Is Tap Water Safe for My Child? New Parents’ Guide

Key Takeaways for New Parents

• The bodies of infants and toddlers are still developing, making them less resistant to harmful substances. 
• Testing your water before bringing a new child into your home ensures you know what steps to take to give your baby the best start in life.
• If you’re pregnant or mixing formula: Test your water for lead + nitrate + bacteria (consider PFAS if budget allows)
  • City water: Start with the Essential/Advanced City Water test (depending on budget)
  • Well water: Start with the Advanced Well Water test
• Having a lab test your water is the only way to determine the precise concentrations of contaminants. Precision is paramount because children are hyper sensitive to changes in water quality. 

How Does Lead Get in City Drinking Water?

Lead typically gets in drinking water through lead plumbing. Lead remains a major problem in cities across America, particularly for homes built prior to the mid-1990s.[1] Lead piping or even galvanized pipes can leach lead into drinking water. It is typically an issue for those on city water or public water supplies.

Older home? Lead risk is plumbing-specific — test your tap, not your city. Tap Score’s Lead and Copper Water test is an affordable way to learn your lead levels:

What Other Heavy Metals Should Be Avoided During Pregnancy?

Other heavy metals, such as arsenic, mercury, cadmium, and chromium, are also harmful to early life development. Unlike lead, however, they are all less common in drinking water. These heavy metals typically enter drinking water from natural mineral deposits, industrial activities near the region’s water supply, and household plumbing. Tap Score's Metals & Minerals Test provides analysis for an assortment of 35 metals, minerals, and water quality parameters:

Why Is Nitrate (& Nitrite) So Harmful to Babies?

Nitrate (which partially converts into nitrite in the body) can impact red blood cells' ability to carry oxygen. For infants aged 12 months and younger, drinking water or formula with nitrates can cause methemoglobinemia, where a baby’s skin turns blue because their blood does not have enough oxygen.

Symptoms of "blue baby syndrome" include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Seizures
• Loss of consciousness

"Blue baby syndrome" can also occur in the womb, although the acquired route is more common. Left untreated, methemoglobinemia can lead to death.   

Nitrate in Drinking Water: Risks, Safe Levels & How to Test 

How Do Nitrates Get in Drinking Water?

Nitrates enter water supplies from fertilizer and/other animal waste runoff. Nitrates and nitrites are particularly an issue for private well owners in rural areas near industrial agriculture or large farms.

On a well or near agriculture? Confirm nitrate/nitrite levels with our Nitrate Water Test before your baby arrives.

Note: We recommend testing your well water annually to monitor your nitrate situation.

Other Contaminants of Concern for New & Expecting Parents

Other important contaminants to look out for as a new parent include:

• Microplastics: Tiny, often microscopic plastic particles found everywhere around us. Information on their specific health impacts is limited, but research shows they can be toxic, with children being more vulnerable.
• Pharmaceuticals: Little is known about the health effects of trace pharmaceuticals in drinking water, but children are thought to be more vulnerable due to their smaller size.
• Glyphosate: A pesticide that can be neurotoxic at elevated concentrations. Children are especially vulnerable to its effects.
• Radon: A cancer-causing radioactive gas. If it is detected in drinking water, it’s likely in the air too. Children are more vulnerable to radon in air due to having smaller lungs and faster breathing rates.
• Asbestos: Although linked to increased risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma when inhaled, little is known about the health effects of asbestos ingested through water. 
• Manganese: An essential mineral, but neurotoxic at elevated levels. Excessive exposure may harm children's neurodevelopment, especially in infants.
• Mold & Fungus: Certain molds and fungi, like black mold, can irritate children’s eyes, skin, and respiratory systems, causing allergy or asthma-like symptoms. Some fungi may also cause infections, which can be more serious for young children.

Coliform Bacteria and Children

Because infants and children have immune systems that are still developing, the presence of coliform bacteria has an increased chance of causing illness such as upset stomach and flu-like systems, as well as diarrhea, vomiting, fever, abdominal cramps, nausea, headaches, and fatigue.

Bacterial contamination is more common in well water than in public water systems, which disinfect water before it leaves the treatment plant. If you are a utility customer dealing with coliform contamination, you will be notified and receive a boil water advisory. If you have a well and suspect bacteria, a Coliform and E.coli Water Test is your first step toward clarity.

For those on private wells, the presence of coliform bacteria can also be a potential indicator of harmful microorganisms that could cause more serious illnesses that can impact the whole family. It’s very important to test your water at any indication it may be contaminated by bacteria or other microorganisms.

