Parents across the U.S. are struggling to find baby formula, spending hours driving to local stores and scouring shelves in search of nutrition for their children.
"Unless a baby is on specialty formula, most ingredients are similar," said Jackee Haak, a lactation-care provider who is on the board of directors for the United States Lactation Consultant Association."For regular formula, switching brands is not as scary as people used to think it was, so there are opportunities for that as well."Parents who are considering breastfeeding can reach out to a lactation consultant if their baby currently relies on a formula diet.
Typically, parents seeking donated breast milk for their babies can get a prescription from their pediatrician. Start by consulting your pediatrician and ask for a prescription if donated breast milk is deemed suitable for your child. If so, reach out to your local breast milk bank and ask if they have surplus milk available. Usually it is provided at no cost to families who need it.
Jennifer Kersey, 36, of Cheshire, Connecticut, said she was down to her last can of formula for her 7-month old son when someone saw her post on a Facebook group and delivered her a few sample cans.