To know which water is suitable for a baby bottle, there are two possible options in France: cold tap water, subject to a few precautions, or bottled water bearing the regulatory statement indicating that it is suitable for preparing food for infants. ANSES does not recommend either option exclusively.
This article brings together what official texts and the opinions of French health agencies say on the subject, without adding any interpretation. Sources are cited at the end of the page.
Can tap water be used for a baby bottle?
Yes, in most situations. ANSES authorizes public drinking water for preparing baby bottles, provided that several precautions it explicitly lists are followed.
- Let the water run for a few seconds before filling the bottle.
- Use only cold water. The agency specifies that above 25°C, water may contain higher levels of microbes and mineral salts.
- Clean the tap regularly.
- Avoid domestic filtration systems and water softeners.
Additional verification is necessary in buildings constructed before 1948. ANSES recommends asking the town hall whether lead pipes may be present.
Sparkling water is not recommended for preparing baby bottles.
What does the regulation say about nitrates?
The quality limit for water intended for human consumption is 50 mg/L for nitrates and 0.5 mg/L for nitrites. These values appear in the health agency's work on the subject.
The reason for this particular vigilance lies in infant physiology. Before six months, and especially before three months, the enzymatic activity that converts methemoglobin back into hemoglobin is insufficient. This exposes very young infants to a risk of methemoglobinemia in the event of nitrite exposure.
The agency also emphasizes that the internationally established acceptable daily intake for nitrates does not apply to children under three months, precisely for this reason.
In practice, the nitrate content of distributed water is measured and published. It can be checked municipality by municipality on the website of the ministry responsible for health, or by contacting the town hall.
Which bottled waters are suitable for infants?
ANSES's recommendation is short and precise. If you use bottled water, whether spring water or natural mineral water, make sure that it is specifically intended for infants.
This intended use is not left to the manufacturer's discretion. It is based on labeling wording governed by French regulations on bottled waters. In practical terms, this is the wording to look for on the label, rather than a marketing claim such as “pure” or “light,” which guarantees nothing.
The specific case of fluoride
The order of March 14, 2007 requires a warning statement when the fluoride content exceeds a specific threshold. Above 1.5 mg/L, the label must display the following statement: “Contains more than 1.5 mg/L of fluoride: not suitable for infants and children under 7 years of age for regular consumption.”
This statement is easy to spot and is sufficient to rule out the waters concerned. It refers to regular consumption, which does not prohibit occasional use by an older child.
Once the bottle has been opened
ANSES is explicit on this point: an opened bottle must be refrigerated and consumed quickly. Opened mineral water left at room temperature loses its microbiological quality within a few hours.
Does baby-bottle water need to be boiled?
This is not necessary in France when using compliant drinking water. Systematic boiling used to be recommended, but it is no longer recommended in this context.
The situation changes when traveling. ANSES specifies that abroad, when no drinking water is available, boiled and then cooled water should be used.
However, one point is often misunderstood: boiling water does not reduce its nitrate content. Evaporation even slightly concentrates it. Boiling addresses a microbiological risk, not a chemical risk.
How long can a prepared baby bottle be kept?
The French health agency's hygiene recommendations specify a time limit. A reconstituted bottle that is not consumed immediately must be stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of 4°C or below, for no longer than 30 hours.
The fact sheet for families adds a practical detail: the bottle should not be stored in the refrigerator door, where the temperature is higher and less stable.
The general principle is to prepare the bottle at mealtime. Prolonged storage, even when refrigerated, should remain a fallback solution rather than become a routine practice.
What about bath water?
This question comes up often, and the answer is different. Health requirements for drinking water concern ingestion. For bathing, temperature is the critical factor, with a constant guideline of 37°C.
Bathing involves a separate safety approach, which we explain in detail in our baby bath guide.
Which water should you choose for baby bottles on a daily basis?
For most French families, tap water is suitable and costs considerably less. Three situations justify switching to suitable bottled water: a high nitrate content in the municipality, uncertainty about lead in the pipes, or specific medical advice.
The choice of water is part of a broader set of decisions concerning infant nutrition. Guidelines on introducing foods are detailed in our article on food diversification according to ANSES, while information on supplementation can be found in our article on vitamin D for infants.
For families who breastfeed, this question obviously arises only for supplementary bottles or expressed breast milk. Our article on breastfeeding discusses these mixed-feeding situations.
Finally, the quality of the home environment is not limited to water. Indoor air is subject to separate recommendations, which we have compiled in our article on indoor pollution and babies' health.
If you are preparing for a child's arrival, our list of essentials for coming home places bottle-feeding equipment among the other priorities for the first few weeks.
Sources
- ANSES, “Baby bottles: how to prepare and store them,” published January 17, 2013.
- ANSES, fact sheet “Infant nutrition,” Anses Éditions, 2015.
- Afssa (now ANSES), referral no. 2004-SA-0067, assessment concerning nitrates and nitrites in water intended for human consumption.
- Afssa, “Hygiene recommendations for preparing and storing baby bottles.”
- Order of March 14, 2007, concerning quality criteria for bottled waters, Article 9 (fluoride-related labeling statement).
