I just ran out of formula today for my youngest son and we don't have enough money to buy more. Our WIC check doesn't start until the 24th. My son is having a hard time with eating baby food seeing as he's 8 months. We try but he pushes it away and spits it out. Do you think mixing the baby food with some water and a little cereal in his bottle would help?
Can you call your pediatrician and ask if they have any samples of formula?
I'm sure you've solved the problem by now, but you can always call your FRG. I was a FRG leader when we were stationed in Germany and they have access to resources to help you. I remember helping a spouse when they ran out of diapers before pay day.
I think you should keep him on what he's been on instead of mixing new things for him - the last thing you want to happen is for him to get sick or have a problem.
I would do as the others recommended - I would definitely suggest contacting a food pantry or your pediatrician's office. Don't be too proud to ask for help for your little guy - EVERYONE knows that formula is expensive!
I'm really sorry to hear you're in this situation! :( My son is 8 months too and we're on WIC and also worried about if the WIC check will cover his formula needs. Four days is a long time for him to go without formula. You need to find a way to get more formula for him. Ask anyone you can for help, even a neighbor or friend you thought you'd never ask. Try calling the WIC office to see if they can recommend any place that offers emergency services like this. Try LSS, try Catholic Charities, try Salvation Army, try your local hospital's maternity ward.
In the meantime, water and cereal in his bottle may help fill his tummy but not for long. I'm praying you find a way to get more formula. Once you're over this hurdle, try to find some ways to get him to eat baby food so he doesn't go through formula so quickly. That's what we're doing. Our guy loves cereal and not straight baby food so I mix every meal with cereal and slowly have increased the ratio of baby food to cereal.
Call the local food pantries. Do you attend a church? You could call your pastor. Is there a crisis nursery nearby? They would definitely be able to help you.
It won't be easy to ask for help, but you have to do it ... for your son.
Good luck!!!
it is not recommended to put cereal in his bottle as it can be a choking hazard. Can you ask any of the local organizations if they can help you out with formula needs? A hospital, church, YMCA, Salvation Army. You can also contact your WIC office and see if they have any extra formula that has been turned in. With the baby food, just keep trying, but don't force it. He may not be ready yet, and while I know you are trying to supplement his formula, it is okay to not be ready to eat solids at 8 months. Try to mix the baby food with the cereal, that's how I was able to get my daughter to eat it. Good luck and I hope you are able to find some help.
No, this baby needs to be on formula. I know about WIC and how frustrating it is. It is a supplement and not meant to be the whole month of food. You should always plan on having a couple of extra cans around just in case. You need to go to a local church or food bank place and ask them if they have any formula. There are emergency food places in just about every town. If you have to go to the pawn shop and pawn any jewelry or guns, TV's, etc...to get enough money to buy some formula. This baby should be 100% on formula with little food. Food at this point is to teach him to chew and swallow, not for nutrition.
