At a glance
Shortages of infant formula sometimes occur because of supply chain issues or recalls. Here are some tips on how to safely feed your child in in the event of an infant formula shortage.
Background
The U.S. government and its partners are continuously working to ensure infant formula is safe and available for families nationwide.
This page contains information on how to safely feed your child in the event of an infant formula shortage. Please keep in mind this is only for urgent situations during infant formula shortages.
Specialty infant formula
Children younger than 6 months
Children younger than 6 months should only drink breast milk or infant formula. If you cannot find infant formula, talk with your child's doctor about the best feeding option for your child.
Children 6 months to 12 months
Children 6 months to 12 months should only drink breast milk, infant formula, or small amount of water (up to 4 to 8 ounces per day).
If you can't find infant formula during a shortage, and you usually give your child a regular infant formula, you can give them some pasteurized (not raw), unflavored, whole cow's milk.
Cow's milk
If your child uses a hypoallergenic or medical specialty infant formula, talk with your child's doctor about safe alternatives.
Tips for families who are feeding infant formula
Using infant formula
Place only the amount of infant formula your baby will eat in the bottle. This avoids wasting your supply.
Do not mix infant formula with more water than the instructions say. Adding more water can cause nutritional imbalances and lead to serious health problems, such as seizures, for your baby.
Do not make or feed your baby homemade infant formula, which can lead to serious health problems.
Choosing infant formula
When choosing an infant formula, you can switch to another brand, including store brands, if needed. Most babies can tolerate switching between different brands. Talk with your child's doctor about alternatives if your preferred brand is unavailable.
If you buy infant formula online, only buy from well-recognized distributors and pharmacies (not individual people or auction sites). Learn more about choosing an infant formula.