To panic buy my babies milk.. because of panic buyers?

[WhatDoIDooDIoDtahW]

DP thinks I’m being unreasonable. We both think all this panic buying is way over the top and we’ve shopped as normal (except not being able to find toilet roll and pasta)

But I went out to get a tin of my babies milk yesterday and there is none anywhere. All out of stock. We usually have one open and one in the cupboard. But we’re nearly done with the current tin and will be moving into the spare tin in a couple of days. I said to DP that if I do manage to find some I’d like to have 2 or 3 tins in the cupboard spare. She’s getting through it much faster now she’s on 7oz and I’m starting to worry that when it boils down to needing some I won’t be able to find it and DD will go hungry.

I even said to DP that maybe I should try breastfeeding again (had no supply so had to put baby into formula) but I’m not sure whether I’d be able to make enough if any at all.

I hate all this panic buying.

I think it is entirely appropriate to have 2 weeks of formula (no more) in the house so that if you have to self isolate as a household you can feed the baby.
I am EBF but I would prioritise formula over everything else but not clear the shelves either.

It may be possible to re-establish supply, depends how long since you stopped. It’ll be a slog though, and you may need a pump.

What age is your baby? If mine was young again, I’d try to re-establish breastfeeding if possible. Tbh if I had to panic buy baby milk, I would.

If you find it then buy some, I am against the way people are behaving but when it comes to feeding a baby I would absolutely ensure I had plenty. Try supermarkets early morning x

How long does a tin last i can't remember ? anyway buy your usual tins with maybe one extra . Dont stock up give shops time to re order. Also try local chemist instead if the supermarket.

Buying 2 is completely acceptable

I think they people buying 4 or more are being ridiculous and they are now coming up for sale for ridiculous prices on eBay. 😡😡 pure evil

It's the one thing I would make sure I had stock of. What brand do you use?

I saw somebody on FB selling tins of SMA it was extra they were willing to share

I read on another thread that boots still had plenty of formula and you can order online to be delivered in store the next working day.
I would have enough to get you through a few weeks- id like to think that if needed mothers would help each other out...there is no way I wouldn't offer nappies/wipes/milk to a mother in need if things did get (more) ridiculous

I normally bulk buy milk from Amazon because for the brand we use it's slightly cheaper, so that means we usually have a supply of 2 - 8 boxes spare anyway. The price has gone up slightly but it's still cheaper than in the shop and I think it's sensible to have a few weeks spare supply.

Ever since the first stories about Coronavirus popped up I've been buying 1 tin of formula every time we go shopping or to the shop so not going crazy and buying 5 at a time or anything and we currently have 6 tubs in the cupboard. In glad as recently there haven't been any when we've been shopping.
We can eat and survive on anything but baby needs milk 🤷🏻‍♀️
I deffo would be buying 1 or 2 a time when you go to the shop

I dont think its unreasonable. We've been doing exactly that, we can go hungry should we have to self isolate but theres no way I'm risking running out of formula for our 3 month old. I dont consider it panic buying, surely its just sensible to have enough in as most of us are likely to need to self isolate at some point very soon.

Would absolutely prioritise milk over anything else too. Was also going to suggest trying Amazon (direct, not one of their marketplace sellers). Would not touch eBay with a barge pole at the moment, especially for something as important.

In the meantime, try not to worry too much (of course, you will), the shops will restock very soon.

I bought a months worth yesterday. I felt horrible to be honest, but it was the first time I'd found any in a week and I've barely slept worrying about feeding my baby. It's hard, you can't help but look out for your own even though it feeds the problem.

Try a Pharmacy. Saw on FB that they can order some in for you.

Please don't feel horrible, Freddy. Bulk buying probably generally not a good idea but baby milk is certainly an exception.

(I wouldn’t think of a month as stockpiling anyway. We were rural when ours were little and would generally have that much in as a matter of course).

Freddo, not Freddy. Sorry!

YANBU .You have to have essentials. Panic buying is causing panic buying. I was determined not to panic buy and now I have one loo roll and have had to order a large pack online which I would not normally do.

I would, yes.

Ok these responses make me feel less guilty. I’ve been ranting on about how selfish it is to panic buy so many and now feel like I have to go and grab a couple myself so feeling hypocritical. She is on SMA but they didn’t even have any other brands of the from birth formula. They had a couple 6 months+ but DD is 11 weeks old.

I plan to have 3 spare in the cupboard really to be on the safe side but I won’t clear the shelf. If there are only a few there I will only buy 1. I hate the thought of clearing the shelf when another mother come come in after me looking for it.

A girl on Facebook was looking for cow and gate and I said I would look for her but again, none to be found in store.

I should start online shopping but I like to choose my actual food so I can get the best dates on it.

Also.. Covid-19 will be damned if it thinks I’m living on pasta for breakfast, lunch and a dinner for the next 3 years.

Nothing wrong with having 2 or 3 in. I have 3 bottles of calpol and 3 bottles of nurofen that I've got over the last month just incase. I think there's a difference between staying stocked up and panic buying.

I really feel for you and everyone worried about this. You prioritise your own baby OP, I’d buy formula over just about anything else. Hope you find what you need soon, I’m glad people have been able to suggest good options.

Unfortunately people who started panic buying are now causing others to do it too with formula. Had to try 5 different shops to get the one last tub in boots on sat. We only have the one tub on the cupboard now need to try and get some more today 😭 I've read Superdrug also do a click and collect if that helps.

I been having the exact same dilemma. Didn’t want to have several tubs in my cupboard whilst another mum was frantically looking for some to feed her hungry baby. But when I looked for some yesterday and couldn’t find any I worried I’d put my morals above the well-being of my own baby. Iv managed to order 2 to be collected on Thursday the next town over. Boots sold out, Asda, none within 10 miles. Online chemist, the website was overloaded. Happened to see one box at the petrol station this morning and thought at least I can leave that for someone else. Though now worried that they could sell out before I get my order.

I haven’t panicked until last night when I thought about the consequences of not being able to get formula for my 15 week old .

It’s a hard one but a few weeks ago before any panic set in we bought 3 tins. I haven’t seen any shortage of it yet (didn’t go to a supermarket over the weekend.) I’m now starting to worry as if necessary we can make do with whatever but baby needs milk. Also worried over nappies too.

If you would consider donor breast milk there is often some available on human milk for human babies fb site x I have donated a few times x