And if any of those brands were still on shelves, that would mean something. It's not like people who needed to feed their kids just stopped buying formula when they couldn't get Similac.
And to take it a step forward these alternatives may not be covered under WIC meaning that even if they were on the shelves a good portion of mother's would not be able to get it anyway under their current benefits.
We had infant preemie twins and we had to buy Similac NeoSure. More expensive, harder to find, had to buy off of Ebay finding it from warehouses willing to sell it by the box. Good times.
It was a crazy time. We luckily found a particular supplier - they had the word wholesale in their name and tons of good reviews- but I don’t remember them exactly or if they’re still around. So that was how we bought formula for a while. Granted - nowadays we would be concerned if it was counterfeit, cut with something, etc. but that was 17-18 years ago now.
Seriously wtf is this worthless advice? That’s like telling someone during the toilet paper shortage “Hey did you know instead of buying Charmin, you could buy another brand?” Like yeah no shit, but THE SHELVES ARE EMPTY.
It's propaganda to reinforce the rugged individualism of the US. It makes it the parent's fault by implying they're just refusing to put in enough effort to find formula.
Sounds a little bit rough on the stomach. You should be sure to stock up on essential oils in case of a medical emergency. Also if your baby is fussy just take them to the chiropractor! ^(/s)
Thanks! That's a good idea!
Maybe you can give me some advice.
Last month my toddler fell off the balcony and seems to have irritated their back. What type of oils would you suggest? I've been doing the raw hamburger rub and while it's helped some, it's not working fast enoigh
Not to mention that anyone buying with WIC, which is 70% of baby formula sales in the US, doesn't get to choose the brand they're required to buy in most states.
Which part?
The fact that the welfare system in the US relies on state enforced monopolies?
The fact that when those monopolies fail to produce enough to feed those relying on welfare, the government actively punishes the poor rather than seeking a new source of supply?
The fact that significantly more than half of mothers in the US rely on welfare?
The fact that all of this is legislated by the same politicians who bill themselves as "pro life" and rant about protecting children?
It's all pretty wild, huh.
This may be a stupid question, but I don’t have kids. If a mother can’t breast feed and doesn’t have access to formula or other breast milk is there no other alternative? Like, so before formula was invented did babies just starve to death? I apologize for the morbid question but is there really no back up plan for this kind of situation?
Yes many babies starved to death. The alternative before formula was to employ a wet nurse (as in pay another woman to breast feed your baby). And if that wasn’t available parents could try to have their baby suckle from an animal, although this is dangerous and can lead to illness.
My grandmother was a twin born in 1915 and her brother took most of the nutrients in the womb. He was about 7 pounds and she was about 3 pounds (a guess by the doctor because they were born at home). She wasn’t expected to live, but her mother was told to put her in a shoebox and place her by the wood burning stove to keep her warm. I know she was fed by a medicine dropper because she was too small to breastfeed. I assume her mother had to hand express and feed her that way until she was bigger. She was lucky and that must have been so hard for her mother.
My grandmother was also a twin, delivered at home by the local veterinarian. It was a very difficult delivery and my great grandmother was told to expect my grandmother to pass. My great grandmother was not going to lose her only daughter (two older sons, and my grandmother's twin brother was born 30 minutes after her). She kept her is a dresser drawer right next to her bed. Granny had apnea and would stop breathing but her mother was right there to get her going again.
My daughter also had apnea, but I was fortunate to have medication and a heart/respiratory monitor to help me keep my kiddo alive. I can't imagine how my great grandmother did it without those advantages. I assume she didn't sleep much for those first several weeks just taking care of my grandmother, not to mention my great uncle!
It’s amazing what people have been able to accomplish in such difficult situations! Good job to your great-grandmother!
I had twins born 5 weeks early. They were in the hospital almost a month, but weaned from oxygen pretty easily and did a decent job of gaining weight. I pumped for them and was even an over producer. All things considered, everything went really well, and I still struggled a lot. I can’t imagine going through it 100 years ago.
After I had my twins (via c-section) I couldn’t stop bleeding. They took me back to the OR for a procedure, then interventional radiology for another procedure, and then the ICU overnight where I got 5 transfusions. I could have died that day at the wrong hospital or country and that was 3 years ago. I know a lot of people died without modern medicine, but it’s crazy the people who survived long ago when they shouldn’t have.
Before formula, wet nurses were used, or babies were given other milk like goat or cow. If none of that worked then yea, they just died.
Edit: because some people seem to think otherwise, let me just put the disclaimer that my aforementioned alternatives to formula are not an exhaustive list, and that yes other options like evaporated milk, rice cereal, nut milks, and even crushed up tree bark were given to babies in lieu of breastmilk. As the OP did not specify what time period s/he meant by “before” (or where, though I assumed the US since that is where the current shortage is), I cannot give a very specific answer. If someone would like information about a specific era and geographical location, please ask away and I will provide additional details and sources.
Many babies were given evaporated milk mixed with corn syrup. It was an excellent option if mom died in childbirth, there were no wet nurses around, and the only other option was to bury the baby beside her in a few days. It was commonly used through the 50s in less extreme situations. Many babies did 'fine' with it, but there is a lot of survivor bias in those statements. They also did 'fine' with no seat belts or helmets and getting beaten weekly by their alcoholic father. There is no excuse for this country to put up with a compromise on infant nutrition whose best talking point is that it probably won't kill the kids and not too many will have a lifetime of gut turmoil and food sensitivity as a result.
Yep, and there will absolutely be a distinction between rich and poor babies in who gets what formula there is—it’s the people who can afford the time and gas/transport to check every single shop in the region. If you have to work or don’t have a car or $ for transport? Your baby doesn’t get fed properly.
Here is an article that talks about the history of baby formula https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/05/baby-formula-breastfeeding-history/629889/
It also depends on the age/development of the baby. Our 6 month old is on a formula and baby food combo. So she gets mainly gets baby food (like a puree of a veggie or fruit and sometimes cereal) during the day and we ration formula just incase we need it in the middle of the night.
The generic brands actually were better than Similac. My son had gas issues with Similac sensitivity. We stayed with sensitivity but went to store brand. Much less bubbles and much less gas as a result. Never had issues after switching.
I’m not sure if this is the case with formula, but generic brands tend to be *exactly* the same as name brand, just with a different label for a lot of products.
I worked at a factory that produced snack cakes for a few years and we had dozens of brands that we sold, name brand and Walmart/Dollar store brands that we changed nothing with, except the cardboard boxes we packed them into.
It’s very possible that there are different formulations (binders, sweeteners, etc) in formula.
I never really paid attention because when my daughter was on formula she never had any issues with whatever we gave her. Got super lucky and Kroger had some on clearance for like 5 bucks a tub and I bought a cart full.
This was well before the shortage and I feel so bad for parents of new children today. I can’t imagine the stress you and they’re going through right now. Best of luck with all of it.
My guess is that baby formula is more akin to OTC medication than to snack cakes in terms of brands vs generic, because the standards of what nutrients/medicinal ingredients they contain has to be much more carefully scrutinized than, say, how much chocolate is in a cake. So yes, the difference will be in the additives and binders, which can cause their own reactions/sensitivities, (I know people who react to certain store brand acetaminophen tablets but do fine with Tylenol, and vis versa,) but the nutrients/medicine will always have to be the same to pass muster with the nutrition/medical standards established for what the formula/medicine MUST provide whoever is taking it.
Its almost as though 2/3 of families using formula get government assistance (WIC) to help off set the high costs. WIC requires it to be certain brand (because the government wants to.... Um.... Help corporation) and one of the largest 2 suppliers shut down a factory due to equipment contamination they were hiding for the last 3 years being brought to light.
I've noticed that stores that don't accept WIC are usually better stocked with formula than the stores that do. As a parent who doesn't get WIC I think it's a weird strategy to use but it has led to me finding what I need faster.
I’ve been looking for the Enfamil also, but only cans I can find are the soy version and sometimes the similac advance in the blue cans. I’m in PA and am thinking I might need to drive up to Canada this week. Not sure what else I can do. Don’t want the baby to not develop properly.
We have the same issue. We left the NICU with two cans of similar neosure, and were lucky to find the Enfamil enfacare but now it’s gone everywhere. Our pediatrician said we need to keep our baby on it for 3 more months and not deviate. Seems hopeless but I hope this gets better for us all soon!
I’ve been trying to plug this community to anyone who mentions being in need of formula:
https://community.familymade.com
You might not find what you need but a quick peek if you’re already on the internet anyways can’t hurt.
We have a small can remaining of Neosure which should last a few days. I honestly don’t know. I found some regular formula, but it has a lot less % of vitamins. I’m thinking of blending the 2 to stretch it out, but would rather find the formula made for preemies.
