A Pheonix mom turned to social media to send a cry for help in finding the specific type of formula milk for her son. Her son has moderate eczema and severe allergies.
The U.S. has been experiencing a baby formula shortage for the past months, sparking panic among parents. Babies sensitive to baby milk formulation are hit the hardest as parents all over the country have also turned to social media as pictures of empty store shelves circulate.
Babies with an allergic reaction to milk
According to Arizona News, Jessica Contreras' six-year-old son, Hartford, has been battling moderate eczema and severe allergies, leaving scabs, cuts, and bruises all over his skin. Every day, the mom said that she would give his son steroids, moisturizing ointment, allergy medicine, and probiotics. She also shares that she gives her son bleach baths three to four times a week.
Lately, they found out that he was allergic to eggs and casein, the protein found in most mammal's milk, cow's milk, and goat's milk. The discovery was crucial, as most formula milk has casein.
Because of his allergies, the mom cannot breastfeed him. In desperation, she sent a cry for help on social media. When she posted on Facebook, she thought she was asking for only her friends and family's help to watch out for the milk suitable for her son when they go to the store. But days after she made the post, moms in Arizona and throughout the country responded to her call.
Hartford has enough formula to last for months, and Contreras says she is lucky. She purchased some formula on Offer Up, and she also sent money to women throughout the country, and they sent the formula to her.
She said she would pay it forward by sending the formula she will not be using to other moms in Pheonix.
Calls on social media to recognize the milk crisis
Parents all over the country are also turning to social media to call for more media coverage and political action. They are also posting pictures of empty store shelves as the country's baby formula shortage worsens.
According to Fox Business, the problem now is more than finding the particular brand. Recently, parents have expressed trouble finding formula milk. Its delivery service is no longer available. A Michigan mom shared that her last Amazon order was delayed and canceled; hence, she had to buy formula milk from stores herself. She was frustrated to discover that there was no formula milk available in four major stores in her area.
Parents are taking to Twitter and Facebook to call for action.
Webmd says that baby formula shortages are expected to continue for the rest of the year. As of April, out-of-stock rates were between 30% and 40%, while several states had higher rates than 40%.
Ben Reich, CEO of Datasembly, a company that tracks grocery and retail pricing records, says that "inflation, supply chain shortages, and product recalls" caused the "unprecedented amount of volatility" for baby formula.