Our Well Water Kits test for the presence/absence of coliform bacteria and E. coli. If you want to be more precise or have reason to suspect you water might be contaminated by other microorganisms, Tap Score’s Total Microbiology Water test is the most comprehensive option and can offer total peace of mind:

Pesticides and Childhood Development

Chronic exposure to harmful pesticides in drinking water can be a serious detriment to a child’s neurological development.[2] They are also harmful their immune systems.

THMs in Drinking Water and Children

When chlorine is used to disinfect drinking water supplies, it interacts with naturally occurring organic matter in the water and surrounding pipe material, prompting a series of complex chemical reactions. These reactions lead to the formation of disinfection byproducts, or DBPs. Many DBPs are halogenated compounds, which are potential carcinogens.

Trihalomethanes (or THMs) are a class of DBPs and include:

• Chloroform
• Bromodichloromethane
• Dibromochloromethane
• Bromoform

Treating drinking water presents a trade-off between short-term (e.g., potentially life-threatening infection from pathogens) and long-term health risks (i.e., DBPs), one where the short-term impacts are given precedence largely because waterborne illness is a leading cause of disease and death for children under 5.

Should parents be concerned about the long-term risks of disinfection byproducts? 

While the exact health risks of these DBPs vary by compound, potential carcinogens may be a higher risk to children. Several of these compounds are suspected of causing developmental and reproductive effects. Taking action by filtering your water for DBPs can help reduce these risks without compromising the protective benefits of drinking water chlorination.

Quick Guide to Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) in Drinking Water

Is it Safe to Drink Tap Water When Pregnant?

It depends. Tap water can meet legal standards and still contain contaminants that matter more during pregnancy (lead, nitrate, PFAS). For those on private wells, water quality is completely in your hands. The only way to assess your home’s water risks is to test at the tap.

Here's the thing about tap water safety:

Most public utility tap water is treated to be protective of health under the Safe Drinking Water Act. However, the regulatory limits of the EPA’s Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) are not always conservative, because of technical or financial limitations. 

Meanwhile, the EPA’s Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs) are an attempt to provide the most conservative limits based on available research, but they are not enforceable. Nevertheless, they remain a better guidance for new and/or expecting parents than the EPA’s MCLs.

Additionally, on-premise plumbing or contamination issues can impact the final tap water quality. Testing your water when expecting a child helps you better understand if you have any water quality issues.

Remember: Infants and children have organs that are still developing. Their bodies are generally less resistant to harmful substances. Additionally, pound for pound, children drink more than twice as much water as adults do, meaning they are positioned to consume a higher absolute amount  of any contaminants in the water.

Why Is Testing Drinking Water in a Lab Important for New Parents?

Lab testing drinking water testing is vital for because only labs can indicate the presence of contaminants at very low levels. This is crucial for a contaminant like lead, which has no safe level. Because children, infants, and fetuses are so sensitive, you need to know whether trace contaminant levels exist.

Additionally, contaminants like lead and nitrates cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted. DIY test strips cannot detect harmful contaminants with the accuracy necessary to keep your children safe. Laboratory water analysis is the only way to determine the exact concentrations of contaminants that may be in your drinking water.

Lastly, most filters are only effective against specific contaminants, not all contaminants. There is no one-size-fits-all filter; a lab test helps you find the right treatment system for your particular situation.

Treating first vs. Testing first 

• Treat-first: Your treatment option may miss contaminants; or you may buy the wrong technology for the contaminants you want to treat
• Test-first: You get to know the exact contaminants (and their levels); you use that information to choose the right treatment system.

Remember: All Tap Score test kits offer unbiased treatment recommendations along with their results. Testing offered by treatment companies is not always independent, and as a result should be looked at skeptically.

Can You Trust Water Tests By Filtration Companies?

Which Water Test Is Right for Expecting Parents?

You’ll want to be sure your water is tested by a certified laboratory. Certified laboratories have been independently evaluated to ensure they provide accurate test data and are unbiased in their reporting.

If you’re on city water (i.e., a public water system) you’ll want to be sure your water test includes analysis for:

• Lead (and other heavy metals)
• Disinfection byproducts (incl. total THMs and haloacetic acids)
• VOCs
• General water parameters (hardness, TDs, pH, etc.)

If you’re on a private well, you’ll want to be sure your test includes analysis for:

• Nitrates
• Coliform bacteria
• Lead
• Arsenic (which can be a natural part of groundwater aquifers)
• VOCs (particularly pesticides)
• General water parameters

Tap Score's core kits test for all of these and more, like water quality parameters that can impact how contaminants interact with your plumbing. We've streamlined the process to include certified lab testing, free shipping, and an easy-to-read report that puts your results in context with every purchase.

