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Is it safe to give tap water to a baby?

When you become a parent, every choice you make about your baby's diet raises a thousand questions. And water is no exception!

If the health authorities recommend tap water for preparing baby bottlesMany parents spontaneously think that bottled water is safer. However, mineral or spring water does not guarantee that it is free from pollutants such as PFAS, pesticides or drug residues!

As revealed by the Nestlé scandalSometimes you'll even be charged the full price for so-called 'mineral' water, when in fact it's... filtered tap water.

So.., is tap water suitable for babies? ? Are there any precautions to take? And above all, how do you get rid of the contaminants that may be present in the water for good?

The answers to all these questions in this article!

Why water quality is crucial for babies

Although young parents often have more confidence in bottled water, this is mainly because of habit or the recommendations of uninformed paediatricians. And yet.., tap water in France is perfectly suitable for infants.

In his early childhood guideIn fact, the French Ministry of Health explicitly recommends using this water to prepare baby's bottles. And with good reason! In France, the quality of drinking water is strictly monitored to guarantee its safety.

Tap water is therefore not only safe, but also recommended for babies. Bottles of mineral water don't do much for the environment. no nutritional benefit in particular.

Does tap water pose health risks for infants?

As we have just mentioned, tap water is the most strictly controlled foodstuff in France: its quality is continuously monitored by the regional health agencies. What's more, it has a number of advantages over bottled water.

An advantage economicFirst of all, bottled water is 100 to 300 times more expensive than tap water ! (Yes, you read that right!)

It is just as more practical for young parents: there's no need to carry packs of water from the supermarket or find space to store them at home, not to mention the time spent putting them in the yellow bin.

Not forgetting the ecological Drinking tap water helps reduce plastic waste, for a better quality of life. equivalent water quality for babies.

The minerals in tap water

There is a widespread misconception that it is preferable to use a very low mineral content water for young children. In fact, this is the favourite marketing argument of some mineral water brands.

However, most bottled waters presented as "ideal" for infants are so low in calcium and magnesium that they do not meet the nutritional requirements of infants. the criteria for drinking water set by the WHO!

The contradiction is all the more striking when you consider that the breast milk naturally contains a lot of calcium and magnesium. So why should parents be advised to use water with a low mineral content?

Until now, no scientific study There is no evidence to suggest that babies need water with a low mineral content, and no study to suggest that tap water is unsuitable for babies!

The risk of bacterial contamination

The real danger associated with the water used for babies is the microbiological contamination (bacteria, viruses). That's why we recommend taking a few precautions when preparing feeding bottlesFor example, use cold water, run it for a few seconds, or bring it to the boil before using it with infant milk.

But to completely eliminate the risk of bacteria, you can also use LAVIE water purifierwhich works in just 15 minutes to eliminate bacteria and viruses using UV-A rays, while preserving all the essential elements and minerals in the water (scientific tests ).

Possible undesirable contaminants

Finally, like all water intended for human consumption (whether bottled or from the tap), water can contain undesirable contaminants that are potentially dangerous to health :

traces of pesticides,
drug residues,
microplastics and nanoplastics,
"Eternal pollutants" or PFAS...

Fortunately, there are effective and economical solutions for eliminating these pollutants. improve the quality of tap water for the whole family.

How can we improve the quality of our tap water?

Although tap water is heavily monitored in France, the standards in force are based on thresholds which, although effective, do not cover all the substances present in water. For example, drug residues and endocrine disrupters are not always systematically monitored, although their presence can pose long-term risks.

Here are two complementary solutions that allow you to enjoy pure, healthy water at home, both for baby and for everyday use by the whole family.

LAVIE UV-A filter carafe

Unlike classic filter jugs who can encourage bacterial proliferation when they are not used correctly (see here our full review of the carafe filter), the LAVIE carafe uses UV-A purification technology that requires no filters or consumables.

This patented innovation, tested by independent laboratories, uses the chlorine photolysisa natural process that :

destroys chlorine,
eliminates bacteria and viruses,
reduces traces of pesticides and drug residues,
improves the taste and quality of water.

The LAVIE UV-A carafe is the perfect solution for purify tap water before using it for baby's bottles !

UV-A purifier

LAVIE

Opropre Turquoise under-sink filter

In addition to UV-A purification, the filtration system Opropre Turquoise is placed on the water inlet under the sink to specifically target the the most persistent pollutants :

PFAS,
heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, etc.),
microplastics and nanoplastics,
pesticides
...

