Parents across the country are struggling to find baby formula as supply chain issues, product recalls and historic inflation are causing a nationwide shortage. The out-of-stock rate for infant formula hit 43% during the first week of May, an increase of 10 percent from April's average. Conz Preti, Parenting and Health Editor for Insider, breaks down why this happening, and what parents should -- and shouldn't -- do about it. 

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Parents Scramble For Baby Formula As Recalls, Supply Chain Issues Cause Shortage

and here to talk more about this concept. Pretty parenting and health editor for Insider. Thank you so much for joining us. Can you tell us a little bit more about why exactly this is happening right now. Yes of course. Um as you mentioned um there has been a shortage that started to be noticeable at the beginning of this year because of supply chain issues caused by the pandemic. But it all got exacerbated when Abbott nutrition had to recall four of its biggest formula brands. Similar, similar PM element and healthcare because one of their plants in michigan was contaminated with a bacteria that was causing severe illnesses and babies and two reported deaths. Um So when this um Recall happened um all of the shelves basically got emptied out and we are where we are now with 43% less product on shelves and we know this translates to parents having to drive hours. I've heard of parents having to cross state lines justifying formula, some of them watering down formula in order to get by during this time. What is your advice for parents on how they can get through this shortage right now. Yeah. So the first thing that parents who can't find formula should do is reach out to their pediatrician or local hospital because they will be getting samples straight from companies and maybe they can hand out either samples or full on products uh to help those that that need formula. Um Parents should also consider breast milk from donor banks. If their babies don't have any health issues that require them to only eat a specific type of formula. Um Also again, if your, if your child doesn't have any health issues and can change formula brands, parents should be confident to change brands to whichever brand they can find always talking to the registrations of course. Um, but the two most important things that parents should know is that they should never water down formula to make it last longer. This can slow growth in Children because they're receiving less calories. And also Children under the age of six months can't really process water. So we're putting their health at risk. Um and also making homemade formula is a really bad idea because it may be lacking appropriate nutrients. Um it could have an excess of minerals, salt and again we're risking the health of the babies. What else can be done about this? It's an incredibly stressful time. You mentioned, parents should not be making their own formula. That is what we're hearing from both you and also pediatricians at this point. Um what do you think should be done to help? Like what should the government be doing at this point? I mean the FDA said that it was meeting with other formula um companies and also Abbott to step up production. Um, but the reality is that even if they step up production today, those products are not going to be hitting the shelves until six or eight weeks from now. Um, I've been seeing parents rallying on facebook groups to help each other out posting whenever they find specific formula? That is uh harder to find. Like for example these recalled ones that I mentioned before um sharing addresses of pharmacies that have received stock. So it's you know parents are stepping up and helping each other when no one else seems to be doing it or no one else seems to be taking it as seriously as it is. Um But hopefully now that the FDA is meeting with other formula companies um they can start shipping more product to shelves and cons if you had to pinpoint something that is maybe one of the trouble areas in this whole chain of events starting with this recall. Where do you think more focus needs to be paid attention to in terms of avoiding a mistake like this in the future? Right. So it's still very confusing because Abbott is saying that the the recall or the it was a voluntary recall and the bacteria didn't come from their plan. FDA saying it is, they're still investigating? Um I think we need more transparency. Um And also just to know exactly you know, do we have all the recall formula back? Um Can parents be sure that this is not gonna happen again? Um And also just you know, the first six months of a child are incredibly important when it comes to nutrition and you know we want to make sure that all babies are receiving the appropriate nutrition for the future. Yeah and I'm not sure if we highlighted this yet but how long can parents expect this shortage of formula to continue again? Like I said FDA said that they're they're trying to step up production with other formula companies. Um Based on what they said we think another 6 to 8 weeks. Um It's still unclear um I know that they're also trying to import formula from FDA approved uh factories outside of the U. S. To see if that can also help. Um But it's still unclear how long the shortage is going to last. You also mentioned the importance of social media during this time for parents to share information and resources, any other resources that you can share really quickly for parents who may be feeling the burden of this shortage of course. Um I mean like I said social media, I've seen it um in the groups that I'm in but I've also experienced it firsthand. I had twins at the beginning of the pandemic and I had trouble finding a specific brand of formula back then. Um And it was other parents who helped me find it and who um and gave me their excess formula. Um There you know just reaching out to your networks, reaching out to um birth workers like doulas or lactation consultants who will have connections that can help parents. Um Because also we want to make sure that you know if you are getting formula from someone who doesn't need it anymore. But it's still sealed that it's unexpired that it's not contaminated or has been used because again, you know, we want to be healthy. Yeah, it's pretty parenting and health editor for Insider. Thank you so much for joining us.