If you haven’t heard, there is a formula shortage right now. Late last year, formula began falling out of stock at a rapid pace due to inflation, supply chain shortages, and product recalls. The most recent recall was made on three different types of formula after four infants were hospitalized with bacterial infections.
And a mom named Kayzie Weedman recently decided to give some insight into what it’s like for parents who formula-feed their kids. In her viral TikTok that has been viewed over a million times, she says, “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.”
“I’m going to insert a picture of what my daughter looks like when she has cow’s milk because she has a huge cow’s milk protein allergy. So, what am I going to do when I go to the shelves and can’t get the formula that I need? The pharmacist who fills her prescription formula 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.”
“Formula is not available on any of the shelves. They’re empty — nowhere near three hours near me [has it]. Can’t get the formula. What are we going to do? Where do we go from here? How do formula moms feed their kids?” Kayzie then added a photo of what the formula shelves look like at stores near her:
Other moms started flooding the comments to share how they are in the same situation:
@momofrory / tiktok.com
And pregnant people are very fearful right now:
Even people who aren’t parents are feeling the stress of someone not being able to feed their baby:
@momofrory / tiktok.com
Things are not OK:
@momofrory / tiktok.com
BuzzFeed spoke to Kayzie, who said she first started noticing the formula supply diminishing in December of last year, but within the last three months, shelves have been completely empty and now panic has sunk in. “I have had to travel up to two hours to get formula,” she said.
Instagram: @kayzieweedman
“My daughter, Palmer, is on a hypoallergenic formula due to a slew of allergies that she has. She has a cow’s milk protein allergy, a gluten allergy, a soy allergy, and a goat’s milk allergy. She does not have the ability to switch to any formula that is left on the shelf because MOST formulas have all of her allergens and she breaks out in a horrible rash that turns into boils and scabs, she has trouble breathing and wheezing, and she constantly throws up,” Kayzie said.
Kayzie said that people have even been suggesting moms should “breastfeed or try harder,” which is infuriating. “I could not breastfeed because of Palmer’s immune system and allergy needs. MY breastmilk was slowly killing my baby and if I did not have formula, she would be far worse off,” she said.
So, she turned to Facebook and TikTok in desperation to find help — and it worked.
Kayzie has been sent formula from places as far away as Australia. She now has enough formula for Palmer to last two months.
@momofrory / tiktok.com