Its effectiveness is based on a combination of high quality coconut activated carbon and a specific anti-PFAS resin. Unlike a traditional filter, Opropre Turquoise contains a approximately 15 times more activated carbonThis enables it to effectively block high levels of pollutants for several months.

The filter cartridge is to be replaced every 6 months and operates on a deposit and refill system, so as not to generate waste unnecessarily. The coal and resin are then recycled through specialised channels.

Under-sink filter

Opropre Turquoise

LAVIE and Opropre, two complementary products

By combining Opropre Turquoise under-sink filter (pre-filtration) with the UV-A carafe LAVIE You'll enjoy perfectly healthy water that's safe for your baby and the whole family!

Element filtered, reduced or eliminated	Opropre under-sink filter	LAVIE Purifier	Peace of mind pack (Opropre + LAVIE PURE)
Chlorine	✅	✅	✅
Sediment	✅	❌	✅
Bacteria	❌	✅	✅
Virus	❌	✅	✅
Medicines	✅	✅	✅
Pesticides	✅	✅	✅
Heavy metals	✅	❌	✅
PFAS	✅	❌	✅
Microplastics	✅	❌	✅
Mineral conservation beneficial	✅	✅	✅
	Discover	Discover	Discover

How do you prepare a baby's bottle using tap water?

Tap water can also be used to prepare your baby's bottles. Here are a few simple precautions to take to avoid bacteria :

With the LAVIE UV-A filter carafe

Fill in your LAVIE bottle with tap water.
Plug your purifier into a mains socket, and place the bottle in the case. The UV-A rays from the LEDs trigger the photolysis process which eliminates bacteria, viruses, traces of pesticides, drug residues and chlorine in just 15 minutes!
After 15 minutes, the water is ready! Prepare your bottle as normal, adding the infant milk.

Without purification system

Always use cold water (hot water may contain more contaminants).
Leave the tap water running for a few seconds before collecting it.
Avoid contact with the tip of the tap, which can transmit bacteria.
Bring the water to the boil for one minute for infants under 6 months. Then leave it to cool before diluting the infant milk. This will eliminate any bacteria present in the water.

What precautions should you take if you use tap water for your baby?

LTap water is perfectly suited to babies. It's also more economical, environmentally friendly, practical and, contrary to popular belief, just as good as bottled water for baby's needs.

For use in complete safety, avoid conventional filter jugs (with filter), which encourage bacterial proliferation and therefore present a risk for the smallest children (see the Que Choisir survey on this subject).

For greater peace of mind and the best possible water quality for the whole family, here are the LAVIE solutions we recommend:

La UV-A carafe LAVIEwhich eliminates bacteria, viruses, chlorine, pesticides and drug residues.
Le Opropre Turquoise under-sink filterwhich effectively traps eternal pollutants, heavy metals and microplastics.

Discover our different products in our shop!

Opropre filter + UV-A carafe LAVIE

Serenity pack

FAQ

At what age can my baby start drinking tap water?

If your baby is exclusively breastfedIt doesn't need water until it is around 6 months Breast milk covers all its hydration needs.

If your baby is infant milkIf your baby is still in the womb, you can use tap water to prepare his bottles from birth, taking care to avoid bacteria.

Practical solutions such as LAVIE purifier effectively eliminate bacteria and viruses that may be present in the water, while improving its taste. The result is high quality wateradapted for toddlers.

Should water be boiled before giving it to a baby?

Boiling the water for 1 minute can eliminate any bacteria present in the water.

However, the safest and most practical solution is to use the LAVIE UV-A purifierwhich eliminates all traces of bacteria and viruses, while improving the quality of tap water and preserving its beneficial elements for your baby.

Is bottled water better for babies than tap water?

No. The health authorities remind us that thetap water is perfectly suitable for infantsand that there is no nutritional benefit in systematically favouring bottled water.

On the contrary, tap water is more convenient and economical. Once it has been cleaned of any contaminants using the Opropre under-sink filter and the LAVIE UV-A carafe, it is ready to drink again. also much safer than mineral water or bottled spring water (which contains PFAS, heavy metals, pesticides, microplastics, etc.).

Article updated on 22/09/2025 by Pascal Nuti - CIO Solable - Passionate about energy, I'm constantly on the lookout for new targets for improvement, exploring cross-disciplinary paths using novel methods.