Can You Use Spring Water for Baby Formula?

Is Spring Water Ok for Formula?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that most babies can have formula mixed with safe tap water or bottled water. Spring water is a type of bottled water, so plain still spring water sold for drinking is generally considered ok for formula. If you are unsure about a specific product, your pediatrician or local health department can help.

Two cautions apply to any bottled water. It is not sterile, and its mineral content varies by brand. The formula tin's mixing instructions always come first.

Spring Water for Baby Formula: Check the Label

Spring water comes from an underground source and is bottled with little processing, so the label tells you more than the word “spring” does. Pick a product that is simply water.

Is Spring Water Better Than Tap Water?

Not necessarily. If your tap water is safe to drink, it is generally fine for formula, and it often contains fluoride that helps protect teeth. Spring water becomes a useful option when you have worries about your supply, such as a recent advisory, old plumbing or an untested private well. Compare it with the other options in our guide to distilled and purified water for formula.

When to Boil Spring Water for Formula

Powdered formula is not sterile, and bacteria such as Cronobacter can occasionally be present. For babies under 2 months old, babies born prematurely and babies with a weakened immune system, the AAP advises water that has been boiled and cooled, even when it comes from a bottle. The WHO suggests mixing powder with water no cooler than 70°C to reduce risk, then cooling the bottle before feeding.

• Bring fresh water to a full rolling boil and follow the boiling time given by the CDC or your health authority.
• Let it cool until it is safe to handle, mix as the label directs, and test a drop on your wrist before feeding.
• Use prepared formula within the time on the label and discard leftovers after a feed.

For a healthy full-term baby over 2 months, many families mix with safe bottled or tap water without boiling. Ask your pediatrician what is right for your baby.

Minerals, Fluoride and Sodium in Spring Water

Infant formula already contains the minerals babies need, so very low-mineral water is not a nutrition problem. The reverse is the point to watch: water with a high mineral or sodium content adds to what the formula supplies, which is why mineral waters are best checked with your pediatrician first.

Fluoride in spring water varies by brand and source, and is often low. If your baby drinks mostly formula made with bottled water, ask your pediatrician or dentist whether another fluoride source is worthwhile.

Keep the Powder-to-Water Ratio Exact

Whatever water you choose, use the scoop-to-water ratio on the label. Extra water dilutes calories and nutrients and can disturb a baby's sodium balance; too little water can strain the kidneys. Ready-to-feed formula needs no water at all. To see how much prepared formula your baby may take, try the formula calculator or read ready-to-feed vs powdered formula. This guide is general information, not individual medical advice.

The Bottom Line

Plain still spring water is generally ok for baby formula. Choose a label with nothing added, boil and cool it for young or higher-risk babies, keep the ratio exactly as labeled, and talk to your pediatrician about fluoride and mineral content.