Infant formula shortages left 70% of US stores without formula in May 2022. In addition, 10 states reported out-of-stock rates at 90% or higher. With such a shortage, many families had to rely on nonconventional methods to feed their babies. Some of which are now being proven as less heathy or even harmful to infant health.
Now, almost a year after the terrible shortage, research is pouring out in concern for the safety of infant nutrition. An online survey was conducted with over 300 infant caregivers in the US in efforts to understand their troubles with finding formula and the issues they have been having with feeding their babies. In that survey they found that 31% of formula-feeding families had challenges obtaining infant formula. Most of those families saw formula sold out or had to travel to find it.
Babies still need to eat
Without formula being available families were forced into using alternative methods. 11% had to practice “formula-stretching” in which caregivers were diluting infant formula with extra water to make supplies last longer. This provides infants with less nutrition per bottle.
Other methods included:
- – “formula-stretching,” 11%
- – substituting formula for cereal, 10%
- – making smaller bottles, 8%
- – skipping formula for infants, 6%
All of these methods provided less nutrition to developing infants.
The Data Says
This survey and the data researchers are finding isn’t meant to just show that parents have had a hard time finding baby formula. It was instead meant to show that there could be real and widespread adverse impacts on infant nutrition due to the shortage of baby formula. For instance the “formula-stretching” technique could result in malnutrition, growth and cognitive delays, and even seizures and death. Giving babies cereal could result in choking, and other methods of formula swaps could result in developmental delays, and chronic illnesses later in life.
