Abbott is initiating a proactive, voluntary recall of certain lots of 2 fluid ounce/59 milliliter bottles of Ready-to-Feed liquid products for infants and children, including the brands Similac® Pro-Total ComfortTM, Similac® 360 Total Care®, Similac 360 Total Care Sensitive, Similac® Special Care® 24, Similac Stage 1, Similac® NeoSure®, Similac Water (Sterilized) and Pedialyte Electrolyte Solution. This recall is due to a potential for compromised seal integrity.
If a product is included in the recall, do not use the product. For all feeding-related questions or questions about your child’s health, contact a health care professional.
To identify if your product is included, please visit similacrecall.com to view a list of impacted lot numbers or use the lot number checker on the webpage. It is important to verify the lot number on the bottom or the side of the bottle as not all 2 fl. oz/59 ml product is included in the recall.
If you have questions, please contact Abbott’s Consumer Relations hotline at 1-800-986-8540.
For additional information, please call 1-800-551-5838 Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm EST to speak with a customer service representative.
While
we can’t say which way the wind will blow the hurricane, we want to ensure that
pregnant women and their families are taking the necessary precautions in case
things take a turn for the worse. It is vital to have a plan for disasters such
as hurricanes to avoid added stress on a family, especially during pregnancy.
These
tips should come in handy in creating a family communications plan so mom, dad
and any other family members involved know what to do as a team before, during
and after a hurricane or in an evacuation.
To begin with, everybody needs to have a Disaster Supplies Kit and secure any missing items if possible and make sure their cars are filled with gas, etc. But if you are pregnant or have an infant, it is important to plan accordingly.
Disaster Safety for Expecting and New Parents
Disasters, such as wildfires, hurricanes, and floods, can be unpredictable and devastating. Learn general tips to get prepared before a disaster and what to do in case of a disaster to help keep you and your family safe and healthy.
For pregnant moms, March of Dimes has
a recommended packing list found here. Make sure to pack enough bottled water to keep hydrated and do
not lift large or heavy objects – have a friend or family member help you. If
you are close to your due date, talk to your health care provider about what to
do in case of emergency.
For moms with
infants, March
of Dimes has many helpful tips for families facing emergency
situations:
• Keep a list of numbers that are important including your health care provider, case manager and hospital and keep a copy of you and your baby’s medical records and your baby’s immunization records. • Babies have an increased need during emergency situations for comfort provided by breastfeeding and it can also provide stress relief for mom. It is the best recommendation during hurricanes as you do not need refrigeration or clean bottles.
If you
are concerned about the health of you or your baby, contact your health care
provider or emergency room immediately.
After
the hurricane blows over, there are still many precautions to take. Do not
bring any babies or children into a home that has been evacuated from until it
has been checked for gas leaks, electrical system damage and sewage and water
line damage.
Watches and Warnings The National Weather Service issues a hurricane watch when the threat of hurricane conditions falls within 24-36 hours, and when conditions are expected in 24 hours or less a hurricane warning is issued. It is important to follow the advice of government officials and local law enforcement, so please listen when told to evacuate under their direction for the safety of you, your baby and your whole family.
Resources:
The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) is the nation’s only hotline dedicated to providing year-round disaster crisis counseling. This toll-free, multilingual, crisis support service is available 24/7 (call or text 1-800-985-5990) to residents in the U.S. and its territories who are experiencing emotional distress or other mental health concerns related to natural or human-caused disasters.
Callers and texters are connected with trained and caring professionals from a network of crisis centers across the country. Helpline staff provide supportive counseling, including information on common stress reactions and healthy coping, as well as referrals to local disaster-related resources for follow-up care and support.
Brevard County, FL – In the face of the ongoing nationwide shortage of baby formula, the Florida Association of Healthy Start Coalitions and its members are sharing guidance and resources to families struggling to keep their babies healthy. Coalitions are actively working with local and state partners to identify options for parents.
Recent reports indicate that 43% of the nation’s baby formula products are currently out-of-stock. The Healthy Start Coalitions recommend breastfeeding as the best source of nutrition for babies, although they recognize that this is not an option for some families. Families should not water down formula mix, make homemade formula, or use animal milk or any milk alternative, as these can lack a proper nutritional balance and pose a risk to young children. The Healthy Start Coalitions are recommending that families who need to find formula look into the availability at smaller stores and pharmacies or try purchasing formula from reputable online sources. Families should check with their pediatrician about changing formula, or for any advice needed.