Recommended Mail-to-Lab Water Tests for Expecting Parents:

The Advanced City Water test offers a well-rounded look at drinking water quality for public utility customers.

Core Kit

Advanced Well Water Test

114 Analytes Tested

$399.00

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Core Kit

Advanced Well Water Test

114 Analytes Tested

Recommended kit for well water with expanded testing and overnight shipping to lab for high precision accuracy.

Regular price $399.00

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The Advanced Well Water test does the same for well water supplies, including overnight shipping to the lab and insulated cooler for accurate bacterial analysis.

Budget, the Extended Well Water test is top-to-bottom assessment of well water quality. Highly recommended for new homeowners and those who have never tested their well water before.

Should I Test My Water for PFAS?

Yes, PFAS is now a risk expectant and/or new parents should want to know about. If you’re on city water, you can check to see if your utility has conducted PFAS testing and decide to test accordingly. If you are on a well, you may want to evaluate PFAS in your water if you are near landfill, industrial sites, or contaminated surface water.

PFAS in Drinking Water: Everything You Need To Know 

This specialized GenX and PFAS Water test provides specialized advanced lab analysis for 25 PFAS compounds, including GenX, PFOA, and PFOS under certified EPA method EPA 533:

Can I Filter My Drinking Water to Protect My Kids?

Yes, thankfully there are a variety of treatment options you can consider in order to help reduce the concentrations of different drinking water contaminants. But remember, test your water before investing in treatment.

The results of your drinking water lab test will provide detailed information on which specific contaminants you need to address and at what concentrations. This is crucial to selecting the right treatment system for your home.

Nitrate

Anion exchange and reverse osmosis (RO) systems are the most common technologies used to get nitrate out of drinking water.

Bacteria

As we mentioned above, private well owners should always be on the lookout for coliform bacteria. If your well water is contaminated with coliform bacteria, cease use immediately and have your well shock chlorinated. If you have persistent bacteria issues, a UV light system could be an additional option.

Filtering bacteria is not recommended.

Heavy Metals

Determining your best treatment options will depend on precisely what metals are detected in your water. 

• • • Lead is best filtered through activated carbon and RO systems that have been certified to NSF/ANSI standard 53 (activated carbon) or 58 (RO) for lead. 
    • Arsenic can be removed from drinking water through anion exchange and RO systems.

Pesticides

Activated carbon filters that have been certified to NSF/ANSI standard 53 for pesticides are your best bet. Testing your water will help you determine the specific chemical pesticides in your water, which will in turn help you dial in your treatment options.

PFAS

PFAS can be removed from drinking water through activated carbon, reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, or anion exchange. But always check to see whether or not the treatment system in question has been certified to NSF/ANSI standards.

There are two relevant NSF/ANSI standards for PFAS reduction: 

• • • NSF/ANSI 53: Drinking Water Treatment Units—Health Effects
    • NSF/ANSI 58: Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Treatment Systems

The Top 4 Home Water Filter Technologies Explained

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the worst toxins for your baby in tap water?

Lead and nitrate are two of the biggest concerns for babies and young children. PFAS, arsenic, bacteria, and heavy metals may also be worth testing for because babies are still developing. Even low-level exposure can matter more during infancy.

Is tap water safe to drink when pregnant?

Usually, yes — but it depends on your water quality. Testing can help identify contaminants that may matter during pregnancy, like the ones we covered above. 

How can coliform bacteria affect infants and children?

Coliform bacteria can signal that germs or contamination may be present in the water and may be linked to stomach illness, diarrhea, vomiting, and fever.

Do water filters remove lead, nitrates, and PFAS?

Some do, but not all of them. The right filter depends on the specific contaminant you need to reduce. Always check the product’s certification and contaminant reduction claims before buying.

Should I boil water for baby formula?

Not always. Boiling water may be recommended in some cases, especially for young infants, premature babies, or babies with weakened immune systems. But boiling does not remove contaminants like lead or nitrate, so it is not a solution for every water quality problem. A water test can help you understand your risks.

Should I test city water even if my utility says it meets standards?

Yes. it's a smart idea to test your water even if your utility meets safe drinking water standards. A utility report shows how the water performed in the system overall, but it does not always reflect what is coming out of your faucet, especially in homes with older plumbing.

We help new parents every day and are happy to shed light on any questions you might have. If you feel there are concerns specific to your situation that weren’t addressed in this article, feel free to reach out to our team of water quality experts.