It doesn’t take a parent to notice the scores of empty formula shelves at every retailer across the country, but it rightfully scares those with infants the most. As if supply chain issues weren’t enough, a recall of three specialty formulas earlier in the year has made it increasingly hard to get babies the formula they need––and there’s no end in sight.
A mom recently took to TikTok to share her experience with the shortage, in the midst of obnoxiously high-falutin naysayers downplaying the seriousness. From the front seat of her car, Kayzie Weedman explains: “Let’s talk about the formula shortage that is plaguing the US right now because more people need to know about this. You go to your local Target, your local Walmart, and you think you’re going to get the formula your baby needs? Nope. Shelves are bare. And there are babies who can’t have just any formula that’s on the shelf.”
@heyitskayzie Excuse my makeup less crying face 🥺 this #formulashortage is so scary. #formulamilk #formulacrisis #formulafeeding #formulafed #fyp #fypシ
♬ original sound – Kayzie Weedman
Weedman then goes on to share an absolutely heartbreaking image of her infant daughter, Palmer, and what happens when she has cows milk. She goes on, “The pharmacist who fills her prescription can’t fill it because they can’t get it; it’s back-ordered six months. And I just have to sit there and stare at empty shelves and not know what I’m going to do next.”
Since sharing the video three days ago, her video has gone viral, amassing more than 1M views, nearly 9,000 comments and more than 8,000 likes. While the immense fear surrounding the formula shortage is very real, the comments on Weedman’s post are a ray of hope.
Moms from all over the country are responding with the availability of the formula Palmer needs in their area, with offers to buy the next time they’re at the store or to buy online and ship to her. The sense of community is overwhelming and positive––a stark contrast to many sentiments being thrown around as parents grapple with the shortage.
Comments like “just start power pumping so you can breastfeed again” or “you should have tried harder at breastfeeding and not given up in the first place” (yes, that was a real Tweet by a man) are flat-out offensive and the epitome of parent-shaming at its finest. With just 25% of infants consuming only breastmilk, it’s fair to say the formula shortage affects the majority of parents, and ignorant sentiments like the ones above have no place in this discussion (or anywhere else).
In the meantime, it looks like a House Oversight panel has finally opened a probe into the situation. The White House has said there is no time frame for resolution, and in response, people have called on President Biden to invoke the Defense Production Act that would allow him to order companies to produce certain goods.
Time will tell as to when we’ll start seeing those formula shelves stock up again. In the meantime, give the formula-feeding mamas in your life a hug and whatever support you can right now––they need it.
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