We’re back this week talking about the baby formula shortage. Certified Infant Feeding Technician Mallory Whitmore aka The Formula Mom is answering the questions many parents have been asking, like whether it’s safe to make your own formula. Short answer: no! 

ASK THE EXPERT: NAVIGATING THE FORMULA SHORTAGE

Mallory Whitmore is a Certified Infant Feeding Technician. She created Formula Mom, an online platform that provides education and support for formula-feeding parents.

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A lot of people who are pregnant right now may be wondering if they should stock up on formula at this point? And if they made the decision to do formula, do you recommend they rethink that and maybe give breastfeeding or pumping a try?

No, I do not recommend stocking up for two reasons. Number one, we know that hoarding increases pressure on the supply and makes it more difficult for families that need formula. Number two, it can be really difficult when you’re pregnant to know what sort of formula your baby will tolerate. And I don’t want to risk that parents end up with a huge supply of formula that they spend a lot of money on, but their baby won’t drink. So I recommend having a week’s worth, maybe two max, if you’re expecting, and then that’ll give you enough time as well, to see what your baby will tolerate.

What are your thoughts on European formulas like Hipp or Holle? Do you think they’re going to be impacted as well? And what do you think about the European formula in general? 

Generally speaking, I think European formulas are a great option. The challenges that we see with European formulas, especially right now, are related to that supply chain. So one of the biggest risks of using a European formula is that you just don’t know the safety during transport and storage. So you don’t know the temperature, and you don’t know how the formula is stored while it’s being shipped. You don’t know how long it’s going to sit at customs and under what conditions. And so that continues to be a risk especially as the supply chain continues to be slow as we’re getting things in.

I’ve seen a lot of people talking on social media about making your own formula. Is that safe? 

No. And I absolutely understand the desire behind it, it feels like a way parents can take back control. But it is not recommended. It’s very, very difficult to create a product at home that meets the very specific nutrient needs of infants. And you also have the bacterial contamination concern if making a product in an unsterile kitchen. And so we do not recommend homemade formula in any circumstance.

Are there any other alternatives for parents who need to feed their babies if they can’t find formula?

Some toddler formulas are nutritionally appropriate for infants. Kabrita and Baby’s Only are two brands that I know off the top of my head that are marketed for toddlers but are appropriate for infants. Some infants over the age of 10 months may be able to transition to whole milk or a milk alternative. Always talk to your pediatrician before you do that. So there are those other options there, especially as your infant is getting older and approaching one year and eating more solids.

Are there any retailers that are doing better with the formula shortage right now?

Generally speaking, pharmacies seem to be doing a little bit better than grocery stores. Especially specialty and sort of hometown family-owned pharmacies. A lot of them have the ability to order formula, so you can talk to your local pharmacist, and see if they can order you some. Amazon tends to have a pretty good stock. I know when I spoke with Similac several weeks ago that they were prioritizing shipments to Amazon just because of Amazon’s ability to get it everywhere versus, you know, individual chains.

Is it safe for people to ship formula to friends and family across the country? 

It is, with a couple caveats. As long as you package the formula well you’re going to reduce the risk that it’s going to be damaged in transit. And then make sure that you’re paying for expedited shipping so that it’s not sitting in a hot truck for you know, five days, two weeks.