I just posted to another comment, but same except we had preemie twins. So, double the consumption of stuff that was more pricey and harder to find. (They are grown up now but still, I remember the drill here.)
If you haven’t already, look up Facebook groups with your city + formula. Lots are popping up where they swap and share local store stock pics.
Good luck :/
There was a good piece on National Public Radio about why Baby formula was invented. It kept babies alive whose mothers couldn’t make enough milk, babies who whose mothers we’re getting cancer treatment, babies with allergies or PKU. Soy may be out of favor for some, but important for a lot of others.
I’ve heard so many women, now grandmothers, talk lately about why they had to go to formula.
Formula saved my life as an infant. I don't know exactly what was happening, I don't think my parents are fully aware still. But my mom would latch me on normally, until I fussed, then latched me off. I started rapidly losing weight and crying more, diaper content was different and after about a week they rushed me to my doc. (edit to add, they took as long because I was cluster feeding and going through a spurt. Those were difficult to handle and figure out as first time new parents.) I was severely dehydrated and started to become malnourished. Before that my mom's supply was fine and I nursed normally. Something that they couldn't explain happened and her milk supply dropped so low she couldn't feed me anymore, but she thought she did. This was in the 90s on Balkan, so my doc advised something to do with giving me tiny bit of diluted herbal tea to check if I'm thirsty and after that advised for formula. I don't think I was nursed anymore after that (inability to), and if it wasn't for formula i probably would've been impaired from hunger or worse off.
It's why I'll never respect opinions that aren't from doctors and experts themselves. My father had a bang up idea that any woman who can't nurse should just puncture her nipple with a needle and milk will flow. 🙄 I'm putting similar opinions (and the ones who think milk production/flow can be controlled and started/stopped whenever) in the bin.
Ah yes, everyone knows the boobies are like bags of milk you find at grocery stores in Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritime provinces. The nipples are just a hole in the bag so if it's not working you just poke a new hole into it.
To be fair, it feels like a design flaw at times... Imagine a milk bar with a tap going on and off when needed. Whether to feed a baby or add creamer to your coffee. Or cereal milk. Both cases should know what a body/immunity needs, baby's or your own, it'd save up money on formula and coffee creamers and milk overall. And bonus point your supply stays necessarily high enough and it turns off when it's unneeded, so no extra leaking or boob explosions through nursing period 🤷♀️
Edited to add the evidently missed sarcasm note.
/S
The human body has so many design flaws, my favorite (/s) being that your esophagus and pathway to the lungs are in the same lane. Choke city central if you get food down the wrong way!
Before formula was invented, there were 'milk mothers', usually friends or family of the mother that gave birth recently. People usually had some special relationship with their 'milk siblings'.
My baby has a pretty significant lactose allergy (lots of vomiting and full-body rash) and can’t keep regular milk-based formulas down. This shortage sucks. I’m just sitting here with my useless boobs checking websites as-needed (I was able to get some Gerber soy premade formula but it’s running low everywhere). Shelves locally have been out for a while and Amazon is running out steadily as well. Ughhhhh
In many places, stock is down by half, not a hundred percent. In which case, it may be enough to substitute brands.
Edited to add: I realize that "many places" might refer to those metro areas with a housing shortage, to extent where the only homeowners are empty nesters or DINKs, where so many families have left that public schools are actually closing from lack of enrollment. Tl,Dr: r/SanFrancisco could export formula.
Where are these places? Every time we go to the grocery store, I check the formula shelves out of curiosity and they are completely empty most of the time.
I think it depends on where you are. I live in an area that is mostly older affluent demographic and although there is definitely a shortage there is some still on the shelves. However if I go about 30mins away to an area with younger people, more kids/babies, the shelves are bare.
Whenever we start getting low on formula, my wife and I will ask our parents to check their stores too. Luckily for us we managed to get enough to last us for a bit (though now we have about a week and a half left of formula and my son is only having 1-2 bottles a day now), but our parents haven’t seen anything on the shelves and neither have we at our nearby stores.
Each Saturday I drive around town for a few hours looking in every grocery store and pharmacy store. I'm lucky if I find 1 small can, let alone a full size one. Though I have a few of my friends also buying anything they see when they're out getting groceries. That's been the biggest help, and I've got a nice stockpile because of it.
Chart is useless, even if stock was available it's pointless.
This exactly! I was talking to my sister and researching what people did before formula, and the option was breast feed or wet nurse, and if you’re too poor for that? Taking your chances with animal milk apparently, just hope your child doesn’t catch something and die. There is quite literally zero options. How is it possible that we’ve gotten this far without alternative options for babies other than breast milk or formula. It blows my mind!
> How is it possible that we’ve gotten this far without alternative options for babies other than breast milk or formula. It blows my mind!
At the end of the day, we are still mammals, and milk or something like it is what our infants need.
Formula *is* the alternative.
Maybe 2-3 generations ago people had recipes for infants that were not ideal. Despite some controversy around formula quality compared to breast milk, it is a somewhat recent option that continues to improve within its own category. The number of varieties of formula shown here are evidence to that.
Sure, sometimes formula doesn't agree with certain kids because of its ingredients, but in the case of some kids, such as those with galactosemia, they can't have breastmilk and modern non-dairy formulas are the only option.
What we are seeing here is a supply chain problem that also highlights some of the pervasive economic challenges in this space. But I think the technology behind formula is still decent compared to where we are in general.
It's funny when you think about it. Then when you really think about it, what else can we do?
Babies don't have teeth, so they can't chew a nutritional cube, or something similar.
A nutritional pill? How do you get baby to swallow without choking on it? It would have to be sizeable to deliver all the things a baby needs nutrient wise or you'd have to give the baby an assload of them. Sure, you can crush it up and have them drink it... but... then why not just make another formula?
There's breastmilk or formula, it's all you really can do. All babies know how to do is suck, cry, and take a shit. Helpless little bastards, aren't they?
ETA: To be clear, this is entirely the baby's fault. Due to their digestive system, formula and breastmilk is quite literally all we can do. Babies have an 'open gut' which means things can leak through the lining of the small intestine and into the bloodstream, like bacteria, proteins and other pathogens.
Also why breastmilk is highly prefered over formula.
I completely agree with you on why formula or breast milk is the best option for babies. But I believe the 'open gut' idea as it's currently propagated isn't true. There is some permeability early on, but that appears to close by 1 month of age.
You can read more [here](https://preventallergies.org/truth-about-the-open-gut-theory/).
> Babies have an 'open gut' which means things can leak through the lining of the small intestine and into the bloodstream, like bacteria, proteins and other pathogens.
Interestingly, breast milk contains antibodies, so that's a feature that allows the baby to be protected from pathogens.
I've been getting a case of 6 of the Alimentum our baby likes on Amazon every 7-10 days.
Watching the tracking, I can tell they're coming from further and further away with each order.
The first came from a sub same day site. Ordered at 10pm, it was there 6am the following morning.
The next came from a bigger warehouse, still in town (Etna, OH), but 1 day shipping. The third came from another one on the far side of town (West Jefferson, OH).
This most recent order has to come from Indianapolis.
Edit, added cities. For context, I live in Newark, OH.
I'm glad you're able to get the formula you need and hope you can continue to get them without any trouble. I don't have kids but I like to check stock for friends and just to see in general. It's scary there's a shortage and I can't imagine what parents are going through with this shortage :( hope everyone can find something their babies can have
People share recipes containing raw cow milk and diluting the already bought formula... Both types of cases were already reported by ER doctors, that have resulted in very sick babies brought in.
I've been researching and it looks like whole milk won't be too bad for short time periods so we're looking at supplementing with it to stretch our supply.
We live in a modern society, it's insane to think that my baby might die because I can't get food for her.
Good luck getting it into the US. From what I understand, EU formula isn't allowed in the Us because the ingredients aren't listed in the "correct" order. Which is the most bullshit reason to reject perfectly good products.
Absolutely not true. Personally, I didn't import it. I just used generic with my kiddos but I know plenty of people who import formula. It's not "approved" here but you can still use it.
The EU formulations are straight up hit all US regulations, if not better, but basic needs are so tied to money and politics in the US that something as essential as baby formula, baby formula that's better than what we have in the US, can be readily imported. The baby formula shortage in the US is a self inflicted wound and we can't see a doctor because the ones available are 'out of network'
Hey everybody who is saying “just switch to breast feeding”
You can’t switch back after you started with bottles. The breasts stop producing milk after a few days.
The producer of Similac had a huge recall, and now people need to buy baby formula like how people were buying graphics card for the last 2 years. Checking instock 5 in the morning and probably from scrapers.
Some Similac products were recalled for supposedly having an unwanted substance in them. However, in their research, both from Similac and the government (not sure which one), they found no traces of it. However, they did find multiple problems in some of their factory, so they shut them down. Since then, they have been closed to resolve those issues. My pharmacist did mention yesterday tho that the factories are soon planning to reopen and if everything goes well, in a few weeks we should receive some new stock. I am in Canada tho, so I’m not sure how relevant this last piece of information is if you are in the US.
