Formula shortage?

[Anonymous]

I'm due in September. Should k start stockpiling now? We combo feed for the first few weeks. All I would need is ready to feed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I sort of feel like this is a Fox News talking point. I've seen formula on the shelf at Target, Safeway, etc. It might be a problem if you are looking for a particular/brand type, but I don't know that there is an ability to get baby formula in general.

So OP posts about a very real formula shortage (I was in Walgreens the other day and they had signs up) and all you can do is respond by saying it’s a Republican talking point. Just because the republicans are trying to score political points by bringing up the formula shortage (democrats would have done the same) doesn’t mean there is no actual shortage. Your response is indicative of all that is wrong with this country. You are a truly disgusting human being. By the way Jen Psaki addressed the formula shortage in her recent press conference.

Funny - we brought up food shortages (you know the things 95% of the population survives on?), empty aisles, and high grocery prices for months. And the response from people like you was 'Shop at ALDI or your local farmer's market'.

Well here's a solution for you - order online from Canada or Europe. I've heard the European formulas at least are a much higher standard anyway.

Honestly, comparing formula out of stocks to food supply chain bumps is ridiculous. Adults and older kids have a wide variety of things they can eat. Maybe you couldn't get your preferred brand of cereal or strawberries were prohibitively expensive, but it has never been a question of not having anything to eat.

This back and forth sniping has got to stop. I'm extremely liberal and this formula shortage is terrifying. We are seriously going backward - at an increasing pace - on basic standards of living for developed nations. I saw the stats yesterday and nationally it is over 40% out of stock. In my area of Texas, it is over 50%. And shortages beget shortages. This is a major issue and there needs to be something done besides leaving it to the industry to solve. The federal government needs to step in with production-boosting incentives and resources.

The manufacturing plants have been going 24/7 since Covid started. The problem isn't a lack of will to produce products, its not having the people to do it with.

1 million - so 1 in 330 Americans - died of Covid. They're gone. Not coming back.

Half the workforce dropped out for fear of illness or a need to take care of sick family members.

On top of that the government paid the able-bodied young working age population with dependents ridiculous levels of stimulus checks and child tax credits so they didn't need to work either.

So now its hard to find workers. I walked by a regular fast casual place that was offering $200 cash bonuses for work last night. You can give production incentives all you want but there's a shortage of everything from chicken-processing plant to formula factory workers these days.

No that’s not just the problem. It goes deeper. It’s structural. The formula industry is dominated by four major producers - Enfamil, Similac, gerber and one producer that produces all the generics. It’s also a supply chain issue - very hard to get the raw materials needed to make formula. This is also structural - has to do a lot with how production is structured here. This is not a democrat or Republican issue, but a major issue with the US economy. Things go well when things are fine. But when things are not, then everything starts to collapse. We are about to have an extremely difficult year. You will feel like you are in a so called third world country. We will all be affected. God help us all. I come from Lebanon so I have experience.

+1. Limited inputs all around, lack of workers in the formula business is probably the smallest component. Having an entire factory out of service because it’s a criminally disguising mess is a huge deal when you have so few plants to begin with.

Women don’t want to hear this, but we really need to get as many people breastfeeding as possible to take the pressure off for people who absolutely can’t. There is a moment here for lactation consultants to step up and reach out into areas with terrible breastfeeding support infrastructure. When I had my kids, I had my choice of instantly available, low cost breastfeeding support. It wasn’t easy and the support made all the difference. When my family in a third tier city had issues, there was nothing and they gave up and switched to formula right away. These were people who wanted to breastfeed but didn’t have the tools. Other people stop because they don’t understand there are things they can do to make their own milk more tolerable for tender tummies.

I believe fed is best. But supply chains are all over the place right now and nothing is going to be easy or convenient. The government can’t solve this systemic problem overnight. Moms have to take charge.

You need to address the lack of paid parental leave before pushing breastfeeding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm due in September. Should k start stockpiling now? We combo feed for the first few weeks. All I would need is ready to feed.

