Which water is suitable for babies - all information
Not every water is suitable for a baby because the kidneys and immune system are not yet strong enough to withstand minerals and germs. We'll tell you what 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 excrete sodium and sulfates. This causes diarrhea. Germs in the water can also cause vomiting or diarrhea.
- German tap water is controlled thanks to strict guidelines and is therefore also drinkable for babies. Nevertheless, you are on the safe side when 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 that uranium or nitrate levels are not too high. A baby should not consume more than 2 micrograms of uranium per liter. With nitrate, there is a maximum of 10 milliliters per liter.
- Caution is advised with mineral water. Not everyone is suitable for babies. Thanks to special labels, you can easily see which variety is safe. If the bottle says "Suitable for the preparation of baby food", the mineral content is low and you can use it.
- Special baby water has been on the market for some time. It is tap water that has been freed of all pollutants and germs thanks to special filtering 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 the regurgitation.
When can a baby drink water?
Pediatricians and experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) say very clearly that children should only drink water from the age of six months.
- Children who drink water in the first half year may experience water poisoning.
- Water poisoning occurs when your baby has drunk too much water.
- The first symptoms of poisoning are puffiness and apathetic appearance. Then tremors and seizures occur. In addition, the body temperature drops below 36.1 ° C.
- In this case, be sure to see the pediatrician.
