Bottled water is not recommended to make up infant formula feeds for your baby.

This is because it’s not usually sterile and may contain too much salt (sodium) or sulphate.

Checking the levels of sodium and sulphate
If you have to use bottled water to make up a feed, check the label to make sure the water contains:

• less than 200 milligrams (mg) a litre of sodium (also written as Na)
• no more than 250mg a litre of sulphate (also written as SO or SO4)

You may need to use bottled water to make up a feed if:

• your drinking water has been contaminated because of flooding
• you’re travelling abroad, and drinking the local water is not recommended, though boiling is always recommended
• ALWAYS discuss formula making with your midwife to ensure the safest option for you.

Here are some key milestones in the first hour and 10 minutes of a newborn’s life,

Minute 0: Babies wail a robust, angry birth cry that helps wake up the lungs.

Minute 2: After all that crying, babies spend less than a minute relaxing, holding perfectly still on their mothers’ chests.

Minute 2.5: As they start to wake up, newborns open their eyes for the first time. Babies gradually start moving their heads and mouths.

Minute 8: Babies become even more active, keeping their eyes open for five minutes or longer at a time. During this active phase, newborns seem to grow interested in eating, looking at their mothers’ faces and breasts, making sweet little “hungry” noises and moving their hands toward their mouths.

Minute 18: That was exhausting. Time for another rest.

Minute 36: Recharged newborns really kick it into high gear and begin scooting toward their mothers’ breasts, relying heavily on a sense of smell to navigate.

Minute 62: Babies feed, most likely getting small amounts of colostrum, a pre-milk substance packed with protein and immune molecules. This early suckling stimulates the breasts to make milk and also helps mum’s uterus contract back to its pre-pregnancy size.

Minute 70: Babies fall asleep for a well-deserved break.

Thanks to the Scientists in Sweden for this observational research

Research shows that by introducing a wide variety of tastes, colours and textures to babies between the ages of 6-12 months is has long term benefits. They will go on to enjoy a wider variety of foods throughout childhood and into adulthood. This even begins with breastfeeding as it never tastes the same due to mums diet. So start introducing those different flavors when your baby is ready.