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It’s a mistake that’s easy to make – you’re in a rush, you grab the first water bottle you see, and before you know it, you’re accidentally giving your baby tap water.
If you accidentally gave your little one a few sips of tap water, the first thing you should do is RELAX and don’t panic. It’s not a big deal, and chances are your baby will be just fine, unless the water is polluted or you gave them too much to drink.
Normal tap water is usually considered as safe and constantly checked for safety levels before being distributed to the general public.
Now that you’re relieved, let me walk you through the possible risks and effects of giving your baby too much tap water.
Is Tap Water Harmful For Babies?
Most countries follow strict procedures to ensure that tap water is safe to drink. In the US, tap water is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and is required to meet certain standards for safety.
Still, all water contains a little amount of chemicals (contaminants). These are vital to our body but the contaminant level must be in a safe range.
And even if the tap water is filtered and checked for safety at the supplying point, it has to travel long distances through distributing pipes. It is not practical to always check these distributing systems but they are made to be fault proof under many situations. Hence this is not something you should be worried about.
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Although this well filtered tap water is safe for adults, it might not be so good for infants, especially those under 6 months old. Their immune systems are still developing and unlike adults, contaminants can cause health issues in babies.
Another important thing you should be aware of is how much water you accidentally give your baby. If it is a few drops or a sip, there is probably nothing to worry about.
But 3, 4 sips or more might be a problem and you must closely monitor your baby for any unusual signs. Always consult your doctor if you are concerned.
Next, let’s take a look at why too much water (tap or boiled) can be so dangerous to newborns.
Do Newborns Need Water To Drink?
According to medical professionals, Infants under six months don’t really need water other than the usual breast milk and infant formula.
Moreover, giving water can be dangerous at this age to babies because it could cause water intoxication, a condition that occurs when someone drinks too much water.
You might think that a few sips will not be harmful for the baby, but it is. Infants’ kidneys are not fully developed until they are at least 6 months old.
They can’t handle much water, hence extra liquid other than milk can be a potential threat to the baby.
Other Common Mistakes With Babies And Water
Other than accidentally giving tap water to the baby, excess water problems can also be caused by adding too much water in the infant formula.
You must always measure the mixing amounts carefully when making formula.
Also Read: Why does baby formula smell bad?
Another common mistake is forgetting to boil the water. We know you have a lot of work to do with a new-born to take care of, so forgetting such small things is very normal.
Always double check if the water is warm before making the formula. The recommended way to boil water is bringing tap water to a rolling boil for 1 minute, then cooling it down to room temperature and using it within 30 minutes.
Bottom Line
If you accidentally give your baby tap water, don’t panic. As long as you didn’t give them a lot or the water in your area is polluted, your little one should be fine. However, if you’re concerned, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and contact your doctor.
The main reason why you should avoid tap water is because a baby’s immune system is still developing, so they can be more susceptible to illness than adults.
This is why you should always give them boiled or distilled water, even when mixing baby formula. If you think the water in your area is not very good, or even smells a bit of chlorine, consider using distilled water.
FAQs
When Can Babies Drink Water?
You can start giving your baby water after they are six months old. There is no need to boil, unless you are having doubts about the purity of water in your area. Tap water is considered to be generally safe in many countries.
Is Bottled Water Better Than Tap Water For Babies?
There are no actual facts or scientific evidence that proves bottled water is better than tap water for babies. Plus, the bottles are sometimes filled with tap water too. But if you don’t have a cup or a bottle to give water to the baby, bottled water would be ideal solution.
