Bottle feeding on holiday - what type of water to use?

[Holymoly321]

Hi all. We're going to Corfu in a few weeks with DS who will be around 7 months when we go. I'm not sure what to do about his formula. Do we just boil and cool the tap water out in Corfu or should be boil and cool bottled water instead? Also, what should we do about sterilising his bottles? Will we need to do this as he'll be 7 months (I sure hope so because I don't know how we're going to sterilise them otherwise!) Many thanks!

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HI YG - can't really take ready made as we're going for two weeks and I don't plan to take too much luggage as we've already got to take buggy and baby with us! What if we can't get hold of evian?

I take ready made cartons in the brand that I use rather than powder

I phoned the sma helpline (the number is on formula tin) to ask this question several years ago. Yes Evian bottle water. If you look at the label on bottled water, you are looking for a low sodium content. I think less than 20ml is ok but I can't quite remember.

Smiling, Agree with using low sodium bottle water - I'm sure you'll be able to buy a local brand once you get there. I believe that you probably don't need to sterilise bottles once babies are over 6 months but because you are abroad it might be best not to take any chances. Would it be easier to put the bottles into freshly boiled water for a few mins rather than carrying a steriliser with you.

you can buy plastic bags that go in microwaves 2 sterilise (if going self catering) but otherwise i guess Milton sterilising solution your best bet as can be used with cold water and good for 24hrs.
HTH

We went to Spain when Dd1 was 10 months, HV told me to use spring water not mineral water when making bottles, i think it's because there is too much sodiam in mineral water.
We sterilised by boiling the bottles but Dd1 was that bit older so it didn't worry me as much.

Hi - Used Evian water and Playtex pre-sterilised bottles liners so all you need to take is one of their nursers a box of linesr and a couple of teats that you can drop in boiled water to sterilise. Should be able to get Evian in corfu - failing that spring water better than mineral.
Also I took quite a few cartons with me. see other posts but the liners are available at www.infantcaredirect.co.uk

I would imagine that the tap water is fine in Corfu for adults to drink so after boiling it would be more than OK for babies. What is the advice from your hol company on water?
Also as others say sterilising is not necessary but a rinse in boiling water wouldn't go amiss!

i went to paxos (just south of corfu) when dd was 5 months. there was no evian. i spoke to my hv before we went (we were going for an extended hol so no chance of taking ready made for the duration), and she gave me a list of what minerals to look out for and the levels that were acceptable. some waters have an unacceptably high level of sodium (Na is often how sodium is referred to on the bottle - chemistry O'level!) which isn't good for little ones. my visit was nearly 4 years ago, but i expect the brands of water are the same....
i think this is the most helpful piece of info a hv ever gave me - brilliant.

Thanks everyone. Just to make sure - do I need to boil the evian / low sodium water first or just use it straight from the bottle?

No you don't need to boil it!

Ta!