To think it is shocking boots don't give points on first formula

[Mrswhiskerson]

This was brought to my attention again because a friend of mine has just had a baby tried to breastfeed suffered mastitis and started feeling really down so she switched to formula, when she handed over her advantage card she was told points were not given on first formula , she felt bad enough she could not breast feed and now it feels like she is getting penalised for it elsewhere.

I found the same thing when I had ds a year ago when I was told ,you don't get points for first milk I felt really bad too it's like your being punished for not breastfeeding in a way .

This is in no way a bf vs ff debate I just think it's wrong of boots to do this.

shocking? No, not even slightly.
Why on earth should they give points?
YABU

Do you also feel penalised for having a headache when boots don't give you points on paracetamol?

Like the idea of boobs being scanned for reward points at tills all over the country

x posted with everyone!

Nowhere does. That's why at 6 months I switched to follow-on milk which you do get points on. I was buying a tin every 2 days at the time.

(Might not have been follow-on......can't really remember)

They are not allowed to by law. Many things to get upset about in this world, but this one you'll have to leave unless you want to campaign for a law change.

at boob scan. "Unexpected item in bagging area."

YANBU. If points were given on formula that would be no more "promoting" it than all the other foods they sell.

Advantage points on anything aren't an entitlement. They are a bonus. Your friend could always buy her milk from Asda,eg, then she won't feel hard done by as she won't get any kind of bonus points on any shopping she buys. I [mainly] formula fed 3 children and I never expected any points or special offers on the formula. That's just the way it is. Every baby needs to be fed and every baby may need formula therefore that needs to be budgeted for.

no shop can give offers / discounts / points / promotions etc on any type of breastmilk substitute. (ie milk for babies under 6m old)

Its the law!

Boots are NBU..... if they gave points they would BU, and illegal

It's a fair point though about it being expensive. I quite like the idea of there being a few brands of formula, plain packaging, no advertising, ingredients clearly listed and available at a reasonable price.

The reason it's so expensive, imo is the marketing and advertising.

YABU Mothers who breastfeed don't get the points either.

Boots offer a scheme and by right can choose not to offer it on certain products (even putting the law aside). Same at Tesco. You don't get points on fags either

Not this bloody debate again.

They are not penalising her, they are just not rewarding her. In the same way you cant get clubcard points on vodka or ciggies.

I think you can get boots points on medicines. The other day I purchased some Sudafed and the lady asked for my advantage card.

The same law applies to any form of promotional rewards or points for tobacco products and lottery tickets.

iirc you don't get Nectar/Tesco points for fags, either. I'm being punished

I am of course joking as I wouldn't set foot in Sainsbury let alone Tesco however my point is that there are some products which stores are not allowed to promote. First milks are one, tobacco is another.

YABU and a bit daft to find it "shocking", basically.

ilovemydog, they're not allowed to advertise 1st and 2nd milks, either. Just the follow ons from 6 months plus.

So is formula considered to be along the same lines as tobacco and gambling?

I suppose, having thought about it, it is unfair that formula milk is practically the most expensive thing in the baby section and is the item that you buy the most frequently and you can't collect points on it and it is never on offer (3 for 2 etc). But i understand legislation which says you can't promote first baby milk so i just accept it. I switched my DD to the second stage milk at 6 months but that's rarely on offer anyway.

I find the price increase more unfair, in the 8 months ive been using formula it's gone up from £7 to £9 a tub and I have to pay it, i have no choice! I feel penalised by the price increase, not by being denied the opportunity to collect points.

AFAIK lottery tickets, stamps and medicines are also not included in points collections.

As DD is my first I was unaware of the regulations regarding formula. I do combination feeding & I agree, it's expensive - Aptamil is nearly £9. I got a £5 voucher through Boots parenting club & when I tried to redeem it against some Aptamil, the woman at the counters was pretty rude & I felt a bit ashamed of buying formula. I hadn't read the small print - but I was sleep deprived & had no idea anyhow.

It's a shame not to get points as it's a significant regular purchase & would help over time, esp with the bonus points for baby items, but hey ho.

No, but they're not having to spend the money in the first place. For those who can't breastfeed there's no other option.

"YABU Mothers who breastfeed don't get the points either."

Goodness is that DM article really current or is it from their archives, this was how it was when I had DS1 and he is now in secondary school. AFAIK nothing has changed since then.