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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

384 replies

Mrswhiskerson · 07/09/2011 14:34

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.

OP posts:
AfternoonDelight · 08/09/2011 02:47

YABU

Breast is best - there is no denying this. There's no point in saying everything it contains compared to formula because we've all heard it before.

By law you cannot advertise or promote infant formula because breastfeeding is best for the first 6 months. This is regardless of the reasons why some mums choose or are unable to breastfeed.

AfternoonDelight · 08/09/2011 02:50

I say that as a mum that's formula feeding because I couldn't cope with the pain of two bouts of thrush and I returned to work after 8 weeks. Bad bad bad me.

wildhairrunning · 08/09/2011 06:26

Cloudy - of course redhen and I are not saying that all women can bf but it is a fact that most women can (it is just really hard work) so before you start spouting the word 'ignorant' you really should read the posts properly. If women chose to stop, then they should just say so - not say they couldn't when actually they could.

Of course there are cases where circumstances and reasons meant some women could not carry on (such as the lady who pointed out she was on epilepsy meds etc) but mostly it is a case of perseverance.

wildhairrunning · 08/09/2011 06:27

Afternoondelight - at least you are honest and not using excuses!

BigHairyGruffalo · 08/09/2011 07:45

I thought that the law preventing promotion/rewards of first formula milk wasn't so much to with promoting bf over ff, but was about how people choose between formula brands. What you feed your baby is an important choice, and by banning promotions/rewards on any of these products, people are more likely to compare them objectively.

DoingTheBestICan · 08/09/2011 08:08

I work in Boots & has already been said many times by wise mners Boots,nor Tesco et al are not allowed by EU laws to promote FF in anyway at all.

That means no points on it,cant redeem your points off it & it is not included in the 3 for 2 offers.

It is not our fault,if you want to take umbrage with it then contact your local MP & take it to the European Court of Human Rights,just please dont shout at me at the till point anymore,thankyou.

cloudydays · 08/09/2011 08:33

wildhair if you read the posts properly, you would have seen that what redhen said was that "invariably," women who say they couldn't breastfeed, really could have if they'd only persevered. That is what's ignorant and what I was responding to. I made that very clear in my post.

If you don't know the meaning of the word "invariably", you should look it up.

slavetofilofax · 08/09/2011 09:16

Come on Cloudy, you must have seen posts on here from plenty of people saying they couldn't bf because of mastitis.

That must make those of us who did manage to feed through mastitis miracle workers then.

The reality is that people who did manage to feed through mastitis probably have a higher pain threshold, more support or a stronger determination to breastfeed, but it doesn't mean that those who chose not not to breastfeed because of mastitis physically couldn't.

Formula feeding is a valid choice imo. We know that it is a very good substitute for breast feeding, which even with all it's benefits, doesn't offer any guarantees. Formula is not going to do a baby any harm, and using it can have the power to create a happier Mum, who will be less prone to PND. That is a good thing. We should all (including bf'ers) appreciate that such a good substitute is available.

There is no need for people to guiltily say they couldn't bf just because they chose not to, because formula has benefits to some parents, is a valid choice and a good substitute, which is not going to do any harm.

rogersmellyonthetelly · 08/09/2011 09:56

Ff is a valid choice, and for some women the only choice. As a bf cousellor I support the sale of formula. However due to the dubious morals of the formula companies, I believe that the law against points and offers on first and second stage milks is very necessary.
Before the law against advertising formula, companies would give out free samples of formula for infant milks in hospital, usually just enough to feed the baby until mums milk dried up, they did this in third world countries, knowing that many of these women would be unable to afford the cost of formula, and that many did not have access to clean water. This caused the death of thousands of babies, through malnutrition and through gastroenteritis etc. Please believe me when I tell you that formula companies are not interested in your babies welfare, other than to be sure that their product won't make your baby ill and therefore risk being sued. Their research is based on what will best sell their formula, and what will therefore make the most profits. The ingredients used in their milks will not be the best available, they use the cheapest available source of a substance that is safe for a baby to ingest.
Whilst the effects of this type of advertising in the uk would obviously not have the same catastrophic effect as we have clean water and the welfare state, it is naive to think that it would have no effect on the number of mums choosing to formula feed. I have lost count of the number of mums I have spoken to who genuinely believe that formula is the same as breast milk thanks to the clever marketing on the front of the tins. It's not the same as breast milk it's not even close. They haven't manage to fully analyse everything that's contained in breast milk yet. Formula is a nutritionally adequate substance which if prepared correctly will not harm your baby any more than most other lifestyle choices you make, but it's not the same as breast milk, and will almost certainly never be the same.
Ff if you like, bf if you like, its your baby and your choice, but whatever you do, make an informed choice. Read the labels on the tins, read the research, but always remember that formula companies have a financial gain if you formula feed, so it's in their interests that you do so. bf however has no benefit financial or otherwise whatsoever except to you and your baby.

