Which Water is Suitable for Babies – All Information

Not all water is suitable for a baby, since the kidneys and immune system are not yet strong enough to withstand minerals and germs. We tell you which water you can give your toddler.

What water can a baby drink?

Water for your baby must not contain germs or too many minerals. A baby’s kidneys cannot yet eliminate sodium and sulfates. This causes diarrhea. Germs in the water can also trigger vomiting or diarrhea.

• German tap water is controlled thanks to strict guidelines and is therefore basically safe for babies to drink. Nevertheless, you are on the safe side if you boil the water to kill any germs that may still be present.
• With tap water, you have to make sure that it does not come from lead pipes and does not have too high uranium or nitrate values. A baby must not consume more than 2 micrograms of uranium per liter. For nitrate, it is a maximum of 10 milliliters per liter.
• Be careful with mineral water. Not all are suitable for babies. Thanks to special labels, you can easily see which variety is safe. If the bottle says “Suitable for preparing baby food” the mineral content is low and you can use it.
• Special baby water has been commercially available for some time. It is tap water that has been freed from all pollutants and germs thanks to special filter techniques. In addition, there is only a small amount of minerals in baby water.
• Tip: Give your baby still water in the first year of life. Sparkling mineral water increases belching.

When can a baby drink water?

Pediatricians and experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) are very clear that children should not start drinking water until they are six months old.

• If children drink water in the first six months, water intoxication may occur.
• Water intoxication occurs when your baby has drunk too much water.
• The first symptoms of poisoning are bloating and an apathetic appearance. This is followed by tremors and seizures. In addition, the body temperature drops below 36.1 °C.
• In this case, be sure to consult the pediatrician.