Pediatricians Offer Guidance to Maneuver Baby Formula Shortage

He advised parents and caregivers to look through social media that are dedicated to formulas and infant-feeding, noting that members of the page may know where to find the sparce products.

Abrams also recommended parents purchase formula online from domestic pharmacies and well-known distributors – if they can afford it – until the shortgae ceases.

Cow’s Milk and Toddler Formula

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes:

At 12 months old (but not before), your child can be introduced to cow’s milk. Before your child is 12 months old, cow’s milk may put him or her at risk for intestinal bleeding. It also has too many proteins and minerals for your baby’s kidneys to handle and does not have the right amount of nutrients your baby needs.

Abrams wrote that cow’s milk is certainly not ideal but says “in a pinch,” it is a superior alternative to making a homemade formula or diluting baby formula:

This may be an option if your child is older than 6 months of age and is usually on regular formula (not a specialty product for allergies or other special health needs). In a pinch, you could feed them whole cow’s milk for a brief period of time until the shortage is better. This is not ideal and should not become routine. However, it is a better option than diluting formula or making homemade formula. The most important concern with giving an infant over 6 months of age cow’s milk is making sure they get enough iron. Be sure to include plenty of iron-containing solid foods in their diet while you are using whole cow’s milk. You may also talk with your pediatrician about giving your baby an iron supplement.

He echoed the sentiment while speaking with CNN:

We discourage the use of cow’s milk until a year of age but it’s certainly true that as the baby is close to a year of age, especially if it’s simply no formula to be found, that you could use either that or a toddler formula. Neither are ideal, but the closer you are to the year, especially for the short term, those are alternatives.

He urges parents and caregivers not to use almond milk or plant-based milks as they do not have adequate proteins and minerals.

Staff at Mother & Child Education Center throw away recalled Similac baby formula, which the company would not replace or reimburse because the donated supplies did not come with a receipt, on May 12, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. More than 60 percent of Mother & Childs formula supply was affected by the recall.  (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

Altman emphasized the importance of giving babies infant specified formula for the first six months after birth but said some flexibility arises after that point in terms of using a toddler formula, according to CNN. She urged parents to speak to their children’s pediatricians before taking such action.

In his article, Abrams emphasized that toddler formulas are not recommended for infants but said if absolutely necessary, it can be given to babies close to a year old, but only for a couple of days.

Imported Formula

Altman told CNN that some products made in Australia and Europe are high quality but urged parents to seek reputable distributors.

“Not all international formulas are created equally, so you may want to make sure you know what you are getting and that it’s a high-quality product,” she said.

Abrams noted in his healthychildren.org article that he is apprehensive regarding imported baby formulas as they are not FDA approved.

“It’s a less-than-ideal alternative but if that’s what they have to do, then that’s what they have to do,” he told CNN.

An FDA spokesperson told CNN that the agency recommends against the alternative as products could be counterfeit.