*Adapted from an article from the American Academy of Pediatrics By: Steven Abrams, MD.
Infants need a specific balance of nutrients: to grow and be healthy. Human breast milk contains everything in exactly the right amounts, and infant formula can provide excellent nutrition when families can't or choose not to breastfeed. But, keep in mind:
It's important for your baby's health to stick with products that meet federal standards, prepared according to directions on the label.
Risks of homemade baby formula recipes: Although recipes for homemade formulas circulating on the internet may seem healthy, less expensive or an answer to the baby formula shortage, they are risky.
- Homemade formula may not be safe or meet your baby's nutritional needs.
- For example; the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) reports that some babies fed homemade formula have been hospitalized for hypocalcemia (low calcium).
Recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics: If you feed your baby formula, make sure to always: Choose a formula product that meets FDA minimum nutritional and safety requirements. Prepare it according to directions on the label, unless you are given different instructions by your pediatrician because of a special medical need your baby has. What's important NOT to do:
Do not use imported formulas from other countries that are not reviewed by the FDA. Do not water down formulas by adding more water when mixing powdered formula or adding extra water to ready-to-serve, non-concentrated liquid formula. |
Why not make my own formula or use regular milk or milk substitutes from the dairy aisle?
- Although feeding babies regular milk or making homemade formula was common decades ago, it is not a safe or recommended practice.
- In the US, there are strict rules to make sure that formula ingredients support healthy growth
- In addition, the government regularly inspects the formulas and manufacturing facilities to be sure the rules are followed to avoid contamination and spoilage.
- Formula mixtures made from online or other resources may not have vital components, such as enough iron or vitamins for a baby. Or, they may have too much salt or other nutrients that your baby's kidneys and liver cannot handle in large amounts.
Why are a baby's nutritional needs so specific?
- The first year of life is a key time for your baby's brain and body to grow. If your baby doesn't get enough of the important parts of infant formula—even for a few days or weeks—they can suffer long-term effects on their abilities grow strong and do well in school.
- Lack of these nutrients can lead to severe health problems and even death. Homemade formulas may also lead to risks of contamination, causing infections cause serious problems with high or low levels of minerals like calcium or electrolytes such as sodium.
The ingredients on the infant formula label seem scary. How do I know these are safe for my baby?
- The label lists the names for specific ingredients like calcium and iron that have been shown to be essential for good infant growth.
What about formulas that can be purchased online from other countries and supposedly better for babies?
- These formulas have not gone through FDA review and are not always safely shipped or stored correctly.
- They are often very expensive and do not offer any benefits for babies that have been shown in research. Despite what you might read or see online, there is no scientific evidence that imported formulas are better for babies.
Can I stretch the formula by adding a bit more water than the instructions say?
No. Although this might seem harmless, FDA-approved infant formula is designed for just the correct amount of nutrients as described by the label. Adding extra water dilutes the nutrients and may cause serious health and growth problems
Can you use toddler formula for babies under 12 months old?
No, this is not a good idea, because the nutritional needs of a small infant is not the same as it is for a toddler.
What should I do if I can't afford formula?
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC): Mothers who qualify based on income can enroll in WIC to receive vouchers for formula. Go to this website to apply: https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/wic-how-apply
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): You can use your SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer card (formerly called food stamps) to buy formula. If you are enrolled in WIC, you also might qualify for SNAP.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): This program offers temporary cash assistance to qualified families. Locate your local state TANF program by going to the following website: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ofa/help
Where can I get help if I do not qualify for benefits?
Feeding America is a nonprofit network of 200 food banks. Many provide free baby food, infant formula, diapers and other supplies. To find your local organization, go to the following website: https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank
Dial 2-1-1 on you phone to be connected to a community resource specialist who can help you find local resource.
In addition to the information provided above, the providers of Children's Healthcare recommend the following additional options for those of you who are struggling to find formula for your infant under the age of 12 months:
- Go to the following website: https://www.hhs.gov/formula/index.html
- The FDA is working with the same manufacturer of the brands of infant formula available in the U.S. to arrange for shipment of the formulas that are in short supply. We are cautiously optimistic that the supply shortage should resolve in 2 to 3 weeks.
- Consider changing to an alternate brand: It is important to know that unless your infant is on a special formula (eg: due to milk protein allergy or a need for the infant to have a more calorie packed formula), most all FDA approved U.S. brands are almost identical. In other words, you should be comfortable changing from one brand to another as long as it is bought from a reputable retailer and not past its expiration date.
- Be careful about buying abroad:
- Although there are probably some very reliable brands of formula from Europe, Central America and South America, neither the FDA, nor the AAP nor the pediatricians in our group are comfortable making the recommendations to go outside the U.S. where one cannot be guaranteed the quality of the formula that is produced.
- You will read on the internet that some parents have been going to Amazon and changing the country to Canada and ordering from Canada. However, please be aware of the following:
- Not everyone who has attempted to order from Amazon Canada has been successful.
- There are some shortages in Canada
- According to various customer posts on the internnet, some customers are being charged roughly $75 for a can of formula (to cover shipping and export tariffs.
