An emergency room physician, Dr. Owais Durrani, said that he and his colleagues had recently treated infants who were given watered-down formula to stretch their milk supply longer.
However, he warns that diluting formula affects the electrolyte balance of the drink which leads to low sodium in infants. Low sodium can lower the blood volume of babies that may cause low blood pressure and low levels of oxygen. An electrolyte imbalance can also lead to fatal seizures, Durrani said.
The dangers of diluting baby formula
Durrani told Insider that baby formula ingredients are regulated like any prescribed medication to ensure that the kidneys and liver development and their electrolytes are balanced. He added that each formula's electrolyte, component, and mineral is essential.
The doctor also said several parents asked him whether homemade formula recipes are safe. He tells his patients that only regulated formulas are known to have the right balance of nutrients for body and brain development.
Durrani says that using a family friend or a stranger's breast milk is not safe either since it can pass diseases.
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Cows milk may be given to six-month-old children and above
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently announced that babies as young as six months could drink cow's milk as a temporary alternative to formula when the formula is not an option, WWMT News reports. Pediatricians have previously announced that parents should only give cow's milk to children aged one-year-old and above.
Some parents are questioning the timing behind the AAP change. Sara Pasco, a mom of 11-month-old twins, thinks the sudden change was because they could not find the formula. Dr. Megan Sikkema, a pediatrician at Bronson Methodist Hospital, says that cow's milk has not been recommended for babies because it lacks the essential vitamins and minerals.
Carilion Clinic pediatrician, Dr. Ryan Fulton, said that cow's milk should be the last resort when there is no available milk to feed the infant. He said to limit the intake to 24 ounces. One of the risks of using cow's milk in infants is that it lacks iron, leading to anemia in babies. If parents give their kids cow's milk, they suggest giving the babies iron-rich food, WSLS says.
However, Dr. Hanna Jaworski, division chief for Pediatrics at Spectrum Health, emphasized that cow's milk should not be considered a temporary alternative for babies that require special formula for allergies or other health needs unless advised by the doctor.
Jaworski suggests that using the preferred formula brand should be the first option. If that is not available, then settle for a similar brand. If no milk is available, cow's milk is a better temporary alternative than diluting formula milk or creating one.
