Springfield pediatrician advises what to do if you can't find baby formula

For Dr. Purvi Bhandari, head pediatrician at Springfield Clinic, the questions from parents regarding their child's baby formula have been coming fast and furious over the past several weeks.

"We're getting calls of, 'I couldn't find the formula my baby's using, I was able to find this other formula, would it be OK to switch?'" Bhandari said. "'My baby's on a very specific formula and has been doing well with this – we've had so many issues with gassiness, fussiness and digestion, we finally found a formula that's working (and) we're hesitant to switch – what can we do?'

"It is real. We are definitely hearing a lot of families calling us with questions about, 'Can we switch to this?' or 'Do you have a couple of cans of this?'"

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What is causing the shortage?

Those questions for pediatricians and nurses at both Springfield Clinic and other medical facilities in the area are more acute now thanks to a national shortage of popular baby formula brands. Surveys indicate over 40% of popular brands are sold out in stores – meaning that it can be remarkably difficult to find what parents need.

While typical supply-and-demand issues and supply chain problems have contributed to the shortage – one big factor was the closure of a plant in Michigan that manufactured Similac, a baby formula brand owned by Chicago-based Abbott Laboratories. The plant closed due to a bacterial infection contracted by four babies who consumed formula produced at the facility.

The facility has not reopened, putting a damper on efforts to try to increase manufacturing of formula. While the federal government has announced plans to try to increase production and protect customers, it will take time for supply to return to normal. Bhandari said it will likely be 1-2 months for supply to get back into shape once the Abbott factory reopens.

"Similac's plant hasn't had FDA approval (to reopen)," Bhandari said. "Even if they do get it, it's still going to be several weeks. We're looking at 1-2 months of trying to fill the gap for a lot of families."

What should parents do if they are out of formula?

Solutions for families are not as simple as just replacing one baby formula brand with another. Some babies – particularly those with malabsorption issues and allergic reactions – need a particular kind of formula in order to be as healthy as possible in those important early years.

Bhandari said parents should reach out to their pediatrician if they are in stark need of formula, as they can work with manufacturers in order to get it shipped to the parent in time.

"They may be able to reach out to that manufacturer (and) we may be able to get a couple of cans from here or there," Bhandari said. "The other thing we can guide you to do is to say, 'That (formula brand) isn't available, but these other manufacturers that have not had any issues with manufacturing are still producing a very large amount of formula and this is similar to what your child is taking and we think these could work.'

"That is an important conversation for a family to have with their pediatrician before switching on their own in a Walgreens."

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What is the supply situation like at Springfield stores?

The concern for many parents is knowing if that brand will be available in stores that they regularly shop if they can't get it from the manufacturer right away. Chains with stores in the Springfield area, such as Hy-Vee and Schnucks, say they are working to maintain supply on store shelves, with a spokesperson for Hy-Vee saying that it does have some supply of Similac, which is a WIC-approved formula.

"That's probably the biggest question that we get on a daily basis," said Tina Pothoff, a spokeswoman for Hy-Vee. "We certainly don't have as many varieties of baby formula that we're used to because everyone is rushing to the store to get what they can, but in regards to Similac, we do have that."

In a statement, Schnucks said it also is working with the Food Industry Association in order to make sure it will have supply on their shelves.

"Schnucks is working diligently to identify and source safe, approved substitutions that effectively meet the needs of vulnerable populations across the country," the statement said.

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What are the possible alternatives to formula?

Bhandari and her fellow pediatricians are fielding the many questions about alternatives that some parents are seeking in lieu of traditional formula. While in normal times, pediatricians would recommend against feeding children younger than six months cow's milk, she said that it could be used in a pinch if the child is old enough to take it.

In addition, parents could also seek out soy-based materials if necessary. One thing that they shouldn't do is dilute the formula with water in order to make it last longer or make their own formula, due to the specific properties within most brands.

"That would reduce the nutritional value (and) change the electrolyte and salt balance," Bhandari said. "This can actually cause significant issues with growth and in some babies, can even cause seizures. We need to have a precise balance of nutrition as well as the different loads for the baby's kidneys."

Bhandari said parents are trying to find ways to get the right formula however they can – using social media and getting in touch with the clinic in order to find something that works. All of this is to try to find something that will work for the month or two that it will take to get formula back on the shelves and back in production.

"I hope that we as a community work to fill that gap by having the conversations with the pediatricians (and) seeing what the other options are," Bhandari said.

Contact Zach Roth: (217) 899-4338; ZDRoth@gannett.com; @ZacharyRoth13

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Baby formula shortage leads to tough questions for pediatricians