The State of Colorado recognizes that the nationwide shortage of infant and toddler formula means that many Colorado families are concerned about finding appropriate food for their children. We share that concern and are in regular communication with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, formula manufacturers, and community partners statewide to provide Coloradans with the latest guidance and resources.
WIC Guidance
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is committed to helping families access healthy, nutritious food. Many Colorado families, including approximately 60,000 on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) in Colorado, are impacted by the nationwide infant formula shortage.
Updated information about the formula supply can be found on the Colorado WIC website.
Parents/guardians who are enrolled in WIC and struggling to find infant formula should contact their local
WIC agency directly.
For information on eligibility and how to apply, visit the Colorado WIC Application page.
For more information about WIC, including food benefits during and after pregnancy and available resources for both breast/chest feeding and formula feeding, visit the Colorado WIC website.
Mother’s Milk Bank partnership
Mothers’ Milk Bank (MMB) collects, processes and provides donated human milk to babies both in the hospital and at home. Donor human milk is available to purchase for WIC families working to increase their own milk supply or who would like to use donor milk with their baby. Financial assistance may be available for families with a medical need.
Colorado and MMB are calling for donations of human milk or financial donations that would help families with the cost of supply. Information on how to donate or purchase milk, or make a monetary donation can be found on the Mothers’ Milk Bank website.
Information on how to donate or purchase milk, or make a monetary donation can be found at Mothers’ Milk Bank website.
Coloradans who witness price gouging related to the purchase of formula or breast/chest milk or who think they might be a victim of price gouging should file a report with the Attorney General’s Office at 800.222.4444 or StopFraudColorado.gov.
Formula Safety Tips
If you can’t find formula:
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Call your pediatrician or OBGYN to see if they have in-office samples.
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Call your pediatrician if you cannot access the formula you need for your baby. They may have samples in stock, connections to other local organizations, or ideas of other places to call.
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Contact your local family resource center.
You can also:
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Check smaller stores and drug stores, which may not be out of supply when the bigger stores are.
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If you can afford it, buy formula online until store shortages ease. Purchase from well-recognized distributors, grocers, and pharmacies rather than individually sold or auction sites such as eBay or Facebook Marketplace.
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If you find it in stock, it can be tempting to buy as much formula as possible right now, but the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises buying no more than a 10-day to 2-week supply of formula to ease shortages.
Additional helpful resources
- HealthyChildren.org provides some tips if you can't find any baby formula - some tips to help.
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USDA Infant Formula Safety website - Contains info on infant formula safety and links to other government resources.
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Questions and Answers for Consumers on Infant Formula - FDA question #12 addresses homemade infant formula.
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Powdered Infant Formula Preparation and Storage - CDC guidance on preparing infant formula.
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Is Homemade Baby Formula Safe - American Association of Pediatrics article on homemade formula.
Find a local food bank to donate any unused and unopened formula
Credit: Hunger Free Colorado