| Design: Minhee Kim | Photos: iStock Baby Steps: This week, the FDA, the Biden admin, and Congress all took steps to address the baby formula shortage. Meaning help is on the way — but it’ll take “a few weeks.” Which has parents asking, ‘What about now?’ The StoryMost infants in the US (read: 3 out of 4) use formula during their first six months. But by early May, more than 40% of formula in the US was out of stock. That means what used to be quick runs to the store have devolved into frantic scavenger hunts for parents. Including… Jasmine Morgan, mom of a 6-month-old daughter and a 3-year-old son: “This month, I've traveled to about five different stores to find her milk,” she said. “I get to a store and I see it, and it's like four or five cans left on the shelf.” Katee Ames, mom of a 6-month-old son: On a recent trip, her husband could only find a small container of formula for $35. “It just makes me really worried about making sure [my son is] getting the calorie intake that he's supposed to.” Berenice Ramirez, mom of an 8-month-old son: “I really didn't think that it would come to this point where you are scrambling to find formula for your child,” she said. “I feel like it's Black Friday all over again.” Anna Stinauer, a mom-to-be, is just as worried: “I was watching the news with my husband…he was asking, ‘Wait, should we be getting formula? Should we be stocking up?’ Which would never have been something we would've thought to do in advance.” It’s a crisis for everyone — and especially hard for low-income parents. So, many parents have had to look for alternatives… Go on.Some have asked friends, family, even complete strangers for milk. Though, the American Academy of Pediatrics has said to be careful about unregulated sharing, since it’s hard to be sure of quality and safety. (Note: Online marketplaces are especially risky.) And experts have also warned against making your own formula — or watering down batches to stretch them out. But there are safe options… Such as?Milk banks. They’re orgs that collect breast milk from moms and handle it safely for others to use. That’s usually for babies with specific medical needs. But these days, there’s been a surge of interest and donations. So if you’re looking for a formula alternative, it’s worth a call to your local milk bank. Depending on your state and your health insurance, it might be covered. Otherwise, it can get pricey (think: $3 to $5 per ounce). Another possibility for some women is relactation, or resuming breastfeeding. But that often takes a lot of time (think: nursing and/or pumping about six hours a day for about six weeks). Plus, it may require guidance from lactation consultants, and may not be an option for everyone. theSkimm In recent weeks, the costs of motherhood (whether financial, physical, personal) have been on the minds of women across the country. This shortage highlights just how thin the safety net is for moms and babies. PS: To read more about the moms in this story — and other families impacted by the baby formula shortage — click here. | 