Mixing baby formula with water

Do I need to use sterile water to mix up my baby's formula?  Can I use tap water?  What about flouride?

I get these questions a lot, so let's cover them here.  First and foremost, water supplies vary from state to state and within different communities.  Your baby's own health care provider will know the best answer to whether you can use tap water that's been boiled and then cooled, or whether you need to buy filtered spring water.  So, when in doubt, call your pediatrician and use bottled spring water until you find the answers you need.

It's expensive to buy small containers of bottled water, which leads many parents to buy larger gallon sized containers.  When buying bottled water, read the label carefully. Make sure it DOES NOT say, distilled water.  Distilled water is not recommended for mixing formula.

When it comes to flouride, Dr. Koh, the assistant secretary for health at the US Health and Human Services agency says, look for Low Flouride water to mix with infant formula.  Again, check with your baby's health care provider for exact instructions as some flouride is beneficial, but too much can cause white spots to appear on the child's permanent teeth.

If you're breastfeeding, it's also a good idea to ask your baby's pediatrician about your water intake and what's recommended. I know that many people use well-water that may have higher concentrations of certain minerals.  In any case, always read the labels on the powdered baby formula cans and follow the instructions exactly.  Even if you've been mixing the formula for a while, go back and make sure you're doing it as directed.