Help! Any Substitute For Infant Formula? ?
Okay, I know you’re going to say that it is my fault for not having enough formula on hand and I take blame for that completely, however I’m in a bit of a dilemma! My local grocery store is the only place in town that carries my brand of infant formula and over the past several weeks they haven’t had any despite my constant nagging and complaining. They were supposed to have a large order coming in last Thursday which, needless to say, didn’t arrive.
We had to travel to another town about an hour away to get more formula last week and we’re in yet again the same situation except the highway is closed today due to a terrible snow storm! I’m in a panic. Is there anything I can substitute for formula, at least until the highway opens again?
I will give her cereal, vegetables and toast, but what about infant juices? She has enough formula to last the rest of the morning, but after that I have no idea what to do! I’m so unbelievably upset with out grocer. Please help.
Also– she is eight months old.
An 8 mo old can probaby go a day or two with a couple of ounces of juice in place of formula as long as she is eating meals and snacks. I have given my 9 mo old son juice for a few months now. Just no more than a few ounces at a time- it can make them gassy and my pediatrician told me to use half water half juice so it’s not so sugary- you don’t have to buy infant juice- it is so expensive and literally the same thing. Just make sure the juice you buy is pasturized (most are by law, some ciders aren’t) try apple juice, orange juice, etc. Also, you can give your baby yogurt so you are making sure she gets enough calcium -pediatrician also said this is okay. Watch the soft spot on the top of her head if it looks sunken in that means she is getting dehydrated. You can also give your baby water in a sippy cup. As long as she is getting nutrients from food, she should be okay! Good luck!
At 8 months old she will be okay to just eat food and drink water and juice for today… but surely your grocery store carries some brand of some type of formula… even if you have to switch brands or give her soy or something, surely they have something in stock. Call the doctor’s office and explain the situation, they surely have some brand of formula samples in the office they could give you.
They don’t carry any other formulas? If they do, give her what they have for now and she’ll be just fine.
Back in the old school days when people had a hard time affording formula, they used 1/2 condensed milk, 1/2 water, a bit of kayro syrup and some liquid vitamins. Luckily at 8 months she’ll be fine without formula because she is able to eat some gerber baby foods and may be able to rock some milk (the milk part I’m not 100% about, maybe some of the other ladies can clarify that).
Buy a different brand at your local store. Each formula brand makes similar types of formula. Find a formula similar to the one she is drinking, and substitute it for now.
Can you just buy another brand for now?
What kind do you use? Enfamil and Similac are pretty much the same thing, as well as Parent’s Choice. I switched to parent’s choice formula from Enfamil without a problem at all.
try a different brand but also at 8 months and she is eating other foods regular milk won’t hurt her either.
Tell your doctor this, call your local WIC office and tell them your situation. Doctor’s offices usually have samples on hand, WIC can refer you to places that might have it. Pharmacies carry formula and if they do not have a certain brand they will usually order some (especially if it is a national chain like CVS or walgreens). you can also try your local craigslist to see if anybody is selling some (post that you need some if there aren’t posts already) and in the future there is always formula for sale on ebay. You can also try your local freecycle and post that you really really need formula and see if anybody else has some that they can give you.
Just buy a very small container of another brand until you can get your regular one. Make sure its the same type though — milk or soy, iron fortified or not, etc. The brand shouldn’t make a huge difference, its more about what type of formula it is. Be sure to watch her for a reaction though, and don’t be surprised if her poop changes.
Don’t panic, she’ll be okay for a few hours without her regular formula. Keep her hydrated though, if you don’t use a different formula. Give her water or watered down juice.
Edit: The person above mentioned milk. I wouldn’t necessarily give her cow’s milk because she might not be able to digest it yet. Rice milk is easier on the stomach and while it doesn’t have all of the essential fats and protein of formula/breastmilk it does have plenty of vitamins and minerals and its only for one day right? Its also super easy to digest and pretty much no one is allergic to rice (that’s why babies start on rice cereal).
At 8 months old I wouldn’t be overly concerned if she doesn’t get it for a day or two. Juices would be okay. Goat’s milk would be fine too (she may not like it though). One of my boys was 9 months old and we had a horrible snow storm that kept us locked in our house for 2 weeks, after two days he ran out of formula and went a good 12 days on juice and water (eating solids too of course) and he’s just fine. He was fine then, and he is still fine–he didn’t suffer from missing the formula for a few days. So just relax and find some juice and water and keep her on the solids. Stay warm!