Many New York City parents say they have had to get creative to secure baby formula for their children, relying on word of mouth, social media and family and friends while waiting out a national shortage.
But despite her concerns, Grisafi was somewhat desperate. She said she is unable to breastfeed because she stopped producing milk, and she was also looking for a hypoallergenic brand because her daughter had rejected other kinds of formula.She posted a request for help on her Instagram and Facebook feeds, opting to rely on people in her own network. Grisafi said a high school friend in Rockland County saw the specialty brand in the grocery store and sent her two cans.
She has recently started posting photos taken by grateful parents of infants surrounded by cans of formula. “There just might be a little bit of a transitional period,” she said. “But formulas are very highly regulated in terms of what ingredients they have to have in them. So if you're just comparing formulas in terms of the vitamins and minerals and the different nutrient composition, they are very similar.”
Benjamin said her clinics encourage breastfeeding and even offer pregnant patients breast pumps when they’re in their third trimester. But she said many opt to use formula because they have to go back to work soon after giving birth.Benjamin said her clinics are directing parents to resources for finding formula such as the WIC program. They’ve also started distributing handouts warning patients against diluting formula with water or making their own.