How Parents Should Handle the Baby Formula Shortage, According to Pediatricians

The U.S. is still in the throes of an unprecedented infant-formula shortage. Supply-chain issues caused by the pandemic started affecting baby formula in the summer of 2021, and inventory constricted even further after Abbott recalled certain formula products in February (then more in March) and shut down its Michigan plant. Families facing empty shelves are terrified that their children will go hungry, since breast milk or formula—or a combination of both—is a main source of nutrition for babies from birth until about age one. “It’s not fair that families have to be even worried about this on top of being a new parent,” says Dr. Shweta S. Namjoshi, medical director of intestinal rehabilitation and nutrition support at Stanford Children’s Health. “It’s unacceptable.” [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] But pediatricians are experts on finding infant food, and they can help families locate shops where formula is in stock, safely guide them to different brands, and coach them through this stressful time. “I’m sorry that it feels so scary, but there’s no need for panic quite yet,” Namjoshi says. Here’s what pediatricians say about how to safely navigate the formula shortage. Try a different brand For parents of full-term, healthy infants, it’s very safe to switch to different brands of infant formula, including generic versions. “The way formula is marketed makes it so that p...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized healthscienceclimate Public Health Source Type: news