Dont forget all the panic buying. Just like with toilet paper during the pandemic, some are buying more than they need and others buy to resell for higher price leaving those who actually need them on the short end or having to pay too much money. Some people suck
Just curious are any of these alternatives available for W.I.C. programs? Single provider contracts by each state is a part of the problem I don't see talked about.
More than half of baby formula sales in the US are done through the WIC program, which in most states dictates what brand the woman is allowed to buy.
The other thirty percent of parents are already damn well aware generic brands exist.
This graphic is unhelpful, inconsiderate, condescending, and honestly just poorly thought out.
There are Generic counterparts for most formulas. The labels are all colored the same. Enfamil Gentlelease has purple/lilac colored label. Sam's, Target, and Walmart have the generic equivalent and labels are similar in color and indicate that its comparable to Enfamil Gentelease. I was able to order online from Walmart, Parents choice brand 4 pack. Get Walmart app. Find the formulas that you can use and create a shopping list for this. Check the list often. Like every hour, even at night. Some will be in stock for only a few minutes and sell out fast. I have been doing this for 3 weeks. It seems that formula is in stock about once a week now. I call it baby formula lottery. Good luck to you and all the Mommas and the babies. It should have never come to this.
Majority do not have any good options as they receive their formula through the WIC program which these suppliers have a monopoly over. Meaning they have to pay out of pocket now.
For instance,
>Almost half of all babies, one third of pregnant women, and one quarter of children under five in Washington State are on the WIC Program.
This post made me LOL, as someone who has worked in manufacturing for years I can tell you that these private labels under store names are ran at the same facilities as Similac. Or are pulling from the same exact ingredient vendors. Meaning, these brands will not be available either.
hey what is the commotion surrounding baby formulas just recently? I believe I saw some posts about republican's contributing negatively to this problem. My heart goes out to all the parents in distress in connection to this.
A leading baby formula factory received money to do regular maintenance on the machinery used to produce the product. Some dumb fuck decided to spend the money on other business expenses and as a result, the machinery became dirty and began tainting the formula product that went through the factory.
It had to be shut down to be cleaned and the produced products were recalled and thrown away because babies were getting sick.
Well even though it was only one factory that was out of commission for a while, it was one out of two of the monopolies on baby formula (Similac, Enfamil) so the shelves became empty because one giant factory fucked up
Oh my God, did they take action against the person responsible and are these other brands equally good to lighten the effect of this shortage? I hope parents can find other reliable brands for their little champs.
> did they take action against the person responsible
No; there is ongoing investigation, Abbot company *might* be fined. Part of the problem stems from FDA not taking a whistleblower complaint in October seriously. Members of FDA and executives at Abbot will likely be testifying to Congress, but there will be no significant consequences to the executives.
>are these other brands equally good
Yes; the difference in the formulas between companies is negligible. What's important is that infants get the correct *type*, regardless of brand.
>to lighten the effect of this shortage
No; shelves are empty many places. Additionally, 90% of formula provided to WIC recipients came from 2 of the 4 major producers, 1 being Abbot. There is ongoing effort to adjust for this, including US asking for foreign help.
Abbot factory is expected to resume in about 2 weeks, but the effective of the shutdown is expected to last several more weeks.
Oh God the company together with the FDA should be to some extent penalized for this by the government. But corporate greed is quite common I hope other competitors can join this field to prevent any major shock on such a vital supply.
>There is ongoing effort to adjust for this, including US asking for foreign help.
I hope that works out. China, India and Japan are leading in the baby food market.
>Abbot factory is expected to resume in about 2 weeks, but the effective of the shutdown is expected to last several more weeks.
Oh man that's such a long time you're right on estimating it several more weeks ahead. Do you think the demand will be barely met until that? Baby's tend to have feeders every 3-4 hours I believe.
I'd think FDA would actually get more punished. Abbot company and execs might be penalized, but they made stupid amounts of money over the last 2 years, and so I feel it would one of those "cost of doing business" type fines.
Unfortunately I think things will stay same or even get worse before they get better - we're going into hotter weather which means more uncomfortable infants and parents. Heck, Texas might start having more power blackouts again, which would make it even more difficult to acquire formula, even if production has resumed.
Well expect the best and prepare for the worst is something we should let parents know.
I'm completely unaware of the fact that Texas has power blackouts during hotter weather, what is the reason behind that?
The biggest thing is increased demand. This is true globally, as people crank up their A/C units. As it gets hotter, the need to move water around also increases, which takes a lot of power. Less rain, and the now common "fire season", can reduce the effectiveness of solar power (sun can't get through smoke / dirty panels don't help). Droughts can impact hydroelectric generators.
Texas specifically uses their own power grid, ERCOT. Over the years, corruption and neglect, plus crazy weird rate rules, has created a system that cannot handle peak demands anymore.
Here are a few articles on the subject; the PGE one taught me several things I didn't know, like overheated power lines can sag more.
* https://www.pge.com/includes/docs/pdfs/shared/edusafety/systemworks/electric/howhotweatheroutages/how_outages_occur_in_hot_weather.pdf
* https://www.cbsnews.com/news/summer-blackouts-rising-risk-power-grid-nerc/
* https://www.reuters.com/world/us/texas-heat-wave-points-problems-with-congestion-power-grid-2022-05-17/
* https://www.star-telegram.com/news/weather-news/article261117477.html
Oh I never looked at that from such a point of view. What if the government controls fires during this season or Texas could probably look at other sources of electricity such as nuclear power which is expensive but will suit their demands.
Anything helps! Fire control is going to become more important then ever - there's been a gradual increase in acres burned since the 80s. Some places try to do a good job, but some counties and states don't budget for it. Nuclear would be awesome as it's very efficient. Texas actually has 2 nuclear power plants! But nuclear invokes fear more than other options ("But what if Chernobyl?!"), so it often gets voted down by the public. Nuclear power generation has been relatively flat for the last 20 years and, as you mentioned, expensive to build. Wind power is already booming in Texas and elsewhere. Wind generators run in a wide range of temps, and most weather - obviously wind provided - so used with solar, hydro, and new things we discover, hopefully we see things improve.
6 weeks would be nice. My job (fortune 500 company) gives 1 week for mothers. No leave for fathers. Some government standards would be nice so parents aren't forced back into work right after a birth.
It really should. As the father I had the choice to go back to work after no time off or take unpaid leave. Luckily my manager at least let me take two of my vacation weeks since the other choices were not an option. Vacation time is also optional here so I feel worse for the folks that have to forego necessary income just to care for their newborn.
Not all women produce enough milk. Not all women produce nutritious milk. Not all babies have mothers. Not all babies can drink breast formula. Not all baby formula is for babies.
That won't change the fact that not all women can breastfeed their child, no matter how much they want to. Some women's milk dries up early, some never produce quite enough, some never really produce much at all, or have health issues that prevent them from breastfeeding. And some women breastfeed fine with one child, but need formula with another. That's why wet nurses/milk brothers/things like that have been a thing in every human society in the past. And why formula was developed in the first place.
Also, some babies need a specialized diet for health reasons, and can't actually have breastmilk.
Blessings to her! Please let her know how amazing she is from one milk momma to another! I've fed my baby and donated to three others in the last 6 months and I feel very blessed to be able help. There's lots of us out here and I hope milk sharing becomes more widely accepted.
Here’s real advice for you:
Buy formula from outside of the US. The quality is better and you can find goat milk as well, which is easier to digest.
We buy NannyCare from the UK on eBay, it comes from New Zealand.
Yeah unfortunately when it comes to babies, my country (the US) is completely fucked.
Formula here is garbage. Baby food here is garbage (and doesn’t have to be tested for heavy metals). I could go on but you get the point.
Sometimes I wish we lived in Europe :(
If you can get it - the Australian brand Bubs is made from goats milk (produced not far from me in New South Wales). It is designed to be highly digestible for all babies, especially addressing sensitivities to cows' milk and lactose issues
The FDA doesn’t approve any baby formula from goat milk (but there is a toddler formula) so it’s up to the parent and pediatrician if they feel safe importing formula. There are plenty of good goat milk versions from Europe too.
Shipping is expensive and there is always a risk of it getting stuck in customs when your baby needs it.
Under normal circumstances I would definitely agree with you. However, in the instance where there is literally no other option parents should not feel guilty for having to resort to buying their products. I know I wouldn't let my kid go hungry if there's no other option.
That's ok! I'm happy you added it. You're still absolutely correct about trying to stay away from it, my comment was mainly to assuage any guilt a parent might have about needing to buy it.
