Here & Now

How Parents Can Navigate Baby Formula Shortages

Frederica Freyberg:

In other news, as a baby formula shortage worsens, President Joe Biden put in place the Defense Production Act. That’s an emergency action meant for times of war, in order to expedite supply chains and get formula back on to shelves. The crisis felt across the country has parents scrambling, going store to store to find food for their babies. We’re joined by Dr. Jasmine Zapata, chief medical officer and state epidemiologist at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. And doctor, thanks very much for being here.

Jasmine Zapata:

Thank you.

Frederica Freyberg:

So how critical is this shortage in Wisconsin?

Jasmine Zapata:

That’s a great question. This is a very critical situation because there are many parents, there are many families who indeed, when they go to the stores, can’t find the formula that they need for their babies. So this is very real and it’s a very critical shortage right now.

Frederica Freyberg:

And indeed, it exists in Wisconsin as well?

Jasmine Zapata:

Yes, mm-hmm.

Frederica Freyberg:

So what have the feds told you about how long it will take to relieve the shortage with their actions and with the Michigan manufacturing plant now back in operation after being closed?

Jasmine Zapata:

Great question. We are hoping and we’ve heard that they are working as fast as possible and hopefully there will be some relief very soon but we haven’t gotten an exact day or an exact time period where the shelves will be fully stocked and all of this goes away. We just know soon. There have been some key things that have taken place even over the past week that give us hope.

Frederica Freyberg:

So the DHS website does have a list of formula alternatives that parents can turn to if they can’t find their regular brand. How does a parent assess what alternatives might work for their baby?

Jasmine Zapata:

That is a great question. So if you’re a parent and you have — or a family member and you have a baby who is used to taking a type of infant formula, in general, your baby can take any other type of infant formula brand. There are some families that just have a certain brand that their baby is used to, so the key point is that you can take any other type of infant formula brand. There are just a few key things that are very important to watch out for, and to avoid that can be harmful for the baby. So it’s okay to shift to different brands, but things to watch out for and not to do is to feed your baby cow’s milk or even plant-based milks, especially for babies who are under one year of age, that can be very harmful to do, so avoid that. Avoid watering down formulas to make them stretch. That can be very dangerous for babies. And then avoid homemade recipes. But other than that, if you are looking for just different brands of formulas, that is okay.

Frederica Freyberg:

What if even the alternatives are out of stock and the shelves are simply bare, what then?

Jasmine Zapata:

Those are some great questions. If the shelves are bare, there’s a lot of different things that you can do. You can go online to retailers that you trust, reputable online sources. There have been families who have found success with that. Also going to local charities and local food banks, they have been helpful. Also contacting your local WIC office, they have been helpful with directing people to resources. Additionally, if you’re in a situation where you haven’t been able to feed your baby and it’s a dire situation, call your healthcare provider, because your healthcare provider can help guide you through some things that you can do, some options in emergency situations. So talk to your baby’s healthcare provider if you are completely out and they might be able to help as well.

Frederica Freyberg:

So we heard from a community clinic in Green Bay that moms are taking to social media to alert each other where to find formula. Sometimes visiting multiple stores and still coming up short. What, again, is your advice for parents who find themselves in this really very scary kind of circumstance?

Jasmine Zapata:

Yes. It definitely can be a scary circumstance if you’re looking all over and you can’t find formula or food for your baby. I would say that the most important thing to do is to call your baby’s healthcare provider to alert them of the situation. Before you take formula and water it down or make your own, you should call your baby’s healthcare provider because they can talk you through some options that you can do for your baby and they might be able to help you as well. Another option is contacting some milk banks, some certified milk banks, because right now there are people who are lactating and producing milk for their own babies that — there are people who are willing to donate that as well, so that’s something too as an alternative you can look to, and then of course, go to the DHS website to help with some resources.

Frederica Freyberg:

Thank you so much for talking with us, Dr. Jasmine Zapata. Thank you.

Jasmine Zapata:

Thank you so much.