Formula Resources
to Address the Infant Formula Shortage

From MA Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) Program


General Guidance

It is safe for you to switch brands of formula as needed. You can use store brands as well. When you change formulas, an infant may take 2-3 days to get accustomed to the taste or be a bit gassy or have slight changes in bowel movements, but that should not be a reason to be concerned. Call your pediatrician with any questions on your child’s reaction to a formula change.

  • Call your OBGYN or pediatrician to see if they have in-office samples or can suggest a similar formula that may be more readily available in stores and is nutritionally similar to your infant’s typical formula.
  • You should not water down formula, try to make formula at home, or use toddler formula to feed infants. Don’t discard formula unless it is expired or is part of the recall. Check your formula’s lot code to see whether or not it was affected by the recall.
  • Information for parents from the American Academy of Pediatrics - Healthychildren.org offers more helpful advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

WIC-Eligible Families

  • Contact your local WIC office to identify or obtain additional sources of infant formula nearby.

Community Resources


Manufacturer Hotlines

  • Gerber’s MyGerber Baby Expert - Reach a certified nutrition or lactation consultant by phone, text, Facebook Messenger, web chat, or video call, who can help you identify a similar formula that may be more readily available.
  • Abbott’s Consumer Hotline: call 1-800-986-8540
  • Abbott’s urgent product request line for specialty formulas - Ask your OBGYN or your infant’s pediatrician to submit an urgent product request by downloading and completing the form 
  • Healthcare Workers: Contact Abbott to request limited quantities of formula for patients in need.
  • Reckitt’s Customer Service line: Call 1-800 BABY-123 (222-9123)