Ed Milliband and breastfeeding

This has nothing to do with whether or not Ed Miliband's partner breastfeeds, wanted to breastfeed, didn't want to breastfeed, could breastfeed, couldn't.

Nothing.

Her choice is her own business.

But Ed Miliband chose to bring this into the public domain, and chose to highlight the brand he used. The BBC chose to show this bit of the sequence and then to 'enhance' it with a close up of the branded formula.

I have no idea why the BBC did not spot this unusual bit of free advertising and avoid it.

I can imagine that Ed M has been told /decided to use the fact he is a father at all opportunities - we have to be reminded of why he has been Mr Invisible since his election as leader... 'cos he's been on paternity leave, the lovely man, see? He's so normal and cuddly and involved as a dad! We've had refs to it at PMQs, we have had an official portrait released to the press, and now we have him pointing out infant formula in Tesco's.

It is free publicity to Aptamil; it does undermine breastfeeding promotion efforts - not by much, of course, but it adds to it.

It's not acceptable.

I knew this would come up when I saw the news last night.

Then don't mention it.

That would at least indicate that the politician knew, or had been briefed, on the issues around BF and that if you haven't got anything constructive to say, don't say it, because it pisses people off.

We already have Katie Price and Denise Van Outen for the "don't want to" brigade.

the silly thing is, i searchd for Leo Blair an found no pictures of him being fed...not one. I think he was FF but there is no piccie to confirm this - obv blair decided to leave that side of things out.

i think this time round they have chosen to publicise their choices to be more 'relatable'

I have to disagree with OP,

"Wouldn't it be great if either partner spoke up and said that she'd wanted to bf but couldn't, and been frank and open about that?"

and what if she didn't want to BF???

agree with mgf - if politicians are going to bring "baby feeding" into public then they need to consider if the message they are putting across fits with the party line

well I for one am glad that the mu=others are feeding their babies how they choose too.
why should they pretend to do something just to make a point.

I agree with HF

Actually, I'm going to go out on a limb here.

Both DC and EM engaged in publicity opportunities with their newborns. They are using those babies to promote themselves.

Therefore matters such as how these babies are fed are of public interest, since both politicians have commented on it.

Neither of these opportunities were spontaneous, they were no doubt discussed endlessly with the Tory/Labour press committees, about how DC and EM could come across as nurturing yet authoritative men.

It was up to both of them to refuse to discuss any aspect of their babies' care and feeding regimes. They did, therefore we can discuss their (partners') decusion.

That I heard EM saying "breast is best" indicates that neither of them, nor their advisors have a clue. Breast is not best. Breast is normal whether you like it or not. It would be nice if they acknowledged this, rather than perpetuate the silly belief that bf and ff are somehow equivalent "choices".

Wouldn't it be great if either partner spoke up and said that she'd wanted to bf but couldn't, and been frank and open about that?

I agree with HF. I thought it was naughty that a particular product was mentioned i.e Aptamil. If he had walked past a bottle of Echo Falls and said "ooh Echo Falls thats our Friday night tipple" that would have been no more or less annoying.

The whole normalising bf argument is a little boring. Its really up to them how they feed their child. You have to remember he is a man and the whole bf v ff issue probably never even occured to him.

Just watched it again... on second look it's really naughty actually. It's a big no no in the editorial guidelines to mention unnecessarily (in this case) any brand names and the edited close up of the box of formula is totally wrong (wouldn't matter if it was formula or tins of beans, it's still wrong) As a BBC News picture editor that wouldnt' have got past me I'm afraid.

What granted said (but I am still EBF my 2.9 year old ...)

Who knows what's behind it eh?

I'm not bothered about whether Ed Miliband's baby is bf or ff, I'm more bothered about the BBC naming in a couple of seconds both the supermarket and then by way of a clip the brand of formula. Totally against editorial guidelines. Naughty Nick Robinson, shouldn't have been allowed to get that past the producer!

I bet some ignorant sod at the BBC was told to take a tiny chunk out of the video of his Tesco visit to insert in the rest of the story.

He/she (I'm guessing a he ) probably thought - oo baby stuff, that'll appeal to the public and show him in a good light as being involved with his new baby "cut, paste" job done

This got me really hopping mad after seeing it on the News at Six. I couldn't care less what Ed and his wife feed their baby. For all I know she desperately wanted to BF and couldn't....what I do object to is the BBC showing the clip and then showing a close up of the cartons . Aptimil must be rubbing their hands in glee at all that free advertising they've got...especially as by law it's illegal to promote first formula. Shame on you BBC

Well it does sound like a politician endorsing it to me - whether intentional or as the result of editing, someone made the decision somewhere along the line.

Maybe they mix feed. Maybe his DP hates BF-ing. Maybe she can't. Maybe they have a box of Aptamil in reserve for emergencies. Maybe he was just making conversation.

People are making far too much of this. It's madness.

as long as you feed your baby who cares if it Formula or not.

in terms of infant nutrition formula isn't normal. breastfeeding is normal and formula is the closest alternative.

"normalising formula"? So formula isn't normal?

i hate these sort of threads. all of a sudden it seems like BF is just anotehr stick to beat politicians with, first DC now EM. it's none of anyobody's business except his partners and his.

My betting is that while walking round Tescos he mentioned several "brands" while chatting to the staff and it wasn't his decision to leave that part of the filming in.

I think perhaps if there isn't any finger to point it would be at the BBC/editor of the news......not ED.

have just posted on the other thread about this.
He can feed his child how he likes, but actually i think the clip was promoting or at least normalising formula and therefore should not have been shown.