Baby's First Year
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Safe Water for Formula:
1 & Months
Most towns and cities have safe municipal water supplies. Water from private wells may not be safe for infants and pregnant women. In some parts of the Midwest, the water in about one out of 10 private wells contains high levels of nitrates or bacteria.
Nitrates prevent a baby's blood from carrying enough oxygen. This is called "blue baby" disease -- babies turn a bluish color around the lips, cheeks, fingernails and toenails.
Boiling water will not get rid of nitrates in water. In fact, boiling makes nitrates or chemicals more concentrated and more dangerous.
Another concern with water is lead. Lead is a toxic metal that can be dangerous for infants and young children.
If you haven't had your water tested, now is the time to do so. If you live in Nebraska, call the Nebraska Water Testing Laboratory at 402-471-2122 to learn about test kits for nitrates, lead and bacteria. If you live outside of Nebraska, contact your local extension office for more information on testing.
What can you do if your well has high levels of nitrates or other chemicals? Use bottled water from a safe source until baby is at least 6 months old. You may need to switch the whole family to bottled water.
Source: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension NuFacts
This resource was updated April 2008.
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