LEXINGTON, Ky. — Parents and their kids have been affected by the baby formula shortage nationwide. Here in Kentucky, doctors and dietitians are working to help parents find what they need.

Lexington Pediatric Doctor Elizabeth Hawse said the baby formula shortage has been an issue for months.

“The number has decreased but we still have the same demand, so it’s just now harder to find the formula,” Hawse said.

It’s a situation that comes after an Abbott baby formula production plant recalled its products.

“The majority—and majority of children—can use a simple what we as pediatricians called milk-based formula, which is any commercial formula that’s out there your baby can use,” Hawse said.

Although there is concern, Hawse said people need to use their doctors as a resource. 

“Usually, if you’re having trouble and you can’t find it anywhere, call your pediatrician. A lot of times we will have samples, or we can contact the formula representatives to see where they know there’s a formula available,” Hawse said.

Teresa Lee, a pediatric dietitian, said if babies and toddlers don’t get the proper formula, it could cause damage to their development.

“It can be incredibly devastating to a child’s health and future development and growth. It can impact their brain development and their motor skills,” she said. “Your nutritional status in the first few years of life is critical.”

Critical enough that Dr. Hawse is warning people to stay away from making their own. 

“There are definitely people who are my parents’ age that were raised on that and did fine. But there are a lot of babies who did not do well, whose IQs are lower than they should be or they didn’t grow as they should be, because we did not have a commercial baby formula,” Hawse said.

Hawse and Lee say the hospitals and health care clinics in Lexington are some of the first places you should look for formula.