When the economy is bad, bread and butter issues often turn into medical issues. So tonight we issue a warning about baby formula: don't dilute it to try and make it stretch.

On Tuesday we told you about how a Florida baby almost died because his mother diluted his formula. She thought she could make it last longer and didn't know that what she was doing could be dangerous.

Local pediatrician Dr. Robert Sweeney told us Wednesday just how dangerous it is.

"We're basically seawater, and you have to have minerals in your intake," said Dr. Sweeney. "[When you don't,] you can get all sorts of problems with the internal organs -- the brain, the kidneys."

"You cannot water down the formula," Dr. Sweeney continued. "You can't take just plain water. Something like Pedialyte or something that has that kind of electrolytes in it -- electrolytes and minerals, mostly sodium and potassium."

Sweeney says that if you cannot afford formula, you may be able to receive it for free from sources such as area food pantries, WIC, and Medicaid.