Fort Worth, TX,
07
December
2022
|
10:04 AM
America/Chicago

Cook Children's Dietitians Offer Guidance on Hard-to-Find Infant Formula

Three registered dietitians from Cook Children’s share tips and support for parents who might have trouble finding formula for their baby.

By Jean Yaeger

Finding infant formula on store shelves can still be tricky if you’re shopping for specialized types made for premature infants or babies with digestive complications.

Nutritional experts at Cook Children’s say some patient families are struggling even though formula availability generally has improved in recent months. The 2022 shortages have been blamed on a manufacturing recall and supply chain disruptions.

Brand options tend to be limited for preemies, who require formulas with higher calcium, phosphorous and protein for their bone and brain development. Likewise, infants who undergo surgery on their stomach or intestines might need certain easy-to-digest formulas.  

We spoke with three registered dietitians – from the Cook Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the N.E.S.T. Clinic, and the Gastrointestinal Clinic – about tips and support for parents when the formula their baby takes is out of stock.

Their advice? Consider switching to another appropriate brand. Use the imported formulas that received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Ask your pediatrician for samples. Don’t dilute formula or make your own version. And don’t give up.  Baby formula

“I still see grocery stores with formula shelves that look about half empty or less,” said Hayley Spinks, a clinical dietitian in the NICU. “If you’re looking for a specific formula, it doesn’t really matter if the shortage is getting better overall. If you can’t find the formula that your baby needs, it’s really a big deal.”

One resource the dietitians share is a substitution list they created to help families know which brands fall in categories for particular needs. The substitutions list includes standard formulas, premature formulas, reduced lactose formulas and more. Go here to view the formula substitution chart.

The shortage continues to cause challenges and frustration, but dietitians are working to help parents find solutions. Here are their viewpoints.

In the NICU

Dietitians in the NICU monitor growth of the smallest babies, who sometimes need fortifiers added to their feeding regimen. When a preemie product runs out of stock, Spinks said, they turn to alternatives with the right nutritional components that the infant can tolerate. Signs of formula intolerance may include diarrhea, vomiting and belly bloating.

Before patients are discharged, Spinks and her colleague in the NICU like to ask the parents whether they’ve been able to find the formula they need. “Some moms are telling me that they’ve looked and they can’t find the formula that their baby is on,” she said. Others tell her they’ve enlisted relatives and friends to help search the stores.

Spinks makes a habit of checking the formula aisle when she’s shopping. She also belongs to formula finder groups on social media. “I’m always trying to keep my eye on the situation of what we can expect,” she said.

She encourages parents to have confidence in the safety of formulas that have been imported since May to relieve the shortage in the United States. But she cautioned that the measurements might differ (milliliters versus fluid ounces). Always follow the recipe on the can. Little infant baby lying on mothers hand drinking milk from bottle. Newborn baby drinking milk from

In the N.E.S.T. Clinic

The Cook Children's N.E.S.T. Developmental Follow-up Center (cookchildrens.org) provides support, interventions and care coordination for NICU babies as they transition home.

 “A majority of our patients require specialized formula either to meet their increased nutrient needs from prematurity or to improve their tolerance and absorption,” said registered dietitian Kayla Harrell.

Harrell said the shortage has forced some patients to change formula multiple times, incurring the risk of tummy distress, allergic reactions and other symptoms of intolerance. She has seen some improvement in availability. But parents tell her stories of driving up to two hours to track down formula or shipping it from out of state.    

For children with medically complex dietary situations, Harrell said, the formula hunt can be difficult and heartbreaking.

“You are not alone,” she said. “We are always here to help find the best solution for your precious child.”

In the GI Clinic

Gastrointestinal conditions can include bleeding, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic liver disease, swallowing dysfunction and nutrition absorption disorders. Some patients require formula fed through gastrostomy tubes called G-buttons.

Chelsea Barrow, a registered dietitian, said many children with GI problems have significant allergies, growth failure or reflux that causes them to rely on highly specialized formulas delivered from medical supply companies. Some of these formulas have gone in and out of stock, causing shipments to be delayed or partially fulfilled, Barrow said.

“Families are telling us they are driving around everywhere to find formulas,” she said. “They’re unable to find formula on the shelves or online. There’s limited access to grocery stores and pharmacies in their small rural towns. Families are asking if anyone has formula to spare or looking to social media for options.”

Barrow said it’s important to communicate with your health provider regarding brand substitutions. Not all formulas are interchangeable for individual patients, and mixing instructions can vary between brands. She urges patience as the dietitians navigate the inconsistent formula availability by adjusting orders, communicating with medical supply companies, fielding phone calls and continuing to see a full clinic load.

“There is indeed a light at the end of the tunnel with the return of many specialized formulas,” she said. “We are all working very hard and long hours to ensure families have something safe to feed their child.”

RELATED: Two Cook Children’s pediatricians shared their guidance on the infant formula shortage. Click here to watch videos in English and Spanish. 

About Cook Children's

Cook Children’s Health Care System embraces an inspiring Promise – to improve the health of every child through the prevention and treatment of illness, disease and injury. Based in Fort Worth, Texas, we’re proud of our long and rich tradition of serving our community. Our not-for-profit organization is comprised of nine companies, including our Medical Center, Physician Network, Home Health company, Northeast Hospital, Pediatric Surgery Center, Health Plan, Health Services Inc., Child Study Center and Health Foundation. With more than 60 primary, specialty and urgent care locations throughout Texas, families can access our top-ranked specialty programs and network of services to meet the unique needs of their child. For 100 years, we’ve worked to improve the health of children from across our primary service area of Denton, Hood, Johnson, Parker, Tarrant and Wise counties. We combine the art of caring with leading technology and extraordinary collaboration to provide exceptional care for every child. This has earned Cook Children’s a strong, far-reaching reputation with patients traveling from around the country and the globe to receive life-saving pediatric care. For more information, visit cookchildrens.org.