Some years ago when I was in that phase of making milk bottles for my toddler, I was mostly using reboiled water. Until someone told me that reboiled water, or “dead water” is not recommended. Especially if it’s been reboiled many times over.
I was using reboiled water from one of those electric hot water dispensers that constantly keeps a good amount of water hot. It’s easy and fast whenever we needed hot water to make the formula.
Since I read a little more about it, even though there was no 100% conclusive data, I decided there was no harm to use freshly boiled water.
It made sense and I’d rather be on the safe side because we would be drinking reboiled water for a long time if we didn’t make a change.
Here is what I found, and want to share with other mummies out there who may not be aware.
Why Using Reboiled Water in Milk Bottle Is Not Recommended
Some experts say to never use reboiled water because it exposes us to some health risks. In most tap water, there are chemicals like nitrates, arsenic and fluoride and some dissolved gases.
When water is boiled for the first time, it’s a good thing because it kills germs and bacteria in the water. The chemical compounds in the water will also undergo chemical transformation when boiled.
However, when the boiled water is re-heated, the dissolved gases and minerals will amass and become more concentrated. Every time the water is reboiled, the concentration gets higher and can become more toxic.
Some Water Can Be Reboiled Without Being Harmful
Having said that, not all water are made equal these days. For families who use distilled water or deionised or purified water, reboiling water won’t pose the same threat.
Distilled and purified water are not the same thing, and you can learn the difference between them by reading this. The gist of them is that:
Distilled water is a type of demineralised water that is purified using the process of distillation to remove salts and particulates. Usually, the source water is boiled and the steam is collected and condensed to yield distilled water. Most minerals and certain other impurities are left behind when water is distilled.
Deionised water is made by running tap water, spring water, or distilled water through an electrically charged resin to remove all ions.
Also a note of caution before you jump to conclusions as to which is a better kind of water to drink:
While it’s okay to drink distilled water, you should not drink deionised water. In addition to not supplying minerals, deionised water is corrosive and can cause damage to tooth enamel and soft tissues. Also, deionisation does not remove pathogens, so the water may not protect against infectious diseases.
My Simple Solution to Not Reboiling Water
We used filtered tap water at home. We still want the convenience of getting hot water immediately when we want to make that milk bottle or to make the much-needed cup of tea or coffee.
So I simply changed the electric water pot to the kind that instantly boils the selected amount of water needed, leaving the rest of the water unboiled. There are many different brands and models with different features, so you’ll be spoiled for choice should you shop for one.
Alternatively, you can always get a small electric kettle and boil just a small amount each time you need it. It doesn’t take very long to boil. Just be sure to empty the unused boiled water before you fill up more to boil at the next round.
Keeping Our Children Healthy
During this time of uncertainties with the on-going pandemic, let’s do what’s necessary to keep our children safe and healthy. Provide them with healthier options of food and beverages so that we don’t compromise their immune system or unknowingly introduce toxins into their bodies.
Ensure that they are drinking adequate amount of safe drinking water. Here’s a general guideline as to how much water children should drink a day:
- Toddlers: 2 to 4 cups
- 4-8 years: 5 cups
- 9 -13 years: 7 to 8 cups
- 14 and up: 8 to 11 cups
Keep them hydrated, well and happy. After all, a healthy and happy kid makes a happy mummy too.