I think by September this has to be resolved. I wouldn’t stock up because you don’t know which formula your baby will take and also there is always potential for recall or something. But I don’t see how this can continue till September.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm due in September. Should k start stockpiling now? We combo feed for the first few weeks. All I would need is ready to feed.

I think by September this has to be resolved. I wouldn’t stock up because you don’t know which formula your baby will take and also there is always potential for recall or something. But I don’t see how this can continue till September.

Also you’re a jerk. There are existing babies right now who can’t eat and you’re going to stockpile for September. I’m due in 3 weeks, likely can’t breastfeed due to health issues, and I’m not stockpiling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm due in September. Should k start stockpiling now? We combo feed for the first few weeks. All I would need is ready to feed.

I think by September this has to be resolved. I wouldn’t stock up because you don’t know which formula your baby will take and also there is always potential for recall or something. But I don’t see how this can continue till September.

Also you’re a jerk. There are existing babies right now who can’t eat and you’re going to stockpile for September. I’m due in 3 weeks, likely can’t breastfeed due to health issues, and I’m not stockpiling.

Sorry that came out wrong, I did t mean like going and cleaning the shelves. I meant buying one every few weeks or so. I can't breastfeed and the idea of not having food when my baby gets here is scary for me too you know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm due in September. Should k start stockpiling now? We combo feed for the first few weeks. All I would need is ready to feed.

I think by September this has to be resolved. I wouldn’t stock up because you don’t know which formula your baby will take and also there is always potential for recall or something. But I don’t see how this can continue till September.

Also you’re a jerk. There are existing babies right now who can’t eat and you’re going to stockpile for September. I’m due in 3 weeks, likely can’t breastfeed due to health issues, and I’m not stockpiling.

Sorry that came out wrong, I did t mean like going and cleaning the shelves. I meant buying one every few weeks or so. I can't breastfeed and the idea of not having food when my baby gets here is scary for me too you know.

In your previous post you said you "combo feed." Now you say you "can't breastfeed." Which is it? If you are just concerned about milk production, due to previous experiences, you should know that every baby/post partum experience is different. Even if you haven't produced enough milk in the past, this time might be different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm due in September. Should k start stockpiling now? We combo feed for the first few weeks. All I would need is ready to feed.

I think by September this has to be resolved. I wouldn’t stock up because you don’t know which formula your baby will take and also there is always potential for recall or something. But I don’t see how this can continue till September.

Also you’re a jerk. There are existing babies right now who can’t eat and you’re going to stockpile for September. I’m due in 3 weeks, likely can’t breastfeed due to health issues, and I’m not stockpiling.

Sorry that came out wrong, I did t mean like going and cleaning the shelves. I meant buying one every few weeks or so. I can't breastfeed and the idea of not having food when my baby gets here is scary for me too you know.

In your previous post you said you "combo feed." Now you say you "can't breastfeed." Which is it? If you are just concerned about milk production, due to previous experiences, you should know that every baby/post partum experience is different. Even if you haven't produced enough milk in the past, this time might be different.

My milk takes a long, long time to come in and when it does it's hit and miss. This is my third child. Am I not allowed to be worried? To stockpile means to build a personal stash. JFC get off my jock.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I sort of feel like this is a Fox News talking point. I've seen formula on the shelf at Target, Safeway, etc. It might be a problem if you are looking for a particular/brand type, but I don't know that there is an ability to get baby formula in general.

So OP posts about a very real formula shortage (I was in Walgreens the other day and they had signs up) and all you can do is respond by saying it’s a Republican talking point. Just because the republicans are trying to score political points by bringing up the formula shortage (democrats would have done the same) doesn’t mean there is no actual shortage. Your response is indicative of all that is wrong with this country. You are a truly disgusting human being. By the way Jen Psaki addressed the formula shortage in her recent press conference.

Funny - we brought up food shortages (you know the things 95% of the population survives on?), empty aisles, and high grocery prices for months. And the response from people like you was 'Shop at ALDI or your local farmer's market'.

Well here's a solution for you - order online from Canada or Europe. I've heard the European formulas at least are a much higher standard anyway.

Honestly, comparing formula out of stocks to food supply chain bumps is ridiculous. Adults and older kids have a wide variety of things they can eat. Maybe you couldn't get your preferred brand of cereal or strawberries were prohibitively expensive, but it has never been a question of not having anything to eat.

This back and forth sniping has got to stop. I'm extremely liberal and this formula shortage is terrifying. We are seriously going backward - at an increasing pace - on basic standards of living for developed nations. I saw the stats yesterday and nationally it is over 40% out of stock. In my area of Texas, it is over 50%. And shortages beget shortages. This is a major issue and there needs to be something done besides leaving it to the industry to solve. The federal government needs to step in with production-boosting incentives and resources.

The manufacturing plants have been going 24/7 since Covid started. The problem isn't a lack of will to produce products, its not having the people to do it with.

1 million - so 1 in 330 Americans - died of Covid. They're gone. Not coming back.

Half the workforce dropped out for fear of illness or a need to take care of sick family members.

On top of that the government paid the able-bodied young working age population with dependents ridiculous levels of stimulus checks and child tax credits so they didn't need to work either.

So now its hard to find workers. I walked by a regular fast casual place that was offering $200 cash bonuses for work last night. You can give production incentives all you want but there's a shortage of everything from chicken-processing plant to formula factory workers these days.

No that’s not just the problem. It goes deeper. It’s structural. The formula industry is dominated by four major producers - Enfamil, Similac, gerber and one producer that produces all the generics. It’s also a supply chain issue - very hard to get the raw materials needed to make formula. This is also structural - has to do a lot with how production is structured here. This is not a democrat or Republican issue, but a major issue with the US economy. Things go well when things are fine. But when things are not, then everything starts to collapse. We are about to have an extremely difficult year. You will feel like you are in a so called third world country. We will all be affected. God help us all. I come from Lebanon so I have experience.

+1. Limited inputs all around, lack of workers in the formula business is probably the smallest component. Having an entire factory out of service because it’s a criminally disguising mess is a huge deal when you have so few plants to begin with.

Women don’t want to hear this, but we really need to get as many people breastfeeding as possible to take the pressure off for people who absolutely can’t. There is a moment here for lactation consultants to step up and reach out into areas with terrible breastfeeding support infrastructure. When I had my kids, I had my choice of instantly available, low cost breastfeeding support. It wasn’t easy and the support made all the difference. When my family in a third tier city had issues, there was nothing and they gave up and switched to formula right away. These were people who wanted to breastfeed but didn’t have the tools. Other people stop because they don’t understand there are things they can do to make their own milk more tolerable for tender tummies.

I believe fed is best. But supply chains are all over the place right now and nothing is going to be easy or convenient. The government can’t solve this systemic problem overnight. Moms have to take charge.

You need to address the lack of paid parental leave before pushing breastfeeding.

Every bit helps. If you can nurse for your six week unpaid leave, do it. That’s RTF formula you don’t have to buy. But let’s not pretend most MC and UMC moms are heading right back to the office immediately after birth. The convenience calculation for formula has changed and no amount of wishing is going to change that right now.

[Anonymous]

To the expectant mothers - I wouldn’t stockpile at all, as you have no idea if you’ll Have a baby who will need or accept only certain formulas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm due in September. Should k start stockpiling now? We combo feed for the first few weeks. All I would need is ready to feed.

Wtf? No, you should not make the situation worse for families who need to feed their children now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm due in September. Should k start stockpiling now? We combo feed for the first few weeks. All I would need is ready to feed.

Wtf? No, you should not make the situation worse for families who need to feed their children now.

