call your local water service and ask for their testing results (they have to do random testing for bacteria, chemicals, and pollutants and make the results available to their customers).

We used a Brita filter when we were home and bottled water when we were out or traveling. The Brita to get some of the chlorine/ other additives out. Bottled water especially when traveling to avoid the upset tummy people sometimes get from changing water supplies.

It is good to either sterilize bottles or make sure they are washed in the dishwasher. Bacteria can grow in the plastic. I also used to boil my bottles every few months with a little vinegar to get them extra clean, they get a little cloudy in the dishwasher after awhile.

Good luck- it's tough with everyone giving different advice. My mother-in-law used to try to sneak boiled water into my kids bottles:)

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L.A.

answers from Chicago on

I never used nursery water. I used water from my Brita filter and with my second filtered water from my refrigerator. Good luck!

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K.K.

answers from Chicago on

My Dr. said until 6 mo old, use nursery water. Ask your Dr. what they think?.?.?

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T.K.

answers from Chicago on

We were using the nursey water for the first month or so and then I went to a informational baby class offered by Edward hospital that said if you live in Naperville you can use the tap, since that class we didn't waste the money on the nursery water. I would just check with you city and found out if it is okay.

Cute that you met in a bar, me and my husband met on the internet.

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A.P.

answers from Chicago on

I really would only give the best to my baby. Tap water has high levels of chlorine and floride, not necessary for infants. I would strongly recommend giving your child nursery water. You never know when your area will have a boil order, just in the example case of this past couple weeks when the towns were ordered to boil their water due to the flooding. I drink bottle water unless I am cooking, I would do the same for my baby. :)

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L.M.

answers from Chicago on

Hello,

We have been using tap water since I stopped nursing. Our ped. says Chicago (if you live here) is the best tap water you can have. I do use bottled water though when we are out and about.

I met my hubby through 'It's Just Lunch' dating service. I tell him all the time how expensive he was :o)

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J.

answers from Chicago on

my pediatrician along with my sister's strongly recommended using nursury water always with formula or for drinking until 1 year of age!!!!!!

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S.C.

answers from Chicago on

I agree and was told by my Dr that using Tap is just fine. All babies need the flouride that they get through tap water. I've done it for 3 kids now and they are all fine and healthy :-)

M.L.

answers from Chicago on

Our pediatrician said it was not necessary for us to steralize the water for bottles - we have a filter on our water system and a Brita water pitcher - he said that was certainly fine. However, I'd do whatever your doctor recommends. Our son is fine w/the water we use.

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G.T.

answers from Chicago on

Just FYI, I've never used sterilized water for bottles. My triplets, now almost 15 months old, spent 4-6 weeks in NICU so we were naturally concered about everything - even the water. The nurses reassured us that we could use tap water from the sink to make the formula and didn't even need to use nursery water. That said, we do have a BRITA filter connected to our tap in the kitchen sink - this is old house with old pipes. We just always made sure to turn the filter on whenever we were making formula. The babies were and are just fine. Hope this informatin helps.

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