Moominsarescary · 08/09/2011 09:59

If you feel physically, mentally or emotional drained due to mastitis or a screaming baby or not producing enough milk it's hardly just choosing to stop is it

If you want some sort of gold star for perseverance or having a high pain thresh hold or whatever go make yourself one

Some people feel that they physically can't continue, what right do you have to say they could and that they just chose to stop

ledkr · 08/09/2011 10:02

I was surprised at this too and the fact i couldnt hunt down a bargain as its not allowed to be promoted either,i cant bf as had a mastectomy so i did feel a bit hard done by.I am very pro bf,fed before cancer but i doubt very much if boots points would have influenced my decision to bf.

SiamoFottuti · 08/09/2011 10:09

what most of you are not getting is that nobody cares if you BF or not. Most people when they are through that stage don't care if they did it themselves or not. It could not be less important to people on a personal level.
All this law does is make BF and FF equal in monetary terms. Get the fuck over it and fins something useful to think about.

bumbleymummy · 08/09/2011 10:11

Good post rogersmelly.

southmum · 08/09/2011 10:19

Moomin has said what I was going to post

I couldnt carry on BFing as I knew I was going to end up either half dead through tiredness and making dangerous clumsy mistakes around the house (left gas on, poured boiling water straight on to my hand instead of into a cup of tea etc), I hated it so struggled to bond with DS and I cried every time he wanted a feed. I did not CHOOSE to stop I literally couldnt carry on for the health of both myself and DS.

(waits for someone to bleat on about if only I had more support yadda yada yadda Biscuit)

MilaMae · 08/09/2011 12:27

I think it's appalling and nanny state gone mad.

I had twins and the points would have been very useful.I also loathed bf with a passion,worse bit of parenting so far to date for me(although I'm suspecting the teenage years may give bf a run for it's money). Basically if I want to give my dc formula I damn well will and resent being penalised when parents readily let their very young children consume far worse and nobody bats an eyelid. Double,bullying standards.

If this kind of rule is ok for formula then they shouldn't give points for crisps,choc and all the other shite they sell which mums readily feed toddlers and children thus contributing to the nations obesity problem in children.

belgo · 08/09/2011 12:29

Milamae by not getting reward points you are not being penalised.

You are simply not being rewarded.

MilaMae · 08/09/2011 12:32

But it's ok to reward the purchase of junk food? As I said double,bullying standards.

Also it's well known Boots is slightly expensive and they compensate for it with their loyalty card system ie you get the extra pence you pay back to spend in their store so actually formula feeding mums are being penalised.

belgo · 08/09/2011 12:33

Rewarding the purchase of junk food is another issue entirely.

belgo · 08/09/2011 12:34

Is formula milk more expensive in Boots? If so, don't buy it there. it's available in all supermarkets.

Crosshair · 08/09/2011 12:36

Goto a cheaper shop?

belgo · 08/09/2011 12:37

Every now and again I go to Waterstones bookshops. They have three for the price of two offers on certain books. But what if the book I want isn't in that offer? It's annoying, but I don't feel penalised because of that.

Fo0ffyShmooffer · 08/09/2011 12:38

I've not read the thread because.. well.. there's every chance someone has said something to spark bf v ff narkiness and I can't be arsed.

No it's not 'shocking' as such, it's annoying and inconvenient. Ah well.

MilaMae · 08/09/2011 12:48

Why should busy mums with young babies have to shlep across town. Boots used to sell several things other places didn't and with formula you can often run out pdq ie you buy where you are you don't make a special journey.Sorry it's wrong,hypocritical and very unfair.

belgo · 08/09/2011 12:51

Milamae I'm sure the vast majority of parents go very regularly to supermarkets.

Formula milk is far more readily available in the UK then it is in other european countries. In Belgium you can only buy it in pharmacies which are shut for nearly the whole weekend. And it is more expensive.

If you really find it too hard to go to a supermarket to buy food for your child, then I wonder how you manage buying food for the whole family.

4madboys · 08/09/2011 13:00

it illegal to put point on formula as has already been said!

i shop at my local co-op and i cant get points on my reward cards when i buy tobacco, big deal!

and those who talk about having to spend £8-9 a tub, there ARE cheaper brands, i use hipp which is organic as well as being one of the cheapest ones available, even in boots its only £6ish a box.

interesting 'debate' on what counts as 'not' being able to bfeed and what is a choice?! with ds4 i got pnp and ended up in a psych unit, hence stopping bfeeding (the first three were fed for minimum 18mths and no2 and no3 until they were 3yrs old) so am VERY pro bfeeding.

even so with dd when it was difficult and i was struggling to cope with four other children and a baby who was a VERY difficult feeder, i ended up switching to formula, she was still fussy but it was easier to cope with.

what reasons exactly are 'good enough' to stop bfeeding?!! Hmm