Agree. Also I do believe by September this will be over. The FDA needs to approve Similac reopening their Michigan plant and when that is done it’ll be probably a month or so to get the formula out. There’s time before September for this to happen. Also FDA is trying to approve foreign imports. Some of the European formula is excellent and I’ll definitely be open to trying that when it’s approved for import.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm due in September. Should k start stockpiling now? We combo feed for the first few weeks. All I would need is ready to feed.

I think by September this has to be resolved. I wouldn’t stock up because you don’t know which formula your baby will take and also there is always potential for recall or something. But I don’t see how this can continue till September.

Also you’re a jerk. There are existing babies right now who can’t eat and you’re going to stockpile for September. I’m due in 3 weeks, likely can’t breastfeed due to health issues, and I’m not stockpiling.

Sorry that came out wrong, I did t mean like going and cleaning the shelves. I meant buying one every few weeks or so. I can't breastfeed and the idea of not having food when my baby gets here is scary for me too you know.

In your previous post you said you "combo feed." Now you say you "can't breastfeed." Which is it? If you are just concerned about milk production, due to previous experiences, you should know that every baby/post partum experience is different. Even if you haven't produced enough milk in the past, this time might be different.

My milk takes a long, long time to come in and when it does it's hit and miss. This is my third child. Am I not allowed to be worried? To stockpile means to build a personal stash. JFC get off my jock.

Different posters, FYI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is bothering me too. I need to switch to 100% alementium rtf ( currently combo feeding). I am scared it’s going to be a constant search for bottles. Any other alimentum parents out there? How bad is it? Baby ejected nutrimigen and neocate so I’m limited :/

I’m so sorry. My first was on Alimentum and it can be harder to find. I’m using a regular formula for my second but it is still scary. Like one of the pp, I wrote my congressman. I read there will be a hearing May 25th to figure out what to do but that seems so late. This is really a cluster.

I'm so sorry pp! I just wanted to jump in and say my son has been on alimentum RTF these last months and for the most part we haven't had an issue. We usually get it from a medical supply company through our insurance (Kaiser) and they had one month where they said it was on backorder, but when I went to search there were plenty of places nearby that had it.

I also wanted to share in case it wasn't posted that the FDA is releasing a lot more information this week on what they are doing to try to deal with this issue. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-takes-important-steps-improve-supply-infant-and-specialty-formula-products

Thank you PP -- that's really helpful to know. My supply is absolutely tanking at the same time. it's a terrible feeling. i'll look into this option.

This situation sucks for so many people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm due in September. Should k start stockpiling now? We combo feed for the first few weeks. All I would need is ready to feed.

I think by September this has to be resolved. I wouldn’t stock up because you don’t know which formula your baby will take and also there is always potential for recall or something. But I don’t see how this can continue till September.

Also you’re a jerk. There are existing babies right now who can’t eat and you’re going to stockpile for September. I’m due in 3 weeks, likely can’t breastfeed due to health issues, and I’m not stockpiling.

Sorry that came out wrong, I did t mean like going and cleaning the shelves. I meant buying one every few weeks or so. I can't breastfeed and the idea of not having food when my baby gets here is scary for me too you know.

In your previous post you said you "combo feed." Now you say you "can't breastfeed." Which is it? If you are just concerned about milk production, due to previous experiences, you should know that every baby/post partum experience is different. Even if you haven't produced enough milk in the past, this time might be different.

My milk takes a long, long time to come in and when it does it's hit and miss. This is my third child. Am I not allowed to be worried? To stockpile means to build a personal stash. JFC get off my jock.

Different posters, FYI.

PP here. But you still suck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check out @theformulamom on IG she has generics matched to name brands

Our go to is CVS for formula, they keep it behind the front counter. You can usually check their app to see what’s in stock.

The generics at CVS are sometimes not behind the counter. We pick ours up next to the diapers. We use the blue top similac equivelent, the baby isn't picky. They are running a buy one get 50% off on those right now.