The Clarion-Ledger

Shanderia K. Posey
sposey@jackson.gannett.com

Who doesn't know what it means to "try and make things stretch" or, in other words, last a little longer.

Often this scenario reaps benefits because cutting back results in keeping a few more dollars in your pocket. Unfortunately, such measures prove costly in more ways than one when it concerns health.

Sign of times

Because of the stringent economy, some doctors worry there could be an increase of parents diluting their infant's baby formula.

The issue recently made headlines when a 5-month-old Florida infant,4 pounds underweight, was brought to a hospital. The baby was having seizures and had stopped breathing. Later, he was diagnosed with water intoxication. The mom, who received free formula through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children or WIC, admitted to diluting the baby's formula because she couldn't afford to buy more when the free supply ran out. She was unaware her actions could kill her child.

Diluting formula drastically reduces the amount of nutrients, and, though water is good for you, too much can kill you. The near-tragic case serves to remind or inform parents how dangerous it is to not follow instructions on baby formula cans.

As nutritional expert Barbara Levine of New York points out, parents must remember formula is a nonbreast-fed infant's sole source of nutrition. PBM Nutritionals, LLC, a supplier of store-brand infant formula found at leading retailers, recommends parents breast-feed or use formula responsibly.

Store brands

It's been quite a few years since I had to purchase a can of formula, but back then they were about $20 a pop. The store brands always cost less, and guidelines are in place to ensure formula quality.

"If money is an issue, parents must understand that store brand infant formulas cost up to half the price of comparable national brands," Levine said. "And the FDA sets the nutritional and quality standards for all infant formulas, so store brand formulas have to meet the same strict guidelines as national brands."

No matter how hard times are financially, skipping doctors' visits, medication or meals and diluting formula will mean paying for it one way or another in the future.

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