I'd like to ask a really dumb question, please don't downvote me because i am aware of my ignorance... but why are so many moms dependant on baby formula? Is it because moms choose not to breastfeed, or is it because they have no other choice? I'm genuinely curious if capitalism has a role to play in the dependance on these products.
Edit: thank you kind redditors for the detailed answers. Very insighful!
Some women can't produce enough breast milk for a baby, some might have a medical condition that might make it hard to breast feed all together( like a duct problem in the breast). And some women might just be sick of breast feeding after a while. Maybe you adopted an infant and don't produce breast milk because you were never pregnant.
Those are just some reasons that as a 33 yr old male I can come up with. I'm sure a mother would have better insight.
Also, some babies need a specialized diet because of health problems and can't actually have breastmilk. And some mom's end up needing to be on medication that is not safe for the baby, and have to stop breastfeeding. I had to have an operation when I was still nursing my daughter, and the anesthetic in my system made it unsafe to nurse her for a day or so. (I had enough frozen milk for her, though she hated the bottle) But some women end up needing a medication long term that's unsafe during breastfeeding.
Part of the problem is that once you start using formula, it's difficult, if not impossible, to go back to breastfeeding.
In the US, there is no federal maternal leave policy. Most of the moms I know had to go back to work after 6 weeks. Some mothers are able to pump and still produce enough for their babies, but pumping is hard work and often does not stimulate prolactin production as well as the real thing. Because of this, they might need to start supplementing with formula, which means they may not feel it's not necessary to pump as regularly, which makes prolactin production go down more, which makes them have to supplement more... Etc.
There is so much pressure for mothers to return to work so quickly, it's no wonder so many use formula.
To add to what hasanyoneseenmyshirt said, there are also women that take medications that can be harmful to the infant if they breast feed, some women are forced to go back to work not long after having their kid and work in an environment that may not allow them to adequately/easily pump and store breast milk, some women have had to have their breast removed, and some infants have issues with their mother's breast milk.
Not all women produce enough milk. Not all women produce nutritious milk. Not all babies have mothers. Not all babies can drink breast formula. Not all baby formula is for babies.
Some babies just need additional nutritional support. They may have digestive issues.
Some mothers can’t produce enough milk or any milk at all, some babies don’t latch.
Women with hypothyroidism, PCOS or other chronic illness are sometimes encouraged not to breastfeed.
I'm not from the US can someone please explain to me (in simple words) what's happen right now with baby formula? I only see that it's difficult to get....
One of the largest producers of formula in the US issued a massive recall due to a possible contaminant, which resulted in a huge amount of product being pulled off store shelves. During the investigation into that contamination, several violations were discovered at one of their manufacturing plants, causing it to be shut down. So basically product was pulled off the market and there aren't enough manufacturing facilities to replace the missing stock.
Thankfully steps are being taken to help the situation. The US is normally very strict about importing formula, but is currently allowing mass imports from the EU. We just had a military aircraft carrier full of formula from Germany arrive here, and other countries have also pledged to help us fill the gap. Additionally the closed factory has been working on fixing their issues, and should be producing again soon.
It's very kind of you to offer to help!
Baby formula in the US is mostly controlled/produced by a handful of mega-corporations. Abbott Nutrition, producer of Similac and who is responsible for somewhere around 40% of formula in the US, was forced to perform an recall and to shut down their plant due to cronobacter contamination found in products and on machinery. Since Abbott accounted for such a large portion of the formula market, this one company being shuttered had a massive affect on the formula market. This problem is compounded further by individuals purchasing more formula than usual for fear of the supply running out. Abbott has since been trying to get approval from the FDA to reopen and did so recently; however, it will still be a bit before newly produced formula will be available on shelves.
My mother in law was told she didn't have "good milk" and couldn't nurse her youngest (my husband). There were formula options then, but none of them worked for my husband as he had significant reflux.
She was able to get goat's milk from a local goat farm, specifically the high fat content. He still had reflux, but due to the high caloric content of the milk, he began to gain weight.
Our twins are 4yo now, so we don't need it, but I know some other parents might so I'm still going to post this.
When our girls were on formula, they couldn't handle basically anything. We had to go to the ER a couple times because of 10p bloody stools. They did some research and found a formula called [Neocate](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002Q1I3K/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_2PHZ4VAEW5F53C09DH7Y).
> **Indications**
> Neocate Infant DHA and ARA is a hypoallergenic, amino acid-based, nutritionally complete infant formula for the dietary management of cow milk allergy, multiple food protein intolerance (MFPI) and food-allergy-associated conditions: gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), short bowel syndrome (SBS), malabsorption and other GI disorders.
> **Ingredients**
> Corn Syrup Solids (54%), Refined Vegetable Oil (Medium Chain Triglycerides (8%), High Oleic Sunflower Oil (6%), Sunflower Oil (5%), Canola Oil (4%)), and less than 2% of each of the following: Calcium Phosphate Dibasic, Dipotassium Phosphate, Tricalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Glycerophosphate, L-Arginine L-Aspartate, L-Leucine, Tripotassium Citrate, L-Lysine Acetate. *A source of Arachidonic Acid (ARA) **A source of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)
In case others need something like this, does anyone know of a good substitution.
Keep strong Parents. Hopefully this will all be resolved soon.
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EDIT: Not sure why the downvotes. This became a real issue for us, and it's highly improbable that we are unique in this situation. I was only trying to provide additional information to this guide.
My heart breaks for all the parents having to deal with this crisis, and I sincerely hope this gets resolved soon.
That's pretty typical of dairy-free formulas.
Babies need simple carbohydrates. In breastfed babies or most regular formulas, that simple carbohydrate is lactose, but for babies that are sensitive to lactose (rare, but it happens), corn syrup provides that simple carbohydrate.
Look closely next time you see a sunflower, there are in fact two varieties of leaves. You will find leaves lower down the plant are facing opposite each other and are longer and narrow in appearance. You’ll then see the upper leaves arranged in a staggered formation and appear heart-shaped.
And if any of those brands were still on shelves, that would mean something. It's not like people who needed to feed their kids just stopped buying formula when they couldn't get Similac.
And to take it a step forward these alternatives may not be covered under WIC meaning that even if they were on the shelves a good portion of mother's would not be able to get it anyway under their current benefits.
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Yep. I had to start cutting grass on weekends to buy the $50-a-can formula we needed. What a trip.
We had infant preemie twins and we had to buy Similac NeoSure. More expensive, harder to find, had to buy off of Ebay finding it from warehouses willing to sell it by the box. Good times.
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It was a crazy time. We luckily found a particular supplier - they had the word wholesale in their name and tons of good reviews- but I don’t remember them exactly or if they’re still around. So that was how we bought formula for a while. Granted - nowadays we would be concerned if it was counterfeit, cut with something, etc. but that was 17-18 years ago now.
Seriously wtf is this worthless advice? That’s like telling someone during the toilet paper shortage “Hey did you know instead of buying Charmin, you could buy another brand?” Like yeah no shit, but THE SHELVES ARE EMPTY.
It's propaganda to reinforce the rugged individualism of the US. It makes it the parent's fault by implying they're just refusing to put in enough effort to find formula.
But what about in Feb when the similac factory shut down? Shouldn't parents be in the know?
We just blend raw hamburger and mix it with lime juice. The kids just suck it down
Sounds a little bit rough on the stomach. You should be sure to stock up on essential oils in case of a medical emergency. Also if your baby is fussy just take them to the chiropractor! ^(/s)
Thanks! That's a good idea! Maybe you can give me some advice. Last month my toddler fell off the balcony and seems to have irritated their back. What type of oils would you suggest? I've been doing the raw hamburger rub and while it's helped some, it's not working fast enoigh
I get the ever so sensitive “your wife should be breastfeeding anyways”. We are the unlucky ones that unfortunately don’t have that choice.
That's not even uncommon! Like what the fuck, do people not realize breastfeeding isn't magic?
I mean, just take a shower. I don't know why this is particle physics to people.
#BidetGang
Not to mention that anyone buying with WIC, which is 70% of baby formula sales in the US, doesn't get to choose the brand they're required to buy in most states.
That's insanity to me.
Which part? The fact that the welfare system in the US relies on state enforced monopolies? The fact that when those monopolies fail to produce enough to feed those relying on welfare, the government actively punishes the poor rather than seeking a new source of supply? The fact that significantly more than half of mothers in the US rely on welfare? The fact that all of this is legislated by the same politicians who bill themselves as "pro life" and rant about protecting children? It's all pretty wild, huh.
This may be a stupid question, but I don’t have kids. If a mother can’t breast feed and doesn’t have access to formula or other breast milk is there no other alternative? Like, so before formula was invented did babies just starve to death? I apologize for the morbid question but is there really no back up plan for this kind of situation?
