Updated 05/24/2022
Managing the Infant Formula Shortage
This is a difficult problem. Other than breast milk, there is no great substitute for infant formula.
A few things to avoid:
- Home-made formulas are not the answer and are not recommended (contamination risks are significant; how the ingredients work together and are absorbed into the body - this is why formula exists)
- Using extra water when mixing is not the answer. Young infants can have serious - even dangerous issues (hyponatremia) - with getting extra water
- Do not hoard formula. When you find supply, take a reasonable amount for your infant, and leave some for others. The best solution to this problem will involve us all thinking about all infants in need.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has practical advice about what you can do about the formula shortage at its Healthy Children website.
Equivalent Formulas
The North Carolina Pediatric Society shared this chart with our office (their sources are listed below).
This chart groups together on the same rows different formulas that are basically very similar.
In general, you may substitute your child's formula with another formula listed on the same row. If you have a formula that is not on the same row as your child's formula, you may still be able to use it. Give us a call to find out.
| Abbot Laboratories | Mead Johnson | Gerber | Nutricia | ||
| Indications | Similac Brand | Enfamil Brand | Gerber Brand | Store Brands | Nutricia Brand |
| Standard | Similac 360 Total Care, Similac Pro-Advance, Similac Advance | Enfamil NeuroPro Infant, Enfamil Enspire, Enfamil Infant | Good Start, GentlePro | Parents Choice Advantage or Infant, Up&Up Advantage, Member's Mark Advantage, Mama Bear Advantage, Little Journey Advantage, CVS Advantage, Well Beginnings Advantage, Comforts (Kroger), Kirkland Signature ProCare | |
| Standard Organic | Similac Organic | Enfamil Simply Organic | Earth's Best Organic | ||
| Mild Digestive Issues | Similac 360 Total Care Sensitive, Similac Pro-Sensitive, Similac Sensitive | Enfamil NeuroPro Gentlease, Enfamil NeuroPro Sensitive | Good Start, SoothePro | Parent’s Choice Sensitivity, Up&Up Sensitivity, Member’s Mark Sensitivity, Mama Bear Sensitivity, Little Journey Sensitivity, CVS Sensitivity | |
| Similac Pro-Total Comfort, Similac Total Comfort | Enfamil NeuroPro Gentlease, Enfamil Gentlease | Good Start, SoothePro | Parent’s Choice Complete Comfort, Up&Up Complete Comfort, CVS Complete Comfort | ||
| Enfamil Reguline | Burt’s Bees Baby Ultra Gentle Organic, Parent’s Choice Tender | ||||
| Similac For Spit Up | Enfamil AR | Good Start, Gentle Supreme | Parent’s Choice Added Rice Starch, Up&Up Added Rice Starch | ||
| Similac Soy Isomil | Enfamil Prosobee | Gentle Soy | Parent’s Choice Soy, Up&Up Soy, Comforts Soy (Kroger) | ||
| Allergies | Similac Alimentum | Nutramigen or Pregestimil | Extensive HA | Parent's Choice Hypoallergenic, Up&Up Hypoallergenic, CVS Health Hypoallergenic, Mama Bear Hypoallergenic | |
| EleCare | PurAmino | Alfamino | Neocate Infant, Neocate Syneo | ||
| EleCare Unflavored | PurAmino Jr Unflavored | Alfamino Jr | Neocate Jr, Neocate Splash | ||
| Prematurity | Similac Neosure - 22 Cal | Enfamil NeuroPro EnfaCare - 22 Cal | |||
| Similac Special Care - 20 Cal | Enfamil Premature - 20 Cal | ||||
| Similac Special Care - 24 Cal | Enfamil Premature - 24 Cal | ||||
| Similac Special Care High Protein - 24 Cal | Enfamil Premature High Protein - 24 Cal | ||||
| Similac Special Care - 30 Cal | Enfamil Premature - 30 Cal | ||||
| Special Dietary Needs | Ketonex-1 | BCAD 1 | |||
| Ketonex-2 | BCAD 2 | ||||
| Glutarex-1 or Glutarex-2 | GA | ||||
| Hominix-1 | HCY 1 | ||||
| Hominix-2 | HCY 2 | ||||
| I-Valex-1 or I-Valex-2 | LMD | ||||
| Propimex-1 | OA 1 | ||||
| Propimex-2 | OA 2 | ||||
| Phenex-1 | Phenyl-Free 1 | ||||
| Phenex-2 | Phenyl-Free 2 | ||||
| Phenyl-Free HP | |||||
| Pro-Phree | PFD Toddler | ||||
| PFD 2 | |||||
| Tyrex-1 | TYROS 1 | ||||
| Tyrex-2 | TYROS 2 | ||||
| Cyclinex-1 | WND 1 | ||||
| Cyclinex-2 | WND 2 |
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecu...
https://www.storebrandformula....
Store Brands: Parent’s Choice – Walmart, Member’s Mark – Sam’s Club, Up&Up – Target, Comforts – Kroger, Kirkland – Costco, Mama Bear – Amazon, Little Journey – Aldo, Well beginnings - Walgreens