Other recommendations from Children's Healthcare are as follows:
- Good Neighbor Center, (Nestor Good)
Address is 1120 Nestor Way
San Diego, CA 92154
(619) 429-0802
The non-profit operates in South Bay. They provide free infant formula, baby diapers, food, and applications to government social services programs including WIC for new, low income moms. - Salvation Army Family Resource and Community Centers
6605 University Avenue, San Diego, California 92115, (619) 269-1430
Salvation Army, Escondido, 1301 Las Villas Way, Escondido, CA 92026, phone (760) 745-8685
The church based charity helps in an emergency. There are diapers, formula, wipes, and hygiene kits for low income families or the homeless in San Diego County. Other support include free toys, baby blankets, food, and even gas vouchers or money for paying bills. All services are in Spanish as well. More on assistance from San Diego Salvation Army. - Birthline of San Diego
Location： 3660 Clairemont Dr., Suite 4,
San Diego 92117
Call for appointment 858-270-2491. Website;birthlineofsandiego.org
Birthline is a life affirming resource center for pregnant women as well as families with young children. The organization will support parents/pregnant women from conception to kindergarten. Based on funding and donation levels, Birthline of San Diego provides items such as diapers, formula, food, baby gift bags, other baby essentials. There may also be free clothing for infant, children, and maternity. In addition to the free material items, compassionate case managers connect families to local and/or national resources for education, jobs, housing, health care, childcare and other needs. - Victory Resource Center
1220 Third Avenue, Suite 1
Chula Vista, California 91911
Main phone - (619) 777-1124
Many assistance programs are arranged for new and expecting moms, including single parents. There is distribution of maternity and baby clothes, nutritional support, and nonperishable including formula. Other support provides may be free diapers, clothing for kids under the age of 5, and maternity stuff. They also offer counseling and pregnancy tests. - Presbyterian Urban Ministries
Office is at 2459 Market Street
San Diego, California 92102
(619) 232-2753
Client Services from the non-profit helps low income moms and dads. There are hygiene articles and diapers given at most once every 4 months. Emergency food, tools vouchers for baby furniture, and even shoes/toys may be offered too. - Interfaith Community Services, Escondido
550 West Washington Avenue, Suite B
Escondido, CA 92025
(760) 489-6380
Call the Basic Needs Crisis Center for help. There are free vouchers for the thrift store, in which cribs, beds, and strollers may be available. Other support includes infant formula, diapers, pampers, and even medications for families in poverty. Single moms can get bus passes or gas vouchers for a doctor appointment for their infant or for job reasons. - Lakeside Christian Help Center
Main address is 9931 Channel Road
Lakeside, California 92040
Phone: (619) 561-3488
The Emergency Needs programs provides blankets, sheets, baby wipes or diapers, and food/formula. - Spirit Of Sharing
1361 Rocky Point Drive
Oceanside, CA 90256
(760) 726-8100
Active military families and veterans can get food, maternity clothes, diapers,, and even holiday meals at Thanksgiving or birthday and/or Christmas toys for their baby.
- Alternative Pregnancy Care Clinic
257 East Second Avenue
Escondido, California 92025
(760) 741-9796
The Alternatives Women’s Center offers some basic health care in San Diego, including pregnancy testing as well as ultrasounds. There are also basic emergency provisions including free baby clothing, diapers, infant formula, and counseling. Layettes are also available to low-income as well as working poor, expectant mothers - Community Christian Service Agency, CCSA Clairemont Center
4167 Rappahannock Avenue
San Diego, CA 92117
(858) 274-2273
Another option for parents in San Diego who are struggling to find formula for their infant is to purchase donor breast milk at UC San Diego's Milk Bank. This is an option for the following reasons:
- There is absolutely no problem with switching back and forth between human milk and infant formula.
- In fact, a lot of women already supplement breast milk with formula.
- Even if you have only given your infant formula, you can give them donor breast milk.
- There has been an increase in donor milk during the pandemic. Moms who pumped extra breast milk, thinking they would have to return to work, ended up working from home, so they had extra milk to donate.
- Pasteurized donor human milk from a milk bank is treated the same way that cow's milk is pasteurized and is extremely safe. Donor mom's milk are accepted only if they do not smoke and they are scrutinized for intake of medication, drugs and alcohol. Any donated milk that is the least bit concerned is turned away.
- The cost to purchase the milk is $5 per ounce (the cost is expensive due to all of the screening the women go through and the pasteurization process).
Although the milk bank is normally meant for babies who are premature, dealing with health issues, or mothers whose milk hasn't come yet. During the current crisis, the milk bank has stepped forward to help. The milk bank also welcomes donations of milk from those mom's who have an excess supply.
The milk bank is located at 3636 Gateway Center Ave., Suite 100. It's inside the San Diego Blood Bank. For more information on how to purchase and/or donate breast milk, please connect to the San Diego Milk Bank's website:
UChealth Milk Bank
In summary: For those parents who are unable to find formula for their babies in the U.S., the recommendations noted within are safer than making your own formula or prematurely switching to cow's, almond or soy milk from the grocery store. These replacements for milk are not appropriate for infants under age 12 months of age.