“We share the public’s concerns about the current nationwide shortage of baby formula, and we’re actively working with the Florida Department of Health, policymakers and community partners to help find relief for those affected,” said Cathy Timuta, Chief Executive Officer of the Florida Association of Healthy Start Coalitions. “Our local Healthy Start Coalitions will continue to collaborate with local and state partners to help bring solutions to parents at this challenging time, and will provide local resources wherever possible.”
Timuta said families looking for additional information about best practices can find dependable, verified information from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Locally, the Healthy Start Coalition of Brevard has identified the following resources for families:
Manufacturer Resources:
Abbott: Store Locator: https://www.similac.com/where-to-buy-similac.html Consumer Hotline: 1-800-986-8540 Customer Service: 1-800-227-5767, Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm EST A physician can submit an urgent product request by completing and submitting this form.
Gerber: Store Locator: https://medical.gerber.com/storelocator/ MyGerber Baby Expert (www.gerber.com/mygerber-baby-expert) can connect you with a certified nutrition or lactation consultant by phone, text, Facebook Messenger, web chat, or video call, who can help you identify a similar formula that may be more readily available.
Florida Resources: •Florida’s Family Health Line provides local referral services statewide. They can be reached by calling 1-800-451-2229. •You may be eligible for Women and Infant Care Services (WIC) through the FloridaDepartment of Health. For more information on this resource, visit https://www.signupwic.com/. •Contact your local food bank. •Visit the Mothers’ Milk Bank of Florida (https://milkbankofflorida.org/) •Local hospitals may provide education, support, and resources to assist families.
For local information, please contact the Healthy Start Coalition of Brevard at 321.634.6101.
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About the Florida Association of Healthy Start Coalitions
The Florida Association of Healthy Start Coalitions is a network of statewide partners committed to bettering the lives of Florida’s babies and their families. Learn more at HealthyStartFlorida.com.
Welcome to my monthly blog courtesy of Healthy Start
Coalition of Brevard County. My name is Dr. Caylee Banta and I am a pediatric
occupational therapist serving the children of Brevard County, FL. For my first
topic, I believe it is the important way to start and educate/discuss what
“Back to Sleep” truly means.
When we think about “Back to Sleep” we can also look at the
evolution of sleeping programs that have been in place for our babies. The Back
to Sleep Program was developed in the 1980’s in developed countries to reduce
the number of infant deaths. There was a heavy influence by the media to
portray this program as lifesaving, but after the media began to diminish talks of the program and not discuss it much,
it was then up to healthcare providers to educate families of the benefits. One
area that research finds that healthcare providers lacked was not only
educating on the “back to sleep” program, but the dangers of putting your baby
on their tummy to sleep or “prone to sleep.”
The Back to Sleep Program, although, has been around for many years continues to be constructively modified and perfected. Since the program has been in effect it seems that the number of parents aware of the program has decreased by 7% from the 1990s to the 2000s—but the decrease in knowledge goes back to educating not only on back to sleep but the safety concerns of sleeping on the tummy.
Let’s take a look at the benefits of Back to Sleep, Tummy to
Play program. This program is recommended by the American Academy of
Pediatrics. The 2 most important things to remember when practicing safe sleep
practices is:
babies are safest when sleeping on their backs at nighttime and during naps.
tummy time is a great position or prone for babies to “play” but they need to be watched. This position helps promote strong muscles in a gravity resistant plane.
Majority of babies do not like tummy time, especially as
newborns. They prefer to be cuddled and held in positions of comfort such as if
they were in utero. Parents will typically ask “what amount of time is
appropriate for tummy time?” Tummy time should start when the baby comes home
from hospital. Babies should experience tummy time as much as they can tolerate
multiple times per day and the tolerance should be built up as the baby
continues to build muscle strength and enjoy the activity. What does tummy time
do?
encourages muscle strength
prepares the baby for their developmental milestones including crawling
incorporates visual scanning -improves neck control
*A tip to get your baby to enjoy tummy time is place an interactive toy in front of them or you get on the floor with them and vocalize (sing nursery rhymes, encourage cooing, etc.)
The Back to Sleep Program says that you should always place babies back to sleep EVEN during their naps. Babies need to be placed on a firm surface with no objects near the baby that could increase the risk of entrapment. Baby should not having anything that could cover their face during sleep. Babies should be in a temperature that is comfortable where they do not get too hot.
Please let me know if you have any more questions and always
remember BACK TO SLEEP and TUMMY TO PLAY!
