Information for WIC Families on Temporary WIC Formula Options

The California Department of Public Health/Women, Infants and Children Division (CDPH/WIC) is here to provide the latest information. We connect California families to helpful resources related to your WIC infant formula and breastfeeding.

1. Background
2. Ending of temporary formula options
3. Shopping for formula
4. Breastfeeding support and education
5. Banked human milk
6. Questions and answers

Background

In 2022, CDPH/WIC and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) started monitoring access to WIC formulas in response to periodic formula shortages that started earlier that year. CDPH/WIC worked closely with the USDA and our formula contractors, Abbott and Mead Johnson, to help families get the formula they need. One action taken included temporarily adding more formula products to WIC’s Approved Product List. This gave families more choices at the store during the shortages.

Ending of Temporary formula options

On December 19, 2022, the USDA announced the plan to end the temporary expanded formula options in three phases. The phase out of the temporary expanded formula options began March 1, 2023, and will be completed on June 30, 2023.

Phase Out Timeline:

The last dates to purchase specific formula options are found in the list below.

Last Date to Purchase	Formulas
February 28, 2023	Enfamil milk-based formulas Gerber milk and soy-based formulas Store brand milk and soy-based formulas Similac soy-based formulas Imported formulas (i.e., Bubs and Kendamil) Any ready-to-feed formulas that do not require a prescription
April 30, 2023	Larger sizes of Similac powder formulas Larger size of ProSobee powder - 20.9 oz
June 30, 2023	Larger sizes of therapeutic formulas Hypoallergenic store brand formulas Imported therapeutic formulas Ready-to-feed therapeutic formulas*

* Similac Alimentum ready-to-feed will continue to be available on the WIC Card until Alimentum powder returns to the marketplace.

Please contact your local WIC office if you have any questions about your temporary formula options.

WIC approved temporary formula options:

If your benefits show one of the categories below, you can buy any formulas on that category’s list.

1. Powder Formulas English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF)
2. 12.9 oz Enfamil ProSobee Powder Formula English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF)
3. Therapeutic Formulas English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF)

Finding your approved formula:

Example

In this example, the family’s food balance shows they have been issued 7.0 cans in the Powder Formulas category. This means that they can buy any of the formulas in the list found above named: “Powder Formulas.”

Shopping for formula

WIC families should do the following when shopping for WIC formula:

• Shop at WIC approved stores. Find WIC grocers at MyFamily.WIC.ca.gov.
• Try to find your regular formula first.
• Scan the product with your California WIC App to confirm it is approved before checking out at the register. If you do not have a WIC App, follow the steps to download the app on the WIC App webpage.
• If unable to use the WIC App while shopping, use the temporary formula options lists on this page to confirm a product is approved before checking out at the register.
• You can buy more than one kind of formula if it is on the list.
• Larger containers will use more of your benefits because they make more formula.

Additional Tips

• Purchase formula at the beginning of the WIC family’s benefit cycle. Try not to wait to make purchases until the end of their benefit period. The WIC Card allows families to make many purchases throughout the same benefit cycle. You do not have to purchase formula all at once. Please contact your local WIC office if you have more questions.

• Call stores before shopping to see what WIC-approved formulas are available to purchase.

  • Ask grocers what days they expect formula shipments. It may be necessary to make more shopping trips or shop at more than one location to get all their formula. Nearby WIC-authorized grocers can be found here or on the California WIC app.
  • Some WIC-approved grocers may have purchase limits for formula. Purchase limits are allowed if the limits are for all customers, not just WIC families.

Breastfeeding support and education

Keeping up a good milk supply or making more milk.

The answer is simple, the more often you breastfeed, the more milk you will make.

• Breastfeed every time your baby is hungry. In the early weeks, your baby will eat at least 8-12 times every 24 hours. Do not put your baby on a strict feeding schedule. Follow your baby's cues, and let your baby tell you when it's time to eat.
• Make sure your baby is latching well. You can follow the tips here to help you get a good latch—and know if you have one.
• Offer both breasts at each feeding. Let your baby finish the first side, then offer the other side.
• Empty both breasts at each feeding. To make more milk, hand express or pump after a feeding to draw out all the milk and signal your body to make more.
• Avoid bottles and pacifiers in the early weeks. Feed your baby from your breast whenever you can.
• Pump or express your milk.
  • To make more milk: Pumping or expressing milk frequently between feeding sessions, and consistently when you are away from your baby, can help build your milk supply. Be sure to pump your milk if you are at work or school or away from your baby as often as you would breastfeed your baby at home.
  • To keep your milk supply: Be sure to pump your milk if you are at work or school or away from your baby as often as you would breastfeed your baby at home.
• Take good care of your breast pump. Read the pump instructions or watch a video so you know when to replace the valve or if you need to use a larger breast flange. Both things can affect your milk supply.
• Store your breastmilk safely. Follow recommended guidelines to safely store your expressed milk. You can find the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommended storage and preparation techniques here.
• Relax and massage. Relax, hold your baby skin-to-skin, and massage your breasts before feeding to encourage your milk to let down.
• Take care of yourself. Get plenty of rest, eat well, drink enough fluids, and let others help you.

