The Great Formula Scandal | What Will The Twins Do?

Phew! The last couple nights have been soooo much better. Squirt and Squish's sleeping schedule has gone back to normal and Mommy Minnow is so much happier :)

On another note, we're having trouble on the eating front. If it's not one thing, it's another, right? But it isn't the twins' fault.

Some background

When the twins came to live with us, they'd gotten used to drinking Infa* formula, so that's what we gave them too. It is one of the more expensive brands, but Infa is the only brand to carry a line for preemies (high caloric content), so it was best to stick with it.

_{*The actual brand name has been changed to protect the innocent ;)}

To keep track of what happens next, this table might make things a bit easier to follow:

Type	Age	Price
Premature	0+	$$$$$
A+ Level 1	0-12 mth	$$$$
Regular Level 1	0-12 mth	$$
A+ Level 2	6-36 mths	$$$$
Regular Level 2	6-36 mths	$$

When the doctor gave the go ahead, we moved the twins from Infa's premature formula (which was REALLY difficult to find) to their A+ version for infants.

After using the expensive, A+ version for awhile, we decided to try their regular version for infants. Squish liked it better than the A+, but it didn't sit very well with Squirt. So for awhile, we were actually buying two kinds of formula!

Just recently, we moved both girls to Infa's regular formula Level 2 (for 6+ months).

Here's where the story gets exciting.

About the time that the twins started Level 2, we started noticing that the formula was getting really hard to find. This was strange as it is a big name brand and usually takes over most of the formula aisle.

Turns out, there'd be a scandal.

A small organization had copied Infa's packaging and was distributing their own mixture of formula to small, local shops. The formula (being fake) was actually causing a lot of babies to get sick. [We buy our formula from a main distributor, so we didn't get any of the fake stuff.]

Since a lot of people were switching brands, Infa (or the distributors, I'm not sure which) decided to pull their formula that had been duplicated off the shelves. Guess which one that happened to be?

Their regular line.

A lesson in {formula} economics

We all know that when supply goes down, demand goes up. But what happens when there is no supply? Competitors' prices all go up.

Our doctor recommended we switch to a cheaper brand since we were having a hard time finding regular Infa. Interestingly, the brand she recommended isn't all that cheap any longer. Still, we decided to give it a shot since it's readily available and supposedly a favorite among those leaving Infa.

Babies don't care about economics.

It doesn't matter that this competitor's brand is probably the next best thing out there ... our girls don't like it. Normally, they aren't picky. Even when it was giving her stomach problems, Squirt would still drink Infa formula. But neither girl will drink this brand.

Matt went to several stores looking for Infa regular. And I tried to get it delivered from two grocery services. All out.

Black market formula

Thankfully, we didn't have to arrange any meetings with formula dealers. I was able to find some on Lazada (the Malaysian equivalent of Amazon). We ordered several boxes ... which made me feel like I was stocking up for Y2K (anyone else remember that?)

I just hope Lazada still has some when we run out of these!

My next investment

Who would've thought that formula could be such a precious commodity? Are any of you investing in formula? I know I'm considering it! ;)
*_{(Disclaimer: I'm not a licensed financial advisor and I've heard it has a short shelf life.)}

Is there something you can't live without? Let me know in the comments and I'll be sure to stock up on it! :P

If you're interested in reading the rest of our story:

• Intro: Surprise, we have twins! The story behind why I fell off the face of Planet Steemit...
• Part 1: Babies can be victims of human trafficking too
• Part 2: Bringing home the twins
• Part 3: They don't come with a manual | Taking care of twins
• Part 4: Two love stories and understanding the twins' loss
• Part 5: Feeding the twins, feeding ourselves, and working full-time
• Part 6: Twins, not twins & going out with preemie babies
• Part 7: Taking a family vacation with twins to Cameron Highlands
• Part 8: Night intruder | Our vacation to Cameron Highlands continued
• Part 9: Ending the year as parents and celebrating the twins' first Christmas
• Part 10: What it takes to be the Superdad of twin babies
• Part 11: The twins eat solids and get new nicknames!
• Part 12: Adoption & Attachment | How a baby handles grief and loss
• Part 13: Infant survival swimming lessons with the twins | Our "Baby Minnows" go underwater
• Part 14: The Steemit Twins are cranky | Is it the state of crypto that's got them down?

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