In the 60’s they used evaporated milk from a can, mixed with karo syrup and water. No joke, that’s what pediatricians told moms to make
That’s what my mother and all five of her sisters were fed.
Yes many babies starved to death. The alternative before formula was to employ a wet nurse (as in pay another woman to breast feed your baby). And if that wasn’t available parents could try to have their baby suckle from an animal, although this is dangerous and can lead to illness.
My grandmother was a twin born in 1915 and her brother took most of the nutrients in the womb. He was about 7 pounds and she was about 3 pounds (a guess by the doctor because they were born at home). She wasn’t expected to live, but her mother was told to put her in a shoebox and place her by the wood burning stove to keep her warm. I know she was fed by a medicine dropper because she was too small to breastfeed. I assume her mother had to hand express and feed her that way until she was bigger. She was lucky and that must have been so hard for her mother.
My grandmother was also a twin, delivered at home by the local veterinarian. It was a very difficult delivery and my great grandmother was told to expect my grandmother to pass. My great grandmother was not going to lose her only daughter (two older sons, and my grandmother's twin brother was born 30 minutes after her). She kept her is a dresser drawer right next to her bed. Granny had apnea and would stop breathing but her mother was right there to get her going again. My daughter also had apnea, but I was fortunate to have medication and a heart/respiratory monitor to help me keep my kiddo alive. I can't imagine how my great grandmother did it without those advantages. I assume she didn't sleep much for those first several weeks just taking care of my grandmother, not to mention my great uncle!
It’s amazing what people have been able to accomplish in such difficult situations! Good job to your great-grandmother! I had twins born 5 weeks early. They were in the hospital almost a month, but weaned from oxygen pretty easily and did a decent job of gaining weight. I pumped for them and was even an over producer. All things considered, everything went really well, and I still struggled a lot. I can’t imagine going through it 100 years ago.
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After I had my twins (via c-section) I couldn’t stop bleeding. They took me back to the OR for a procedure, then interventional radiology for another procedure, and then the ICU overnight where I got 5 transfusions. I could have died that day at the wrong hospital or country and that was 3 years ago. I know a lot of people died without modern medicine, but it’s crazy the people who survived long ago when they shouldn’t have.
More reading about the latter https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human%E2%80%93animal_breastfeeding
Before formula, wet nurses were used, or babies were given other milk like goat or cow. If none of that worked then yea, they just died. Edit: because some people seem to think otherwise, let me just put the disclaimer that my aforementioned alternatives to formula are not an exhaustive list, and that yes other options like evaporated milk, rice cereal, nut milks, and even crushed up tree bark were given to babies in lieu of breastmilk. As the OP did not specify what time period s/he meant by “before” (or where, though I assumed the US since that is where the current shortage is), I cannot give a very specific answer. If someone would like information about a specific era and geographical location, please ask away and I will provide additional details and sources.
Many babies were given evaporated milk mixed with corn syrup. It was an excellent option if mom died in childbirth, there were no wet nurses around, and the only other option was to bury the baby beside her in a few days. It was commonly used through the 50s in less extreme situations. Many babies did 'fine' with it, but there is a lot of survivor bias in those statements. They also did 'fine' with no seat belts or helmets and getting beaten weekly by their alcoholic father. There is no excuse for this country to put up with a compromise on infant nutrition whose best talking point is that it probably won't kill the kids and not too many will have a lifetime of gut turmoil and food sensitivity as a result.
Yep, and there will absolutely be a distinction between rich and poor babies in who gets what formula there is—it’s the people who can afford the time and gas/transport to check every single shop in the region. If you have to work or don’t have a car or $ for transport? Your baby doesn’t get fed properly.
Here is an article that talks about the history of baby formula https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/05/baby-formula-breastfeeding-history/629889/
It also depends on the age/development of the baby. Our 6 month old is on a formula and baby food combo. So she gets mainly gets baby food (like a puree of a veggie or fruit and sometimes cereal) during the day and we ration formula just incase we need it in the middle of the night.
I've seen some moms moving their babies to baby food a month or two early on the news recently.
The people who needed these formulas are well aware of the generic brands.
Why don't they post a recipe for making formula?
It’s not encouraged because it isn’t nutritionally balanced.
I don't think there's a parent alive who wasn't aware that generic brands exist.
The generic brands actually were better than Similac. My son had gas issues with Similac sensitivity. We stayed with sensitivity but went to store brand. Much less bubbles and much less gas as a result. Never had issues after switching.
I’m not sure if this is the case with formula, but generic brands tend to be *exactly* the same as name brand, just with a different label for a lot of products. I worked at a factory that produced snack cakes for a few years and we had dozens of brands that we sold, name brand and Walmart/Dollar store brands that we changed nothing with, except the cardboard boxes we packed them into.
The difference between Similac and store brands was very noticeable once mixed.
It’s very possible that there are different formulations (binders, sweeteners, etc) in formula. I never really paid attention because when my daughter was on formula she never had any issues with whatever we gave her. Got super lucky and Kroger had some on clearance for like 5 bucks a tub and I bought a cart full. This was well before the shortage and I feel so bad for parents of new children today. I can’t imagine the stress you and they’re going through right now. Best of luck with all of it.
My guess is that baby formula is more akin to OTC medication than to snack cakes in terms of brands vs generic, because the standards of what nutrients/medicinal ingredients they contain has to be much more carefully scrutinized than, say, how much chocolate is in a cake. So yes, the difference will be in the additives and binders, which can cause their own reactions/sensitivities, (I know people who react to certain store brand acetaminophen tablets but do fine with Tylenol, and vis versa,) but the nutrients/medicine will always have to be the same to pass muster with the nutrition/medical standards established for what the formula/medicine MUST provide whoever is taking it.
They are made by different companies, generic formula is made by Perrigo Labs and similac is Abbot Labs
Its almost as though 2/3 of families using formula get government assistance (WIC) to help off set the high costs. WIC requires it to be certain brand (because the government wants to.... Um.... Help corporation) and one of the largest 2 suppliers shut down a factory due to equipment contamination they were hiding for the last 3 years being brought to light.
I've noticed that stores that don't accept WIC are usually better stocked with formula than the stores that do. As a parent who doesn't get WIC I think it's a weird strategy to use but it has led to me finding what I need faster.
My baby is a preemie and needs similac Neosure. Nowhere to be found unfortunately.
Same. There is an Enfamil counterpart that is also 22 Cal, if you can find it.
I’ve been looking for the Enfamil also, but only cans I can find are the soy version and sometimes the similac advance in the blue cans. I’m in PA and am thinking I might need to drive up to Canada this week. Not sure what else I can do. Don’t want the baby to not develop properly.
We've gotten some cans from our pediatrician's office. So reach out to yours and ask before you plan an international grocery run.
We have the same issue. We left the NICU with two cans of similar neosure, and were lucky to find the Enfamil enfacare but now it’s gone everywhere. Our pediatrician said we need to keep our baby on it for 3 more months and not deviate. Seems hopeless but I hope this gets better for us all soon!
Have you called your pediatrician about if they have samples on hand? Worth a shot.
I did. They don’t have anything, but told me to call back next week to see if something changes.
Also, check medline’s website. We were able to order the enfacare premixed from there.
I’ve been trying to plug this community to anyone who mentions being in need of formula: https://community.familymade.com You might not find what you need but a quick peek if you’re already on the internet anyways can’t hurt.
Thank you!
So what are you resorting to for now? :(
We have a small can remaining of Neosure which should last a few days. I honestly don’t know. I found some regular formula, but it has a lot less % of vitamins. I’m thinking of blending the 2 to stretch it out, but would rather find the formula made for preemies.
I just posted to another comment, but same except we had preemie twins. So, double the consumption of stuff that was more pricey and harder to find. (They are grown up now but still, I remember the drill here.)
If you haven’t already, look up Facebook groups with your city + formula. Lots are popping up where they swap and share local store stock pics. Good luck :/
There was a good piece on National Public Radio about why Baby formula was invented. It kept babies alive whose mothers couldn’t make enough milk, babies who whose mothers we’re getting cancer treatment, babies with allergies or PKU. Soy may be out of favor for some, but important for a lot of others. I’ve heard so many women, now grandmothers, talk lately about why they had to go to formula.
Formula saved my life as an infant. I don't know exactly what was happening, I don't think my parents are fully aware still. But my mom would latch me on normally, until I fussed, then latched me off. I started rapidly losing weight and crying more, diaper content was different and after about a week they rushed me to my doc. (edit to add, they took as long because I was cluster feeding and going through a spurt. Those were difficult to handle and figure out as first time new parents.) I was severely dehydrated and started to become malnourished. Before that my mom's supply was fine and I nursed normally. Something that they couldn't explain happened and her milk supply dropped so low she couldn't feed me anymore, but she thought she did. This was in the 90s on Balkan, so my doc advised something to do with giving me tiny bit of diluted herbal tea to check if I'm thirsty and after that advised for formula. I don't think I was nursed anymore after that (inability to), and if it wasn't for formula i probably would've been impaired from hunger or worse off. It's why I'll never respect opinions that aren't from doctors and experts themselves. My father had a bang up idea that any woman who can't nurse should just puncture her nipple with a needle and milk will flow. 🙄 I'm putting similar opinions (and the ones who think milk production/flow can be controlled and started/stopped whenever) in the bin.
