Homemade baby formula is putting Wisconsin babies in the hospital
Recipes lack nutrition, cause malnourishment
Children’s Wisconsin has seen an increase in the number of babies being admitted due to inappropriate substations for baby formula, the hospital said Friday.
The hospital frequently sees babies that are malnourished or show a failure to thrive, for reasons including a lack of access to formula, Heather Van Roo, a hospital spokeswoman, said in a statement to the Journal Sentinel.
“But we are seeing more kids where inappropriate substitutions of formula is a factor in their hospitalization,” she said.
The hospital declined to provide exact numbers for how many babies had been hospitalized due to inappropriate formula substitutions Friday.
“It is true that we’ve seen babies hospitalized because they don’t have enough formula, or they’ve made homemade formula that aren’t meeting their nutrient needs, and they’re experiencing things like malnutrition,” said Jennifer Crouse, Clinical Nutrition Manager with Children’s Wisconsin told TMJ4 News, which first reported the news.
“This is something that’s harming kids because we don’t have enough supply on the market,” Crouse said.
On Thursday, the state Department of Health Services issued recommendations for parents who are dealing with the shortage.
Among those, experts told parents to only use approved substitutes for baby formulas. Parents and caregivers are urged not to water down or dilute the formula to stretch it longer or to substitute goat or plant-based milks if they cannot find formula. Cow’s milk can be used for infants older than 6 months, but only in rare emergency situations and for no longer than a week. Talk to your child’s doctor first.
Inappropriate substitutions can mean that the baby is not getting all the nutrients and minerals it needs to develop so early in life.
Health experts also are warning against homemade baby formula recipes that are circulating online. Such recipes can be unsafe and not meet babies’ nutritional needs.
Several organizations have compiled lists of appropriate substitutions, including the Wisconsin Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and the North American Society For Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.
Families can also look into breast milk donations via the Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes.
Parents and caregivers are encouraged to talk with their pediatricians before making changes to their babies’ diets. People can also call United Way’s IMPACT 211 helpline for help: by dialing 211 or 414-773-0211.
There are two bills in the process of becoming law aimed at alleviating the formula shortage, and President Joe Biden made moves Wednesday to increase domestic production of baby formula and to import more of it from abroad. But it may be weeks before families see supplies stabilize.