If you’ve run out of infant formula and can’t get more right away, you have several options to bridge the gap safely. The most important thing to know: do not water down your remaining formula to stretch it, and do not attempt to make formula at home. Both carry serious health risks for your baby. Instead, focus on finding a replacement supply quickly, because most of the solutions below can get formula into your hands within hours.
What Not to Do
Two common instincts in this situation are genuinely dangerous. The first is diluting whatever formula you have left by adding extra water. Babies’ kidneys cannot handle excess water the way an adult’s can. Overly diluted formula floods the body with water while providing too little sodium, which can cause a condition called hyponatremia. Infants have been hospitalized with seizures after being fed watered-down formula or plain water, even over relatively short periods.
The second is making formula from scratch using recipes found online. The FDA has received reports of infants hospitalized with severe nutritional and electrolyte deficiencies after being fed homemade formula. These recipes have never been evaluated for safety. They can also harbor bacteria from your kitchen that commercial manufacturing processes are designed to eliminate. No combination of grocery store ingredients can reliably replicate the precise nutrient balance a baby needs.
Where to Get Formula Fast
Your pediatrician’s office is a good first call. Many offices keep formula samples from manufacturers and can provide enough to cover a day or two while you find a longer-term supply. Even if the office is closed, an after-hours nurse line may be able to point you to local resources.
If you’re enrolled in WIC (the federal nutrition program for women, infants, and children), contact your local WIC office. They can often authorize alternative brands or sizes if your usual formula is unavailable. If you’re not currently enrolled but have a low income, you may still qualify. The national hunger hotline, 1-866-348-6479, can connect you with immediate food assistance.
Dialing 2-1-1 from any phone connects you to a local resource network that tracks food pantries, community centers, and nonprofits distributing formula. Many of these organizations stock formula specifically for emergencies. Food banks, churches, pregnancy resource centers, and family service nonprofits in your area may have formula available on a first-come, first-served basis. Some partner with mobile distribution programs that bring baby essentials directly to families in need.
Beyond these resources, check pharmacies and grocery stores you don’t normally visit. Supply varies widely from store to store, and a location across town may have full shelves when your regular store is empty. Smaller convenience stores and dollar stores sometimes carry single-serving formula containers that get overlooked during shortages.
Switching Brands Is Safe
If you can find formula but not your baby’s usual brand, go ahead and use it. Most babies tolerate a brand switch without problems, and the CDC confirms this is safe. All infant formulas sold in the United States must meet the same federal nutrient requirements, so the core nutrition is comparable across standard brands.
An immediate switch is perfectly fine in an emergency. Under normal circumstances, a gradual transition (mixing the old and new formulas over a few days) gives your baby’s digestive system time to adjust, but when you’re out of formula, there’s no reason to wait. Your baby may have a day or two of mild fussiness or slightly different stools, but this typically resolves on its own.
One important distinction: make sure you’re buying infant formula, not toddler formula. Toddler drinks are marketed for children over 12 months and are not designed to meet the nutritional needs of younger babies. They often contain added sugars and lack nutrients that infants require. The label should clearly say “infant formula” and be intended for babies from birth through 12 months.
If Your Baby Is Over 6 Months
Babies who have already started solid foods have a small advantage in this situation. You can lean a bit more heavily on solids to help fill the gap while you track down formula. Iron-fortified infant cereal mixed with water, pureed fruits and vegetables, and mashed soft foods like banana or avocado can all help keep your baby fed.
That said, solids are not a replacement for formula at this age. Breast milk or formula remains the primary source of nutrition for babies between 6 and 12 months. Solid foods gradually make up a bigger share of the diet over time, but they don’t yet provide the full range of calories, fat, and nutrients a baby this age needs. Think of solids as a way to buy yourself a few extra hours, not a few extra days.
Babies under 6 months who haven’t started solids should not be given food as a substitute. Their digestive systems aren’t ready, and the risk of choking and nutritional imbalance is too high.
If You’re Able to Breastfeed
If you previously breastfed and stopped, relactation (restarting milk production) is possible but takes time and consistent effort. It won’t solve a same-day emergency. However, if you’re currently supplementing with both breast milk and formula, increasing nursing frequency can help stretch your formula supply further. Your body will respond to the increased demand by producing more milk, though this ramp-up takes a couple of days.
Some communities have human milk banks or informal milk-sharing networks. If you’re considering donor milk, milk from an accredited milk bank has been screened and pasteurized. Informal sharing carries more risk because the milk hasn’t been tested, but many families use these networks successfully. Your pediatrician can help you weigh the options.
What Cow’s Milk Can and Can’t Do
Regular cow’s milk is not safe as a formula replacement for babies under 12 months. It doesn’t have the right balance of iron, vitamin E, and essential fatty acids, and it contains protein and mineral levels that are hard on immature kidneys. Giving cow’s milk for an extended period puts a baby at risk for iron-deficiency anemia and other nutritional problems.
In a true emergency where no formula is available at all, some pediatricians have noted that a small amount of whole cow’s milk for a healthy baby over 6 months may be acceptable for a very short window, no more than a day or two, while you secure formula. This is not a general recommendation. It’s a last resort. Call your pediatrician before doing this so they can assess your baby’s specific situation and help you get formula as quickly as possible.
Plant-based milks like almond, oat, soy, and rice milk are not appropriate substitutes for infant formula at any age. They lack the calorie density, fat content, and nutrient profile babies need.
Building a Buffer for Next Time
Once you’ve resolved the immediate crisis, keeping a small backup supply on hand can prevent it from happening again. A one-week reserve is a reasonable target. Buying one extra container each shopping trip until you reach that buffer is manageable for most budgets. If cost is a barrier, WIC benefits and manufacturer coupons (available on most formula brand websites) can help offset the expense. Rotate your stock by using the oldest container first so nothing expires on the shelf.