Pediatricians are getting concerned with the misinformation about how families get through the infant formula shortage.
Dr. Tanya Altmann, a California doctor has been getting phone calls, emails, and social media messages not from her patients but from families all over the country with photos of empty store shelves of infant formula in major shopping malls.
For months now, there has been a nationwide shortage of infant formula due to product recalls and supply chain issues.
As per CNN, parents have been to dozen stores and has searched through hundreds of website and could not find their baby's formula. They are asking their pediatricians what to do and whether the alternatives are legit.
Here are some tips from a pediatrician on how to go about the milk crisis problem:
Find a substitute for regular baby formula
Experts warn that when finding a safe substitute for regular baby formula, switching formula brands or turning to breastmilk donations may be the best option.
If the normal baby formula is unavailable, consult your own pediatrician about the best alternative for it. You can get a formula sample through your pediatrician.
Most babies can transition from one formula to another. Some babies may be picky and not drink as much at first but within a week, the appetite should be back to normal, Dr. Victoria Regan, a pediatrician at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston told USA Today.
Another option is to order a baby's formula milk from abroad.
This has been the trend for the past five to ten years, but it has become increasingly popular now. Altmann tells parents to make sure that they are buying from a reputable retailer and that the formula meets the nutrient requirements for the U.S. formula act for iron-fortified infant formula and has met government regulations.
Altmann says that when buying alternative brands at home or abroad, it is best to look for third-party certifications such as the Clean Label Project. She recommends Aussie Bubs as one of the reliable brands abroad.
As per the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if the child is beyond six months old, it is best to slowly supplement nutrition with some solids but talk to the doctor about options and preparations for it.
Consider breastmilk or breastfeeding
Breastmilk is still the best for babies. If the mom is already breastfeeding but thinks that she does not have enough milk, talk to the doctor or a lactation consultant about her milk supply. In general, the more someone breastfeeds, the more milk they make. Formula or alternative milk can lower breast milk supply because milk is sourced from elsewhere and does not come from the breast often.
If moms cannot access their breast milk anymore, pediatricians recommend reaching out to the milk banks. The Human Milk Banking Association of North America can help find banks in the area.
Health experts advise against informal breastmilk sharing due to its health and safety risks. Milk banks, on the other hand, require donors a thorough health check and pasteurize the milk to ensure that it is safe.
Never make formula or water down milk
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) warns parents to never feed homemade formula to babies or water down the formula as both practices are "extremely dangerous."
Baby formulas are produced from extensive research and are nutrient-dense making them impossible to replicate with ingredients from stores. Straight cow's, goat's, oat, and nut milk, on the other hand, is not appropriate for kids under the age of one.It also lacks nutrients for an infant's physical and neurological development, CBS News reports.
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