Can Babies Drink Bottled Water? | Age-by-Age Guide

Whether babies can drink bottled water depends mostly on their age and whether your tap water comes from a safe source. For newborns and infants under 6 months, water of any kind — bottled or tap — is unnecessary and can be risky. Breast milk or properly mixed formula provides all the hydration and nutrients they need, and introducing water too early can interfere with electrolyte balance. Once solid foods begin around the 6-month mark, small sips of plain water from an open cup become appropriate, and bottled water is one acceptable option alongside tap water.

When Can Babies Start Drinking Water?

The timeline is straightforward and consistent across pediatric guidance. Under 6 months, a baby’s kidneys are not mature enough to process extra water, and filling their tiny stomachs with water instead of milk can displace the nutrients they need to grow. From around 6 months onward, a few sips of plain water with meals help wash down solid foods and get them used to drinking from a cup. After 12 months, water becomes a primary drink alongside cow’s milk, and bottles should be phased out in favor of cups altogether.

If you’re mixing infant formula, always start with safe drinking water. When water safety is uncertain — from a private well, a boil advisory, or an unfamiliar source — boil the water first and let it cool before mixing. Run cold tap water for a few seconds before using it if lead pipes are a concern where you live.

Bottled water is not automatically safer than tap water, and it is not sterile. If you choose to use it for your baby, the label matters. Look for sodium below 200 milligrams per liter and sulphate below 250 milligrams per liter — these are the key numbers that tell you the mineral load is low enough for infant kidneys. Natural spring water and treated low-mineral waters meet these standards. Mineral water should be avoided entirely because its higher salt and mineral content can strain a baby’s developing system, and the same goes for carbonated, flavored, vitamin-enriched, softened, and sweetened waters — none of them belong in a baby’s cup. Bottled water can still be useful when traveling to areas where tap water is unsafe, but stick with unopened, undamaged bottles and verify the mineral content on the label. For a closer look at which products meet these criteria, see our roundup of bottled water options for babies.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Several well-meaning habits put babies at unnecessary risk. The most frequent include assuming bottled water is safer than municipal tap water — a belief that doesn’t hold up in areas with safe public water systems. Using mineral water for infants is another common error, as is offering water in place of formula or breast milk before 6 months, which dilutes essential nutrients. Flavored and sweetened waters add sugars and additives babies simply don’t need. If your home uses a private well, test it before giving the water to your baby — nitrate levels above 10 milligrams per liter make it unsafe for infant formula or drinking. According to the CDC’s bottled water safety guidance, bottled water is regulated as a food product and is not held to higher purity standards than tap water. Babies under 6 months are the most vulnerable group for both contamination and over-dilution, so this window demands the most caution. If a baby has vomiting or diarrhea, use an oral rehydration solution rather than plain water to replenish lost electrolytes safely.

FAQs

Does bottled water need to be boiled for formula?

Bottled water is not sterile, so boiling it for formula preparation is recommended for infants under 6 months or when the water source is uncertain. After 6 months, boiled-and-cooled water or safe bottled water is generally fine for drinking straight.

Can babies drink sparkling or carbonated water?

No, sparkling water should not be given to babies. It offers no nutritional benefit and can cause gas, bloating, or general discomfort. Only still, plain water is appropriate for a baby’s developing digestive system.

Is tap water or bottled water better for a baby?

Tap water from a safe municipal source is just as good as bottled water for babies and costs nothing. Bottled water is useful when traveling or if tap water is known to be unsafe, but it is not a superior everyday choice.