Mothers warned against baby formula substitutes amid shortages

The Breastfeeding and Child Nutrition Foundation (BCNF) is urging mothers not to resort to homemade substitutes or other measures that could harm their babies amid a local shortage in specific brands of formula.

BCNF Executive Director Dr Alison Bernard has warned that local alternatives, such as barley water, are not beneficial to babies.

While insisting that breastfeeding for the first two years of a child’s life remains the best and healthiest option for both mother and baby, the advocacy group acknowledged that some mothers either cannot or choose not to breastfeed and their inability to source formula is, therefore, a concern.

“The BCNF urges mothers to continue to use recommended breastmilk substitutes safely,” Dr Barnard stressed.

“We recommend using the product as prescribed on the packaging and to refrain from either attempting to make homemade formulas, which are unlikely to meet the nutritional requirements of baby, not starting complementary foods before the recommended six months, or hoarding the product as there may be the tendency to do under these circumstances .”

She added: “Parents are also reminded that barley water and other similar homemade mixtures used in our cultural context, which are being used more widely at this time of shortage, provide no significant nutritional value to their babies and should not be used as a replacement for breastmilk or even formula.”

The BCNF advised mothers to seek information from polyclinics, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, private physicians, and the National Nutrition Centre for advice and information about breastfeeding, introducing appropriate complementary foods, and the safe use of breastmilk substitutes including infant formula.

Dr Bernard argued that the need to rely on formula must be urgently addressed to avoid the catastrophic impact on children’s food security.

She reminded that exclusive breastfeeding is proven to not only reduce the risk of common childhood illnesses such as ear infections, gastroenteritis and respiratory infections, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and decreased risk of allergy, but that the long-term effects are rewarding.

“Children who breastfeed are reportedly smarter on IQ tests, are less likely to be overweight or obese, and have a reduced risk of developing noncommunicable diseases in childhood and as adults,” the head of the BCNF said.

“Breastfeeding is also beneficial for mothers as the rates of breast cancer are reported to decrease by nearly five per cent and for every year she breastfeeds the rates of ovarian cancer, postpartum depression and maternal diabetes and heart disease are also reduced.”

Dr Bernard noted that despite these benefits, only 19.7 per cent of Barbadian infants are breastfed exclusively.

She blamed that low rate on barriers to breastfeeding worldwide and on the local front.

“Issues around inadequate breastfeeding support by maternal support systems – professional and personal –, lack of enabling breastfeeding environments and inadequate employment and breastfeeding workplace policies to enable mothers to breastfeed, and no or inadequate legislation in support of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk substitutes to counter aggressive formula marketing tactics, make breastfeeding exclusively or at all, a difficult option for mothers.

“We, therefore, ask our government to increase their investment in supporting and protecting breastfeeding through cost-effective public health interventions and necessary public policies and legislation, that enable mothers to breastfeed for longer, where they want to, and without undue influence from exploitative formula marketing tactics.

“The benefits to the health of our children, mothers, our communities, to the environment, and to our economy are innumerable. Response to breastfeeding needs to be a societal one and we implore all sectors of society to play their part in creating a robust breastfeeding culture here in Barbados,” Dr Bernard added. (BT/PR)