Tuesday, May 31, 2022
COVID-19 has brought change to numerous areas of daily life. One major effect of the pandemic has been disruptions and delays in the global supply chain. And, with the recent powdered infant formula recall, baby formula has become incredibly difficult to find and purchase. San Antonio is among a handful of major metropolitan cities suffering the highest rates of infant formula shortage in the nation, causing anxiety for many local families.
So, what should families do in light of the formula shortage?
Before solid foods are introduced between four to six months of age, breast milk or U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved infant formulas are the only safe sources of nutrition for many young babies. Families can consult the guidelines provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics and follow the advice below to support the best nutritional options for babies.
If parents cannot find the formula that their baby usually takes:
What families should avoid:
Mealtimes are priceless opportunities to share and nurture your relationship with your child. The pediatricians and primary care providers at UT Health Physicians can answer questions and provide guidance or nutritional support for your child during the formula shortage. To make an appointment, visit our website or call 210-450-6120.
For additional information, families can read the following articles from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Maria Fernandez Falcon, M.D., FAAP
Dr. Maria Fernandez Falcon is native from Argentina where she graduated from medical school in 1994. She completed her general pediatrics residency in 1999 where she was honored with the role of chief resident. She then completed her fellowship in Hospital and Ambulatory Medicine in 2000. She worked as a pediatrician in Buenos Aires until moving to the United States with her husband in 2004. Dr. Fernandez Falcon trained in general pediatrics at the Driscoll’s Children Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas; and then moved to Norfolk, Virginia, where she underwent a fellowship in Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the Eastern Virginia Medical School, Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters.