News of the baby formula shortage is all over the national media, but it is nothing new to many Upper West Side parents who have been dealing with this issue for almost a year.

Nine months ago when my baby was born, I didn’t think twice about how I was going to feed her. I would breastfeed and supplement with formula as needed. Soon after we brought Elianna home, I asked my husband to pick up some Similac formula to have on hand. After being gone a long time, he finally called to say he’d been to three locations in the neighborhood, but couldn’t find what we wanted. He came home surprised and empty-handed. This was back in August.

In February, Similac issued a massive recall of many of their popular products. The FDA reports indicated that strains of Cronobacter sakazakki bacteria were found at the plant used to make the popular formula. Local families were already having problems finding formula at brick-and-mortar stores and online, but when the recall hit, everything got way worse.

Parents began using ISO (In Search Of) posts on social media platforms, asking if other families had extra formula so they could meet the urgent feeding needs of their babies.

It was heartbreaking to watch. Moms were making desperate pleas with their networks for cans or bottles of specialized formula. The recall and shortage was bad, but especially scary with babies who had to have certain formulas due to medical conditions or allergies. I distinctly remember when Similac Alimentum was in such short supply that when I offered up one bottle, I had 50 replies asking for it within the hour.

By the end of February, we started asking local retailers when they would be restocking the shelves. We were told that the stores were at the mercy of the deliveries, and they just weren’t coming. When we called Similac that month, they said there was no supply shortage and that transportation issues were the reasons places like New York City were seeing issues.

Isha Hannah, a local dula and functional nutrition practitioner, provided many boxes and bottles for those in need.

“I understand the importance of babies receiving the proper sustained nutrition they need, and the unfortunate consequences that could arise if they do not,” Hanna said. “I don’t think many people grasp the gravity of the situation. The sad reality is that thousands of our babies are at risk of running out of the food they depend on for survival. I felt it was my duty to do whatever I could to help.”

Upper West Side moms have also been sharing their surplus formula with their neighbors. Small acts of kindness from moms around the neighborhood are adding up. Liburna Deva recently made a post in Upper West Side Moms, offering what she had at home.

“I am only giving away two small cans of formula [because] my daughter switched to regular milk a couple of months ago. I would hardly call it an act of kindness. I am so sad to see all the moms struggling to find something so important. I wish I had more,” Liburna said.

Other moms have been using Facebook to post pictures of local retailers selections so that people can head over to the stores that have some in stock. Stores such as Target and Walgreens have been rationing formula purchases.

While the primary mode of securing formula is still going from store to store, or hoping that your online delivery comes, special communities are cropping up for those who are having trouble finding formula for their babies. One new Facebook group is called Baby formula Swap and Search: Parents Helping Parents.

We have been using this reddit thread for the most up-to-date information.

Jada Shapiro, founder of Boober, a lactation resource, said some mothers are willing to share their extra supply of breast milk. For anyone interested in this option, they can get more information at Boober.

This is a very scary time for families who rely on formula to feed their babies. For a list of resources and suggestions on how to handle the shortage, check out the New York State website.

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For most of the history of human civilization there was no commercial formula. What did they do?

The infant mortality rate was incredibly high. Babies died. I won’t assume the intent behind your comment but now you have the answer to your question. I will also caution anyone with the attitude “just breastfeed” that it is highly offensive and dangerous.

It’s not highly offensive. Human nature prepared the perfect baby food from mom. Formula is only trying to replicate it. The reason moms don’t breastfeed today is it is a skill they don’t know – and formula companies make it easy and stick it in the commercial giveaways given to new moms at maternity places so is handy when moms give up if it’s too unfamiliar a skill. It’s definitely a skill. Many moms are unfamiliar with it as their own moms used bottles. The AAP has a great breastfeeding book and lactation consultants abound. Has nothing to do with working. Many many working moms pump milk and breastfeed successfully. We have more options than they had a century or two ago. Compares apples to apples. Consider breastfeeding!

I had a lifesaving mastectomy. Explain to me how I should breastfeed. There are quite a few moms who had prophylactic mastectomies prior to child birth.