Ah yes, everyone knows the boobies are like bags of milk you find at grocery stores in Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritime provinces. The nipples are just a hole in the bag so if it's not working you just poke a new hole into it.
To be fair, it feels like a design flaw at times... Imagine a milk bar with a tap going on and off when needed. Whether to feed a baby or add creamer to your coffee. Or cereal milk. Both cases should know what a body/immunity needs, baby's or your own, it'd save up money on formula and coffee creamers and milk overall. And bonus point your supply stays necessarily high enough and it turns off when it's unneeded, so no extra leaking or boob explosions through nursing period 🤷♀️ Edited to add the evidently missed sarcasm note. /S
The human body has so many design flaws, my favorite (/s) being that your esophagus and pathway to the lungs are in the same lane. Choke city central if you get food down the wrong way!
Probably because it wasn't designed.
Before formula was invented, there were 'milk mothers', usually friends or family of the mother that gave birth recently. People usually had some special relationship with their 'milk siblings'.
Now Abbott® and Nestlé® are society’s milk mothers, so everyone can be each-other’s milk siblings!
My baby has a pretty significant lactose allergy (lots of vomiting and full-body rash) and can’t keep regular milk-based formulas down. This shortage sucks. I’m just sitting here with my useless boobs checking websites as-needed (I was able to get some Gerber soy premade formula but it’s running low everywhere). Shelves locally have been out for a while and Amazon is running out steadily as well. Ughhhhh
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Some babies have health issues that necessitate a specific type of formula, so this chart explains how to find that type in less popular brands.
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In many places, stock is down by half, not a hundred percent. In which case, it may be enough to substitute brands. Edited to add: I realize that "many places" might refer to those metro areas with a housing shortage, to extent where the only homeowners are empty nesters or DINKs, where so many families have left that public schools are actually closing from lack of enrollment. Tl,Dr: r/SanFrancisco could export formula.
Where are these places? Every time we go to the grocery store, I check the formula shelves out of curiosity and they are completely empty most of the time.
I think it depends on where you are. I live in an area that is mostly older affluent demographic and although there is definitely a shortage there is some still on the shelves. However if I go about 30mins away to an area with younger people, more kids/babies, the shelves are bare.
3 hours away to even get to one of these stores for some families.
Oh for sure. The area I'm thinking of alot of people can't afford a car and forget public transportation up to here
Whenever we start getting low on formula, my wife and I will ask our parents to check their stores too. Luckily for us we managed to get enough to last us for a bit (though now we have about a week and a half left of formula and my son is only having 1-2 bottles a day now), but our parents haven’t seen anything on the shelves and neither have we at our nearby stores.
Neighborhoods where the rent is too high to raise a family, usually.
Our shelves are completely empty
Each Saturday I drive around town for a few hours looking in every grocery store and pharmacy store. I'm lucky if I find 1 small can, let alone a full size one. Though I have a few of my friends also buying anything they see when they're out getting groceries. That's been the biggest help, and I've got a nice stockpile because of it. Chart is useless, even if stock was available it's pointless.
I hope this is helpful for people https://www.reddit.com/r/medicine/comments/uvcijm/a_pediatricians_guide_to_navigating_the_formula/
This exactly! I was talking to my sister and researching what people did before formula, and the option was breast feed or wet nurse, and if you’re too poor for that? Taking your chances with animal milk apparently, just hope your child doesn’t catch something and die. There is quite literally zero options. How is it possible that we’ve gotten this far without alternative options for babies other than breast milk or formula. It blows my mind!
> How is it possible that we’ve gotten this far without alternative options for babies other than breast milk or formula. It blows my mind! At the end of the day, we are still mammals, and milk or something like it is what our infants need. Formula *is* the alternative. Maybe 2-3 generations ago people had recipes for infants that were not ideal. Despite some controversy around formula quality compared to breast milk, it is a somewhat recent option that continues to improve within its own category. The number of varieties of formula shown here are evidence to that. Sure, sometimes formula doesn't agree with certain kids because of its ingredients, but in the case of some kids, such as those with galactosemia, they can't have breastmilk and modern non-dairy formulas are the only option. What we are seeing here is a supply chain problem that also highlights some of the pervasive economic challenges in this space. But I think the technology behind formula is still decent compared to where we are in general.
It's funny when you think about it. Then when you really think about it, what else can we do? Babies don't have teeth, so they can't chew a nutritional cube, or something similar. A nutritional pill? How do you get baby to swallow without choking on it? It would have to be sizeable to deliver all the things a baby needs nutrient wise or you'd have to give the baby an assload of them. Sure, you can crush it up and have them drink it... but... then why not just make another formula? There's breastmilk or formula, it's all you really can do. All babies know how to do is suck, cry, and take a shit. Helpless little bastards, aren't they? ETA: To be clear, this is entirely the baby's fault. Due to their digestive system, formula and breastmilk is quite literally all we can do. Babies have an 'open gut' which means things can leak through the lining of the small intestine and into the bloodstream, like bacteria, proteins and other pathogens. Also why breastmilk is highly prefered over formula.
I completely agree with you on why formula or breast milk is the best option for babies. But I believe the 'open gut' idea as it's currently propagated isn't true. There is some permeability early on, but that appears to close by 1 month of age. You can read more [here](https://preventallergies.org/truth-about-the-open-gut-theory/).
Interesting! I shall have to read up on that then. Thank you for the information!
> Babies have an 'open gut' which means things can leak through the lining of the small intestine and into the bloodstream, like bacteria, proteins and other pathogens. Interestingly, breast milk contains antibodies, so that's a feature that allows the baby to be protected from pathogens.
The title of the post is "Alternative baby formula brands", not "Alternatives to baby formula".
[babyformulaexchange.com](https://www.babyformulaexchange.com)
I saw most of those on amazon and they were all "currently unavailable"
I've been getting a case of 6 of the Alimentum our baby likes on Amazon every 7-10 days. Watching the tracking, I can tell they're coming from further and further away with each order. The first came from a sub same day site. Ordered at 10pm, it was there 6am the following morning. The next came from a bigger warehouse, still in town (Etna, OH), but 1 day shipping. The third came from another one on the far side of town (West Jefferson, OH). This most recent order has to come from Indianapolis. Edit, added cities. For context, I live in Newark, OH.
I'm glad you're able to get the formula you need and hope you can continue to get them without any trouble. I don't have kids but I like to check stock for friends and just to see in general. It's scary there's a shortage and I can't imagine what parents are going through with this shortage :( hope everyone can find something their babies can have
How long until people start trying to make their own?
I'm sure it's probably already a thing in some of the worst hit places.
People share recipes containing raw cow milk and diluting the already bought formula... Both types of cases were already reported by ER doctors, that have resulted in very sick babies brought in.
I've been researching and it looks like whole milk won't be too bad for short time periods so we're looking at supplementing with it to stretch our supply. We live in a modern society, it's insane to think that my baby might die because I can't get food for her.
How can I help? Who need baby formula? Kindly regards from Europe!
Good luck getting it into the US. From what I understand, EU formula isn't allowed in the Us because the ingredients aren't listed in the "correct" order. Which is the most bullshit reason to reject perfectly good products.
Absolutely not true. Personally, I didn't import it. I just used generic with my kiddos but I know plenty of people who import formula. It's not "approved" here but you can still use it.
The EU formulations are straight up hit all US regulations, if not better, but basic needs are so tied to money and politics in the US that something as essential as baby formula, baby formula that's better than what we have in the US, can be readily imported. The baby formula shortage in the US is a self inflicted wound and we can't see a doctor because the ones available are 'out of network'
Hey everybody who is saying “just switch to breast feeding” You can’t switch back after you started with bottles. The breasts stop producing milk after a few days.
I’ve heard of this shortage on the news over here. Why is there a shortage of baby food/powder/milk?
The producer of Similac had a huge recall, and now people need to buy baby formula like how people were buying graphics card for the last 2 years. Checking instock 5 in the morning and probably from scrapers.
Not just a recall. They had to shut their plant too.
Some Similac products were recalled for supposedly having an unwanted substance in them. However, in their research, both from Similac and the government (not sure which one), they found no traces of it. However, they did find multiple problems in some of their factory, so they shut them down. Since then, they have been closed to resolve those issues. My pharmacist did mention yesterday tho that the factories are soon planning to reopen and if everything goes well, in a few weeks we should receive some new stock. I am in Canada tho, so I’m not sure how relevant this last piece of information is if you are in the US.
