Bottles and nipples for baby - is bottled water safe for babies

Best bottles and nipples for newborns: You might find it useful to have about six bottles and teats, so you can always have at least one or two bottles clean, sterilized and ready for use. Ask your midwife or health visitor for more advices.

You should always buy new teats. They come in different shapes and with different hole sizes, and you may have to try several before you find the one that suits your baby. If the hole is too small, your baby will not get enough milk. If it’s too big, the milk will come too fast.

It’s best if you can buy new bottles too. Check regularly to make sure the bottles are in good condition. If they are badly scratched, you will not be able to sterilize them properly. If in doubt, ask your midwife or health visitor for more advices.

Bottled water vs. tab water for baby formula   

Bottled water is not a healthier choice than tap water and usually is not sterile. In fact, some natural mineral waters are not suitable for babies because of the amount of minerals they contain. If you need to use bottled water, remember that any bottled water that is labeled ‘natural mineral water’ might contain too much sodium for babies.

If you are giving bottled water to babies under six months, you should boil and cool it just like tap water. If you need to use bottled water to make up infant formula (for babies of any age), you should boil it and allow it to cool for no more than half an hour.

At the end of the feed, sit and hold your baby upright and gently rub or pat their back for a while to bring up any wind. There is no need to overdo it – wind is not as big a problem as many people think. Talk to your baby as you rub or pat. This will help them feel closer to you and get them used to listening to your voice. Don’t forget to throw away any milk that is not used within two hours.

Most babies gradually settle into a pattern. Babies vary in how often they want to feed and how much milk they want to take.

Feed your baby when they are hungry, just as you would if you were breastfeeding, and don’t try to force your baby to finish a bottle. They may have had enough for the time being or just want a rest.