Topeka mother going store to store for baby formula: 'Other moms are having that struggle'

Topeka parents and grocers are struggling with the national shortage of baby formula following a recall of Similac products in February.

Rachel Taylor is dealing with the issue at Topeka Pediatrics, P.A., where she is a medical assistant advising new mothers, and at home, where she is the mother of a 9-month-old son.

"It is kind of frustrating," said Taylor, who usually shops at Aldi or Dillons stores. "I will get there and sometimes they won't have any. So then I have to try a different store, and I know a lot of other moms are having that struggle, too."

Terry Fleer, manager of Apple Market, 1945 S.W. Gage Blvd., tries to keep shelves stocked.

"We order it three times a week, but it's still not getting to us," said Fleer. "I can't believe ... I cannot understand why."

All infant formula brands are affected

Fleer initially was able to find another brand for his store, but that didn't last.

"I was able to get it, but then I sold out of it," he said. "In that one day, I got a pallet of it and sold every bit."

Taylor said parents are quick to go to stores when formula arrives.

"I feel like it's kind of similar to the toilet paper," she said. "Everyone kind of knows when those stores get stocked. It gets on Facebook, and everyone runs and grabs them."

On the plus side, most stores have a limit of two per family.

"I also am able to order on Amazon quite a bit," Taylor said. "And I typically buy a big enough one that it lasts probably about a week to a week and a half."

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Supplies go to hardest-hit first

A hierarchy exists for the formula supply chain, Taylor said.

"It kind of goes to the hospitals first and then to the WIC offices," said Taylor. "They're trying to keep those offices stocked for those babies who have to have that formula, like the NICU babies who sometimes don't have that breast milk to rely on. 

"Stores and the doctor's offices are kind of the last ones to see it."

Taylor has advice for parents reluctant to switch brands.

"We have informed all of our patients that it's OK to switch brands," she said. "It's not going to hurt the baby's belly or really make them sick. It's just OK to switch those brands back and forth."

Bout with COVID-19 ended breastfeeding option

Although breastfeeding is an option for some mothers, Taylor said the issue is complicated.

"Some babies don't react well to mom's breast milk," she said. "And some moms just don't produce enough to keep up with their baby."

Taylor stopped breastfeeding when her son Carter was 6 months old.

"I was already having a hard time keeping up with how much he was eating at that time," she said. "But then when I did get COVID, I didn't necessarily breastfeed him. He primarily got bottles from his dad just to kind of limit that exposure.

"I did everything I could to try to keep the supply. But nothing worked. It just eventually dried up, and he didn't have that breast milk to rely on anymore."

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Don't try homemade formula

Taylor has noticed mothers on Facebook looking for homemade formula recipes, which she cautioned against.

"There's a lot of studies and articles out there that show that the formulas made at home, they don't necessarily have the same nutritional value that your baby needs," she said.

On its Facebook site, Topeka Pediatrics, 6750 S.W. 29th St., shared a website from healthychildren.org, which explains why homemade formula isn't a good solution.

"We really do encourage people to not go that route," she said. "They can check with their pediatrician's offices to see if they have any (formula) available."

Others are using Facebook to share supply.

"There are Facebook pages where moms are relying on each other for any type of samples they may have left over or if their baby has stopped with the formula," she said. "Those are good options, too."

Fleer said his shortage of formula started the day everything that was on the recall list had to be packed up and sent back to the company.

He often sees customers searching the aisles only to come up empty-handed. He can identify with their situation.

"We used formula when my kids grew up," Fleer said.

Dillons, Hy-Vee and Walmart didn't respond to calls.

Catheryn Hrenchir is a feature writer for The Topeka-Capital Journal. She can be reached at chrenchir.gannett.com or (785) 817-638.