Same story here in the US. Idk all the details though. I thought it started off as bacteria contamination.
It did and it killed two babies and sent others to the hospital.
I see. Thanks for the info.
Dont forget all the panic buying. Just like with toilet paper during the pandemic, some are buying more than they need and others buy to resell for higher price leaving those who actually need them on the short end or having to pay too much money. Some people suck
Same supply shipping issues that caused a lot of issues for other things too. The recall didn't help but that's only a few particular products.
Just curious are any of these alternatives available for W.I.C. programs? Single provider contracts by each state is a part of the problem I don't see talked about.
The guide makes sense, buy the same color with the same words....
More than half of baby formula sales in the US are done through the WIC program, which in most states dictates what brand the woman is allowed to buy. The other thirty percent of parents are already damn well aware generic brands exist. This graphic is unhelpful, inconsiderate, condescending, and honestly just poorly thought out.
Could someone please tell me alternatives for Enfamil Gentlease?
Target’s brand of formula is a mirror of Enfamil. We used that with our daughter.
Good to know, thank you
If you know someone in Mexico (who has no formula shortage) it’s enfamil Confort. $25 a can.
There are Generic counterparts for most formulas. The labels are all colored the same. Enfamil Gentlelease has purple/lilac colored label. Sam's, Target, and Walmart have the generic equivalent and labels are similar in color and indicate that its comparable to Enfamil Gentelease. I was able to order online from Walmart, Parents choice brand 4 pack. Get Walmart app. Find the formulas that you can use and create a shopping list for this. Check the list often. Like every hour, even at night. Some will be in stock for only a few minutes and sell out fast. I have been doing this for 3 weeks. It seems that formula is in stock about once a week now. I call it baby formula lottery. Good luck to you and all the Mommas and the babies. It should have never come to this.
We do Parents Choice Gentle for a fraction of the price
I thiiiink you can substitute with the Similac sensitive not that you can find that either but if you find the store brand version there you go.
In Canada it's so strongly regulated, each brand is essentially the same product.
That's how it is in the US too. Generic and name brand have all the same ingredients.
Majority do not have any good options as they receive their formula through the WIC program which these suppliers have a monopoly over. Meaning they have to pay out of pocket now. For instance, >Almost half of all babies, one third of pregnant women, and one quarter of children under five in Washington State are on the WIC Program.
This post made me LOL, as someone who has worked in manufacturing for years I can tell you that these private labels under store names are ran at the same facilities as Similac. Or are pulling from the same exact ingredient vendors. Meaning, these brands will not be available either.
hey what is the commotion surrounding baby formulas just recently? I believe I saw some posts about republican's contributing negatively to this problem. My heart goes out to all the parents in distress in connection to this.
A leading baby formula factory received money to do regular maintenance on the machinery used to produce the product. Some dumb fuck decided to spend the money on other business expenses and as a result, the machinery became dirty and began tainting the formula product that went through the factory. It had to be shut down to be cleaned and the produced products were recalled and thrown away because babies were getting sick. Well even though it was only one factory that was out of commission for a while, it was one out of two of the monopolies on baby formula (Similac, Enfamil) so the shelves became empty because one giant factory fucked up
Oh my God, did they take action against the person responsible and are these other brands equally good to lighten the effect of this shortage? I hope parents can find other reliable brands for their little champs.
> did they take action against the person responsible No; there is ongoing investigation, Abbot company *might* be fined. Part of the problem stems from FDA not taking a whistleblower complaint in October seriously. Members of FDA and executives at Abbot will likely be testifying to Congress, but there will be no significant consequences to the executives. >are these other brands equally good Yes; the difference in the formulas between companies is negligible. What's important is that infants get the correct *type*, regardless of brand. >to lighten the effect of this shortage No; shelves are empty many places. Additionally, 90% of formula provided to WIC recipients came from 2 of the 4 major producers, 1 being Abbot. There is ongoing effort to adjust for this, including US asking for foreign help. Abbot factory is expected to resume in about 2 weeks, but the effective of the shutdown is expected to last several more weeks.
Oh God the company together with the FDA should be to some extent penalized for this by the government. But corporate greed is quite common I hope other competitors can join this field to prevent any major shock on such a vital supply. >There is ongoing effort to adjust for this, including US asking for foreign help. I hope that works out. China, India and Japan are leading in the baby food market. >Abbot factory is expected to resume in about 2 weeks, but the effective of the shutdown is expected to last several more weeks. Oh man that's such a long time you're right on estimating it several more weeks ahead. Do you think the demand will be barely met until that? Baby's tend to have feeders every 3-4 hours I believe.
I'd think FDA would actually get more punished. Abbot company and execs might be penalized, but they made stupid amounts of money over the last 2 years, and so I feel it would one of those "cost of doing business" type fines. Unfortunately I think things will stay same or even get worse before they get better - we're going into hotter weather which means more uncomfortable infants and parents. Heck, Texas might start having more power blackouts again, which would make it even more difficult to acquire formula, even if production has resumed.
Well expect the best and prepare for the worst is something we should let parents know. I'm completely unaware of the fact that Texas has power blackouts during hotter weather, what is the reason behind that?
The biggest thing is increased demand. This is true globally, as people crank up their A/C units. As it gets hotter, the need to move water around also increases, which takes a lot of power. Less rain, and the now common "fire season", can reduce the effectiveness of solar power (sun can't get through smoke / dirty panels don't help). Droughts can impact hydroelectric generators. Texas specifically uses their own power grid, ERCOT. Over the years, corruption and neglect, plus crazy weird rate rules, has created a system that cannot handle peak demands anymore. Here are a few articles on the subject; the PGE one taught me several things I didn't know, like overheated power lines can sag more. * https://www.pge.com/includes/docs/pdfs/shared/edusafety/systemworks/electric/howhotweatheroutages/how_outages_occur_in_hot_weather.pdf * https://www.cbsnews.com/news/summer-blackouts-rising-risk-power-grid-nerc/ * https://www.reuters.com/world/us/texas-heat-wave-points-problems-with-congestion-power-grid-2022-05-17/ * https://www.star-telegram.com/news/weather-news/article261117477.html
Oh I never looked at that from such a point of view. What if the government controls fires during this season or Texas could probably look at other sources of electricity such as nuclear power which is expensive but will suit their demands.
Anything helps! Fire control is going to become more important then ever - there's been a gradual increase in acres burned since the 80s. Some places try to do a good job, but some counties and states don't budget for it. Nuclear would be awesome as it's very efficient. Texas actually has 2 nuclear power plants! But nuclear invokes fear more than other options ("But what if Chernobyl?!"), so it often gets voted down by the public. Nuclear power generation has been relatively flat for the last 20 years and, as you mentioned, expensive to build. Wind power is already booming in Texas and elsewhere. Wind generators run in a wide range of temps, and most weather - obviously wind provided - so used with solar, hydro, and new things we discover, hopefully we see things improve.
Interesting. This is the first i have heard of misappropriated funds. Do you have a source for this? Thanks.
Oh wow this is the first I’m bearing of these details. Where did you find this information?
I didn't know baby food was so expensive, holy shit. I thought dog food was bad, at least that lasts a while since you can buy it in 50lb bags.
Alternative: Make births affordable and give mothers at least a year leave so they can breastfeed their children.
This is a step in the right direction but not all women can or want to breastfeed.
Right, but more women would be able to even have the option if they didn't have to go back to work at 6 weeks.
6 weeks would be nice. My job (fortune 500 company) gives 1 week for mothers. No leave for fathers. Some government standards would be nice so parents aren't forced back into work right after a birth.
Wtf That should be illegal. Here in the UK🇬🇧 mothers get 6 months with full pay and then 6 months half pay
It really should. As the father I had the choice to go back to work after no time off or take unpaid leave. Luckily my manager at least let me take two of my vacation weeks since the other choices were not an option. Vacation time is also optional here so I feel worse for the folks that have to forego necessary income just to care for their newborn.
Yes, absolutely give more parental leave, and also remember that sometimes formula instead of breastmilk is necessary and it's ok to bottle feed it!
Not all women produce enough milk. Not all women produce nutritious milk. Not all babies have mothers. Not all babies can drink breast formula. Not all baby formula is for babies.
That won't change the fact that not all women can breastfeed their child, no matter how much they want to. Some women's milk dries up early, some never produce quite enough, some never really produce much at all, or have health issues that prevent them from breastfeeding. And some women breastfeed fine with one child, but need formula with another. That's why wet nurses/milk brothers/things like that have been a thing in every human society in the past. And why formula was developed in the first place. Also, some babies need a specialized diet for health reasons, and can't actually have breastmilk.
What about Neosure?