Have questions? Contact your WIC counselor or WIC breastfeeding support professional. They can talk to you about your concerns and give you tips to increase your supply.

WIC has offices throughout California. Call your local WIC office for an appointment and locations near you. Find out if you are eligible for WIC or for the nearest WIC office on MyFamily.WIC.ca.gov.

Source: USDA WIC Breastfeeding Support

Relactation or restarting breastfeeding.

Is it possible to restart breastfeeding (relactation)?

Relactation is possible but not always easy. Set realistic expectations based on your individual circumstances.

What is Relactation?

• Relactation is a way a person may be able to build a milk supply and start breastfeeding again after having stopped breastfeeding or pumping.
• A lactation support professional can provide specific guidance on relactation practices by assessing each family’s individual situation.
• Parents and caregivers who are eligible for WIC can go to their local WIC program for help with relactation or for a lactation referral.
• Parents and caregivers should contact their health care provider about ways to get lactation support.

Here are some things to keep in mind if you are considering relactation:

Relactation basics

• Babies under 3 months of age have the most success.
• Babies who have breastfed before are usually more willing.
• If your baby will not latch or breastfeed, try exclusively pumping to increase milk supply. Once you start making milk again, your baby may be willing to breastfeed.

Getting started

• Breastfeed as often as baby is willing.
• Offer both breasts at least every 2-3 hours.
• Use an electric pump after offering the breast to empty the breast. This will help increase your milk supply.
• As your baby gets more of your milk, you can begin to decrease the amount of formula offered.

It takes time

• Commit to trying to relactate for 4 weeks. It can take a few days to a month or more before you start making milk again.
• The less time that has passed since weaning, the faster your milk supply will return.
• Offer breast when baby is not too hungry or sleepy.
• Increase skin-to-skin contact to help build your milk supply.
• Limit distractions as baby may be more willing to breastfeed in a calm and quiet place.
• Massage your breast while baby is at the breast. This helps baby empty the breast so your breasts will make more milk.

If you are thinking about relactation, talk to a lactation support professional or your health care provider. To find a lactation support specialist click here or contact your health plan for more information. If you are a WIC participant, contact your WIC Local Agency to determine if a lactation specialist is available.

Adapted from: Idaho WIC Program, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Public Health Division

Resources:

• HHS: Office on Women's Health Breastfeeding Website
• CDC | Supporting Families with Relactation
• La Leche League International

Banked Human Milk

Banked human milk may be a safe and nutritious option for some families to feed their infants. Families who wish to use banked human milk must have a prescription from their pediatrician or health care provider with a medical diagnosis, amount needed, and duration of the prescription. Families are advised to only use human milk provided from a Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) certified milk bank. Families are advised not to buy human milk on-line or participate in informal human milk sharing as it may not be safe and may be harmful to their infant.

Most health insurance plans have guidelines for when banked human milk is a covered benefit. Check with your health plan to see if it will be covered or available at a lower cost. When it is not covered, the cost is $4.00 - $5.00 per ounce, plus the cost of shipping.

For California Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program Participants:

• Banked human milk is not a WIC-approved benefit and is not available for purchase with the California WIC Card.

Maybe you’d like to donate breast milk and this is a wonderful gift to share. More information on how to donate or purchase banked human milk can be found at Mothers' Milk Bank in San Jose or the University of California Health Milk Bank in San Diego, the two certified human milk banks in California.

Questions and answers

Can I buy non-WIC formula with my WIC Card?

California WIC has limited temporary options of formula to what you can buy with your WIC benefits.

More information on temporary formula options can be found here.

Ask your local WIC office if you have questions about formula options. CDPH/WIC will update this webpage when further changes are made.

What if I cannot find my prescription formula?

Contact your local WIC office if your prescription formula is not available at any stores. They can help determine what alternate formulas are available with WIC benefits.

You may be referred to your health care provider for another prescription formula that can be purchased with WIC benefits.

What breastfeeding support and education does WIC provide?

All WIC local agencies provide infant feeding support for breastfeeding, partially breastfeeding, and formula feeding parents. WIC is here to help support families who are experiencing breastfeeding problems or just have questions.

All WIC counselors are trained in infant feeding support. WIC offices also have trained breastfeeding support professionals such as International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs). These professionals can help with more difficult breastfeeding challenges if they occur.

Some WIC agencies offer breastfeeding peer counselor support. These are parents who have breastfed their babies and are available to offer peer-to-peer support.

WIC families should check with their local WIC office to see what type of support and education can be provided for families.

Page Last Updated: March 9, 2023

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