“The reason moms don’t breastfeed today is it is a skill they don’t know”

No, the reasons moms don’t breastfeed today are: (a) work conditions aren’t favorable to pumping; (b) the baby has a poor latch or other feeding problems; (c) the mom develops mastitis or other health problems. Jeez.

I did try breastfeeding and it didn’t work! My child was born early and only latched ONCE prior to being whisked off to the NICU. From then on I had to pump which my body wasn’t ready to produce milk since my son was born early and NOT with aka in the NICU, we shelled out thousands of dollars for consultants, donor breastmilk which mind you is NOT free to the recipient it was over $300 every couple days. Formula saved my sons life and kept me sane. It isn’t as black and white as you would think. Your comment is deplorable. I would put money on it that you aren’t even a woman and are trying to pathetically mansplain

A skill they don’t know? My mother could not breastfeed me due to many health concerns and here I am…almost 40 years later. But please, tell my mother about this skill she doesn’t know along with many other mothers who can’t or choose not to you. Shame on you.

This comment is so incredibly short-sighted. There are mamas who are breast cancer survivors who cannot breastfeed or do not want to buy breast milk from another woman. There are babies who are anemic or have vitamin absorption issues where formula helps. There are women who simply do not want to breastfeed. There shouldn’t be formula shortages. Period. All children should be properly nourished with the vitamins and nutrients they need to grow. Otherwise, another great article.

To assume every working mom has access to a work environment that provides a) ample break time to accommodate pumping schedules and b) a private, sanitary space in which to pump smacks of ignorance and privilege. Even those who hold salaried positions in major corporations often lack one or both. But beyond access to time or spaces to pump, the underlying current of the breast is best shame brigade is the continued belief that as a society we have the right to control a woman’s body and what she chooses to do with it. There are myriad reasons women choose to breastfeed and many why they don’t, and while some are truly life and death, some are for convenience, and that should also be ok. The human body is incredible in its resilience and complex design, but I also use antibiotics to supplement my natural antibodies so I don’t die from a random infection before I’m 40. It is also worth noting that ancient societies included a tribal lifestyle, where babies who weren’t getting enough food from their own mothers could be supplemented by another lactating mother in the tribe. So unless you’re offering your breast milk to the new mom working an hourly shift at McDonald’s to make ends meet with only a 15 minute break that doesn’t accommodate pumping, how about you stop policing women’s bodies and shaming them for their parenting choices?

A few facts.. You were told it was offensive. Then you went ahead and offended breast cancer survivors, nicu moms, and women who just want peace of mind to choose. Good job. The only fact here is you need a lesson in empathy.

Moms weren’t working and were staying with the babies. The weak babies now requiring a special formula we’re dying.

Only partially true. It was a combination of things. Many babies were fed by wet nurses/ not their own moms. Babies have been bottle fed dating back to ancient civilization (they would use horns and other things they created). So no, it wasn’t always mom stayed home. Commercial formula has been life saving for babies and moms. Anyone who thinks otherwise doesn’t know the facts : )

They used wet-nurses if they were available. Poor people mixed oatmeal or wheat with water. Grossly inadequate and led to malnutrition. In the old days, the infant mortality rate was around 50% for poor children.

This is what happens when one company controls nearly 50% of the market and the FDA doesn’t fully do its job, which it hadn’t for the last two years.

Go to Amazon.com. Scroll to bottom of page. Switch from USA to CA. Buy all the baby formula you could ever use. It will be delivered to your door.

Sadly that doesn’t work anymore

Get the recipe and make your own formula. That’s what we did before prepared formula was available.

Please do not take this advice. The FDA and American Academy of Pediatrics both advise against making or using DIY baby formula, in large part due to the risk of bacterial contamination.

I couldn’t get water filter cartridges on line or at Costo for my Kirkland water filter for days? What’s going on? And if you happen to live south of W72nd st on West End Ave where the road has been dug up daily for months …And tap water tastes like poison .. Watch out folks. .. And babies when the milk power starts to flow again. Horrendous.

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