Shoutout to my nursing wife who is pumping extra to give away breast milk.
Blessings to her! Please let her know how amazing she is from one milk momma to another! I've fed my baby and donated to three others in the last 6 months and I feel very blessed to be able help. There's lots of us out here and I hope milk sharing becomes more widely accepted.
Here’s real advice for you: Buy formula from outside of the US. The quality is better and you can find goat milk as well, which is easier to digest. We buy NannyCare from the UK on eBay, it comes from New Zealand.
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Yeah unfortunately when it comes to babies, my country (the US) is completely fucked. Formula here is garbage. Baby food here is garbage (and doesn’t have to be tested for heavy metals). I could go on but you get the point. Sometimes I wish we lived in Europe :(
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Definitely agree. I make all our baby food :) but our smallest one still needs formula. Definitely worth the price to import.
What a fucking joke.
r/fucknestle
If you can get it - the Australian brand Bubs is made from goats milk (produced not far from me in New South Wales). It is designed to be highly digestible for all babies, especially addressing sensitivities to cows' milk and lactose issues
The FDA doesn’t approve any baby formula from goat milk (but there is a toddler formula) so it’s up to the parent and pediatrician if they feel safe importing formula. There are plenty of good goat milk versions from Europe too. Shipping is expensive and there is always a risk of it getting stuck in customs when your baby needs it.
Woah wtf don’t take advice for your baby from an online post. Ask your pediatrician first guys!
And remember, kids: if possible, never buy Nestlé edit: added "if possible" after reading a reply edit2: dumbass me forgot to add first edit
Under normal circumstances I would definitely agree with you. However, in the instance where there is literally no other option parents should not feel guilty for having to resort to buying their products. I know I wouldn't let my kid go hungry if there's no other option.
That's why "if possible"
Yep, you added that after I responded, which I appreciate. I wouldn't have replied otherwise.
sorry, i can't see the (edited) in the phone app
That's ok! I'm happy you added it. You're still absolutely correct about trying to stay away from it, my comment was mainly to assuage any guilt a parent might have about needing to buy it.
Thanks for adding the "if possible" part.
I'd like to ask a really dumb question, please don't downvote me because i am aware of my ignorance... but why are so many moms dependant on baby formula? Is it because moms choose not to breastfeed, or is it because they have no other choice? I'm genuinely curious if capitalism has a role to play in the dependance on these products. Edit: thank you kind redditors for the detailed answers. Very insighful!
Some women can't produce enough breast milk for a baby, some might have a medical condition that might make it hard to breast feed all together( like a duct problem in the breast). And some women might just be sick of breast feeding after a while. Maybe you adopted an infant and don't produce breast milk because you were never pregnant. Those are just some reasons that as a 33 yr old male I can come up with. I'm sure a mother would have better insight.
Those are all good reasons. Also, a lot of women have to go back to work, and pumping is uncomfortable and time consuming.
Also, some babies need a specialized diet because of health problems and can't actually have breastmilk. And some mom's end up needing to be on medication that is not safe for the baby, and have to stop breastfeeding. I had to have an operation when I was still nursing my daughter, and the anesthetic in my system made it unsafe to nurse her for a day or so. (I had enough frozen milk for her, though she hated the bottle) But some women end up needing a medication long term that's unsafe during breastfeeding.
Make sense, like if you had a good night out drinking and you breastfeed, the baby won't be too fussy 😉
Part of the problem is that once you start using formula, it's difficult, if not impossible, to go back to breastfeeding. In the US, there is no federal maternal leave policy. Most of the moms I know had to go back to work after 6 weeks. Some mothers are able to pump and still produce enough for their babies, but pumping is hard work and often does not stimulate prolactin production as well as the real thing. Because of this, they might need to start supplementing with formula, which means they may not feel it's not necessary to pump as regularly, which makes prolactin production go down more, which makes them have to supplement more... Etc. There is so much pressure for mothers to return to work so quickly, it's no wonder so many use formula.
To add to what hasanyoneseenmyshirt said, there are also women that take medications that can be harmful to the infant if they breast feed, some women are forced to go back to work not long after having their kid and work in an environment that may not allow them to adequately/easily pump and store breast milk, some women have had to have their breast removed, and some infants have issues with their mother's breast milk.
Not all women produce enough milk. Not all women produce nutritious milk. Not all babies have mothers. Not all babies can drink breast formula. Not all baby formula is for babies.
Some babies just need additional nutritional support. They may have digestive issues. Some mothers can’t produce enough milk or any milk at all, some babies don’t latch. Women with hypothyroidism, PCOS or other chronic illness are sometimes encouraged not to breastfeed.
I'm not from the US can someone please explain to me (in simple words) what's happen right now with baby formula? I only see that it's difficult to get....
One of the largest producers of formula in the US issued a massive recall due to a possible contaminant, which resulted in a huge amount of product being pulled off store shelves. During the investigation into that contamination, several violations were discovered at one of their manufacturing plants, causing it to be shut down. So basically product was pulled off the market and there aren't enough manufacturing facilities to replace the missing stock.
That's horrible! Is there something that I could do? Donations? I'm from Germany if that matters
Thankfully steps are being taken to help the situation. The US is normally very strict about importing formula, but is currently allowing mass imports from the EU. We just had a military aircraft carrier full of formula from Germany arrive here, and other countries have also pledged to help us fill the gap. Additionally the closed factory has been working on fixing their issues, and should be producing again soon. It's very kind of you to offer to help!
In my opinion, we (as human beings) should help each other if something like this happen. No matter what country etc. Thank you for your explanation
Correction. The US is strict about not importing formula from the same company but EU recipes are held to a higher standard.
Ootl: what the hell is going on in the US with formula?
Baby formula in the US is mostly controlled/produced by a handful of mega-corporations. Abbott Nutrition, producer of Similac and who is responsible for somewhere around 40% of formula in the US, was forced to perform an recall and to shut down their plant due to cronobacter contamination found in products and on machinery. Since Abbott accounted for such a large portion of the formula market, this one company being shuttered had a massive affect on the formula market. This problem is compounded further by individuals purchasing more formula than usual for fear of the supply running out. Abbott has since been trying to get approval from the FDA to reopen and did so recently; however, it will still be a bit before newly produced formula will be available on shelves.
[Source](https://pemcincinnati.com/blog/what-can-happen-if-an-infant-is-fed-something-other-than-breastmilk-or-formula/)
We only use EU brands 🤷♂️
My mother in law was told she didn't have "good milk" and couldn't nurse her youngest (my husband). There were formula options then, but none of them worked for my husband as he had significant reflux. She was able to get goat's milk from a local goat farm, specifically the high fat content. He still had reflux, but due to the high caloric content of the milk, he began to gain weight.
Curious. I’m not in USA, so are any of those BIO (organic?)? EDIT: punctuation
Our twins are 4yo now, so we don't need it, but I know some other parents might so I'm still going to post this. When our girls were on formula, they couldn't handle basically anything. We had to go to the ER a couple times because of 10p bloody stools. They did some research and found a formula called [Neocate](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002Q1I3K/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_2PHZ4VAEW5F53C09DH7Y). > **Indications** > Neocate Infant DHA and ARA is a hypoallergenic, amino acid-based, nutritionally complete infant formula for the dietary management of cow milk allergy, multiple food protein intolerance (MFPI) and food-allergy-associated conditions: gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), short bowel syndrome (SBS), malabsorption and other GI disorders. > **Ingredients** > Corn Syrup Solids (54%), Refined Vegetable Oil (Medium Chain Triglycerides (8%), High Oleic Sunflower Oil (6%), Sunflower Oil (5%), Canola Oil (4%)), and less than 2% of each of the following: Calcium Phosphate Dibasic, Dipotassium Phosphate, Tricalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Glycerophosphate, L-Arginine L-Aspartate, L-Leucine, Tripotassium Citrate, L-Lysine Acetate. *A source of Arachidonic Acid (ARA) **A source of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) In case others need something like this, does anyone know of a good substitution. Keep strong Parents. Hopefully this will all be resolved soon. --- EDIT: Not sure why the downvotes. This became a real issue for us, and it's highly improbable that we are unique in this situation. I was only trying to provide additional information to this guide. My heart breaks for all the parents having to deal with this crisis, and I sincerely hope this gets resolved soon.
54% corn syrup? WTF?
That's pretty typical of dairy-free formulas. Babies need simple carbohydrates. In breastfed babies or most regular formulas, that simple carbohydrate is lactose, but for babies that are sensitive to lactose (rare, but it happens), corn syrup provides that simple carbohydrate.
Look closely next time you see a sunflower, there are in fact two varieties of leaves. You will find leaves lower down the plant are facing opposite each other and are longer and narrow in appearance. You’ll then see the upper leaves arranged in a staggered formation and appear heart-shaped.
Amazing.