What Parents Can And Shouldn't Do In The Wake Of America's Baby Formula Shortage

As The New York Times reported, supply chain issues in the wake of pandemic led to ingredient shortages earlier this year that saw some parents discover that their brand of choice was out of stock throughout the country.

But while select brands faced this crunch before, some of the largest brands became affected by an issue that began manifesting in February.

Abbott engaged in this voluntary recall of various powdered formulas including Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare after that facility was found to be contaminated by a bacteria known as Cronobacter sakazakii and after reports linked at least one product to the more well-known Salmonella.

Although The New York Times reported that Cronobacter infections are rare with an estimated four cases per year, the bacteria is known to contaminate dry goods and infection can have severe and even deadly consequences for infants, especially newborns.

Of course, that isn't always an option and switching from formula to breast milk is rarely something that can be done on a dime. So Good Morning America reported that all alternative formulas found in most stores are FDA-approved and that most parents can safely switch to another one, particularly if the product is iron-fortified.

That said, for children with allergies and ones using formula that can be described as extensively hydrolyzed or amino acid-based, the AAP recommends consulting a pediatrician before switching.

The New York Times also identified specific alternatives to popular brands like Similac Advance (Kirkland, Enfamil, Member's Mark Infant, store brand Advantage formulas like Target's Up and Up Advantage, and Earth Best Organic) and Similac Total Comfort (Gerber Good Start GentlePro or Up & Up Complete Comfort).

But for parents who are struggling to access any of these products, there is one option that isn't normally recommended but may have to do in a pinch.

As the AAP's guidelines state, "This is not ideal and should not become routine but is a better option than diluting formula or making homemade formula."

The reason this isn't ideal is because cow's milk is low in iron and a baby with insufficient iron will experience reduced blood count, which reduces oxygen flow to their major organs, including the brain. This is why toddler formula is not an adequate substitute for baby formula.

So if parents with children above six months do use cow's milk, pediatrician Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson recommended supplementing the child's iron intake with "dark leafy green veggies pureed or soft, dark meats like dark chicken or turkey, red meat."

Doctors are also emphatic that parents should under no circumstances water down formulas or try to manufacture their own with store-bought ingredients.

That's because diluted or homemade formula will not necessarily meet a baby's nutritional needs and can have the same problem as almond milk.

It's also very easy for homemade formulas to be harmful in the other direction as nutrients found in manufactured formulas can be toxic to infants if administered at too high of concentrations.

Since that balance is a delicate one that most of us aren't equipped to judge, it's best to consult a pediatrician if you're struggling to find formula.

And for families in need of specialized formulas, Abbot has set up a web platform that may grant access to options that are confirmed to be safe.

h/t: The New York Times, Good Morning America