If you use homemade baby formula, you may wonder if making one at home is safe. After all, certain commercial baby formulas can be difficult to obtain, especially with the homemade baby formula shortage.
However, homemade baby formula might be hazardous to infants. Therefore, you should never manufacture a homemade formula on your own, and serve it to your child since it can cause serious, even fatal, health problems.
Your infant could become ill if homemade formula becomes contaminated. It could also be deficient in crucial nutrients your kid requires to develop and keep healthy. For example, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received complaints of newborns who were fed homemade formula and required hospitalization for low calcium treatment.
Continue reading to learn more about the truth of do-it-your-own baby formulas.
What Are The Dangers Of Homemade Baby Formulas?
Infections and contamination. Contamination can occur when the infant formula is prepared at home. For example, formulas using unpasteurized raw cow or goat milk may cause diseases such as Salmonella or E. coli. Raw milk that has not undergone pasteurization to kill harmful bacteria can cause serious diseases. It is better to consult a pediatrician than risk your child’s health upon using a raw cows milk formula from a raw milk formula recipe.
Excess nutrient intake. Particular nutrients may be in excess in some formulas. For example, too much salt or protein can be difficult on an infant’s kidneys. There’s also no studies that prove that formula fed babies are healthier compared to those who are getting breast milk.
Deficiencies in nutrients. Homemade formulations may lack essential elements like protein, vitamins, and minerals. For example, vegan and dairy-free formulas do not provide adequate calcium, resulting in eating issues, irritability, and seizures.
Poor development and learning problems. These can occur when a baby does not receive adequate nutrients over time.
Contact your doctor immediately if you are the parent or caregiver of a baby experiencing symptoms after consuming homemade baby formula.
Why Can’t I Make My Baby’s Formula?
Once customary, feeding newborns ordinary milk or homemade formula is no longer safe or advised. In the U.S., all baby formula sold in stores must meet strict ingredient requirements to ensure healthy development.
The FDA oversees formula production and storage. In addition, the government inspects formulae and factories to prevent contamination and spoiling.
Online or other formula combinations may lack iron or vitamins. In addition, your baby’s kidneys and liver may not be able to manage too much sodium or other nutrients.
Typical dairy products like cow milk or substitutes like soy, hemp, or almond milk lack vital nutrients like protein, iron, calcium, and vitamins. In addition, chemical forms of nutrition may not even be easily digested by a baby’s body, even if the label says they have enough. Or, specific components (such as calcium and phosphorus) may interfere with bone formation.
Your child’s brain and body grow rapidly during the first year of life. Even a few days or weeks without enough formula can affect your baby’s ability to grow healthy and do well in the classroom. These nutrients can cause serious health problems and even death. Homemade formulations may be contaminated, induce illnesses, or have too much or too little calcium or salt.
What Makes Commercial Baby Formula Safer?
If you cannot nurse your baby or decide not to, commercial infant formulas may be their only source of nutrition.
The FDA ensures that these items meet the most basic safety and nutritional standards. However, this does not apply to homemade infant formula recipes like those you might prepare or obtain online.
The FDA mandates commercial formula manufacturers to meet specific nutrient criteria. It establishes minimum and maximum requirements for 29 nutrients. Certain nutrients might harm your baby’s health if consumed excessively or insufficiently.
Nutritional deficiency can have long-term consequences, even if only for a few days or weeks. For example, it may reduce a baby’s chances of growing up robust and succeeding in school.
If a formula manufacturer fails to meet the FDA’s nutrition standards, the agency has the authority to remove the product from store shelves.
The agency also monitors how certified formulations are created and preserved. For example, it regularly inspects the formulations and the locations where they are manufactured. This way, they can ensure that manufacturers follow the standards to keep the formulations from becoming contaminated or rotting.
What Options Do I Have If I Can’t Find Homemade Baby Formula?
If there’s a shortage of baby formula on store shelves near you, try these tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in case you find yourself in an urgent situation:
- Call the WIC office in your area. In addition, you could look for formulas in several locations, according to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
- Consult your child’s physician. Ask your baby’s doctor to obtain a can of baby formula from local formula distributors or a charity that has some.
- Select any commercially available formula, even store brands. For the majority of babies, this is fine, except for those who are on a particular formula that the pediatrician advised (such as formulas that say “extensively hydrolyzed,” “predigested,” or “amino acid-based”). Ask your pediatrician for suggestions if your baby requires a specialist formula that you are having difficulties locating.
- Do not dilute the baby formula. Although you might believe that doing so will extend the life of your supply, it is unsafe to do so. It could upset your baby’s nutritional balance and result in critical health issues. Unless your pediatrician instructs you otherwise, always prepare infant formula according to the recommendations on the label.
- Check social media. Consult a group that is focused on formula and infant feeding. Its members might be able to suggest locations to buy formula. Consult your child’s pediatrician first if you receive this advice.
- Purchase formula online. If you can afford it, try this alternative. Buy only from pharmacies and distributors with a good reputation. Avoid buying formula in individual cans or on auction websites. Don’t purchase infant formula from abroad because the FDA does not inspect imported infant formula.
- Visit smaller supermarkets or pharmacies. They might carry formula when larger supermarkets don’t.
However, the AAP advises parents of babies over 6 months old to contact their pediatrician if it’s okay to momentarily give them cow’s milk in an emergency during a formula scarcity. This potential choice is only available to infants over 6 months old who typically consume standard formula and is not a specialty item for any medical requirements, such as allergies. Just like homemade formulas, it’s not recommended to feed your child cow’s milk. It’s not recommended, and you shouldn’t do it frequently. But according to the AAP, it’s preferable to produce homemade baby formula or water down pre-made baby food.
For those who have sensitivity with raw cow milk or any cow milk formula, you may opt for a goats milk formula. A goats milk formula can be a great alternative to cow’s milk. Despite goat’s milk popularity on most countries, be aware that it is not safe to be used for infants. A raw goat milk or goat milk formula can even cause significant morbidity and death to infants.
You can also bookmark the Family Hype page for the latest updates on baby formula milk resources.
FAQs
What can I give my baby if I have no formula?
If you have no infant formula to give to your baby, you can go to the best and most natural way which is breast milk. A mother’s milk is still the best choice for your baby since it provides all the nutrients a baby needs without no side effects. A mother’s milk can help protect babies against short-term and long-term illnesses. You may also call your pediatrician if you don’t have an infant formula, the may help you get and infant formula that is suited for your baby. You may also look for infant formulas at trusted grocery stores. There’s a ton of infant formulas out there; just make sure to look for a powdered formula that is FDA approved. Infant formulas may include plant-based oils such as olive oil and coconut oil in order to mimic the fat profile included in breast milk. Coconut oil for instance is rich in fat which is why it is added in infant formulas. When it comes to olive oil, some countries recommend adding olive oil for babies who are experiencing constipation. Olive oil is also said to be good as remedy for colic. Despite these claims, it is still better to consult a pediatrician before using coconut oil or olive oil in infant formulas.
How do you make baby formula?
There are a lot of homemade infant formula recipes out there, despite the large number of information you can find online, not all homemade infant formula recipes are safe. The FDA doesn’t advise parents to make homemade formulas, because most homemade baby formula recipes have not been evaluated by the FDA. These homemade baby formula recipes may produce infant formulas that lack nutrients needed by babies.
Can you make baby formula with evaporated milk?
Yes, you may make a homemade formula using evaporated milk, only if it’s necessary. If you’re planning to do this, be under a guidance of a physician since evaporated milk still has the same risks as goat’s milk and cow’s milk.
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Last Updated on May 16, 2023 by Patrick Magtaan
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