What to do if you can’t find baby formula at your local grocery store

Families who can’t find baby formula should first reach out to their health care provider to come up with a game plan for what to do next, public health officials said.

Here are tips for families who are anxious or struggling to find formula nearby:

• If your child is over 6 months old, try feeding them more baby food and less formula.
• After 12 months, it is safe to wean your baby off of formula. At this point, the child can start trying cow’s milk and other foods. University of Kansas pediatrician Dr. Stephen Lauer said you can consult with your health care provider to see if it’s possible to start your child on cow’s milk earlier than 12 months.
  
  
• If possible, continue to breastfeed or try to start breastfeeding again. If you aren’t sure how, contact a local lactation specialist.
• Lastly, ask friends and family to keep their eyes peeled at the store. If someone sees formula on the shelves, you can ask them to pick some up for you.

WHAT NOT TO DO

Being resourceful during tough times is great, but there are a few things that state health officials and local doctors strongly advise parents avoid doing if they can’t find baby formula at the store.

• Don’t attempt to make your own formula. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services warns that this kind of practice can lead to foodborne illnesses that can be life threatening.
  
  
• Don’t try to dilute the formula either. Lauer said this can lead to metabolic imbalances and a pretty sick baby.
• Don’t hoard formula. The Missouri DHSS asks that families keep around a month’s supply on hand, at most.
  
  
• Avoid giving cow’s milk to babies under 12 months old. Cow’s milk has too many proteins and minerals for the baby to handle when they are younger than 12 months old.

HOW DO I FIND OUT IF THE FORMULA I ALREADY HAVE HAS BEEN RECALLED?

If you have some cans or containers of powdered formula at the house already, you might want to check to see if they have been recalled. Abbott Nutrition, the manufacturer behind the recall, recalled specific lot numbers for brands like Similac, Alimentum and EleCare.

The Food and Drug Administration outlines how to check those lot numbers on its website. If you have a powdered formula from Similac, Alimentum or EleCare, there is usually a code somewhere on the formula can, often on the bottom. If the code includes any of the following, do not use the formula:

• The first two digits of that code are 22 through 37
• AND the code on the container contains K8, SH or Z2
• AND the expiration date is 4/1/2022 or later

To double check to see if what you have has been recalled, call 800-986-8540 or visit the manufacturer’s website here.

This story was originally published May 12, 2022 at 11:06 AM.