Doctor Warns Parents After Infant Dies in Indore, Urges Boiled Water for Baby Feeds

A tragic incident in Indore has prompted renewed warnings from medical professionals after a five-month-old infant died allegedly after being fed milk prepared with contaminated municipal water.

The incident has raised serious concerns over drinking water safety and infant feeding practices, particularly for babies under six months whose immune systems are still developing.

Health experts have stressed that infants are highly vulnerable to waterborne bacteria that may be harmless to adults but potentially fatal for young children. Medical advice shared following the incident emphasised the importance of exclusive breastfeeding wherever possible during the first six months of life.

For cases where formula or external feeds are required, parents have been advised to always use properly boiled water. Water should be brought to a rolling boil for at least one minute and allowed to cool before being used to prepare feeds.

Doctors have also cautioned against the direct use of tap or municipal water for infant feeding, even if it is treated, due to the risk of bacterial contamination. Maintaining strict hygiene by sterilising feeding bottles, nipples, and utensils, along with proper handwashing, has been highlighted as essential.

Parents have been urged to seek immediate medical attention if infants show warning signs such as diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, refusal to feed, or unusual lethargy.

The case has underscored the critical need for safe water access and greater awareness of infant feeding safety across households.