to think MN shouldn't support boots co-advertising newborn bottle sets and "follow on" milk

[ICBINEG]

when there's a national campaign on to promote BF?

Presumably this advert passes the letter of the law regarding the non-advertising/non-special offers on formula for new born's but it defies the spirit in every way possible.

AIBU to expect a little more social responsibility from MN?

Ok FairyJen it sounds like we agree then

I think there should be far more information available about formula. I just don't think advertising fulfills that need.

Sockmuppet- plenty of studies have been controlled for socio-economic background, actually.

Op - YANBU. I was shocked to see 2 pages of people disagreeing with you - I thought I'd stepped into a parallel universe (or maybe net mums?!)
Sadly some people can't help but see these types of posts as a personal attack. I can understand - its a sensitive topic. But it's really not personal.

Cat

Op - YANBU. I was shocked to see 2 pages of people disagreeing with you - I thought I'd stepped into a parallel universe (or maybe net mums?!)

There you are for an example of snobbish bullshit.

You could be the healthiest breast fed toddler in the world. Doesn't for one second mean that you won't get hit by a car thirty years from now break your leg and require thousands upon thousands of pounds worth of surgery and physio. Won't stop someone from getting depressed after smart image break up requiring medication for years and it won't stop people getting drink or taking drugs. All of which cost the nhs millions a year. And you won't ever know that being breasted or formula fed woulda made any difference by that point. Stop attacking people's choices we do not need your approval!!!

Joke, sorry. Misplaced.

Obviously advertising is not information but why only expose people to one side of it? The BF adverts are able to advertise, if you CENSOR the rest then surely you are at risk of belittling or judging people. I had a statutory 11 days leave and then I had to go back to work. Not ideal but the bills must be paid. My choice for working abroad but i felt that the quality of life and opportunity outweighed the guilt. Healthy reasonably well adjusted brood and I absolutely stand by my right to choose without being sighed at and assumed to be a bit thick.

I didn't mean because of people Ffing, by the way. That would have been snobbish bullshit! I just meant because mn has a reputation for being a bit lentil-weavery, it was just a silly joke. Sorry.
The rest of my post still stands though...

My ideas for information that should be available from one trusted and independent source would include.... exactly what all the ingredients in formula are for, what they are derived from, how they are tested, what side effects they might have, comparisons of different formulas so you can choose between brands, step by step printable photo instructions on safe handling/preparation, information about why that is important, just for starters.

Op I don't have an issue as such with your view on advertising its more the fact that you are using formula as the platform to prove your point.

We all k ow there are pitfalls to advertising but you never hear men go "carlsberg probably the best beer" er no "becks is best" " you don't get a hangover thus saving the nhs millions On paracetamol every year....

Instead it seems to be always about how ff are awful mothers. Surely the fact that we feed our children regardless of how is the important issue.

There are other advertising areas you can attack if you feel that strongly. Why pick this one?

OK thanks for clarifying there Cat.

There is a really good website which compares the brands Queen and as far as I was aware they are all pretty homogeneous.

I went to Tesco and manually compared all the boxes, my HV told me they couldn't comment on which brand any more - which I suppose makes sense but it would have been good if she said they are all the blardy same. Saved me a lot of work.

Cat98

"Sockmuppet- plenty of studies have been controlled for socio-economic background, actually."

Please could you link one as I am genuinely interested.

marriage break up fat thumbs sorry

Caffeine drip - but you could say that about anything! I might as well stuff my face with burgers and chips, not worry about veg, who cares - I might get hit by a bus tomorrow!
(not comparing ff to burger and chips before anyone shouts - just saying that trying to make a healthy/ier choice isn't pointless because something randomly unlucky may happen in the future, surely?

But... who said women who choose to formula feed are awful mothers? Nobody on this thread has said that (from what I can see, anyway) and if they did they would be called out on it pretty damn fast.

And I think the main reason formula advertising gets focussed on is that the people whose sole source of nutrition is being decided are not able to make that decision for themselves (being babies and all that ) and so there needs to be very stringent control on the factors that influence the decision making process.

Even without any adverts babies are not going to be making the choice tho so surely it's better that parents are informed WELL about ALL the feeding choices

FairyJEn - because formula marketing does huge damage worldwide. Women in developing countries who are perfectly able to BF, are handed 'free' formula, which they make up with water that carries disease.
The free samples run out, the woman's own milk supply has dried up and her family are left trying to find the money to pay for expensive formula - which they will make up with disease-ridden water.

These are the same companies that hand out cows, and bears and all the other gubbins to new mothers here - and everyone says 'what's the harm?'.

It's ok cat I was just replying to the point that it costs nhs millions apparently. That there r far more things that cost far more and that advertising or no advertising it's it the sole drain on the nhs :)

I agree with OP

Because she has objected to the advertising, not to women using formula (classic MN straw man scenario)

The TV adverts for formula milk are appalling. Particularly the Aptimil ones. They may be sneaking under the wire by only advertising "follow-on milk" but they are disingenuous.

"Breastmilk is the best protection for your baby" No, it's FOOD. It IS "normal", it is not some medical precaution.

"If you decide to move on" - well, I agree with a previous poster who pointed out that this implies a progression of steps which is unnecessary.

Several of the adverts for follow-on milk show babies far too young to be drinking it.

I would ban advertising of all formula products personally.

It's not

I've been Googling and can't find a link about FF babies costing the NHS more money due to illness than BF babies?

Does anyone have a link please?

Absolutely FairyJen

Information is crucial.

Advertising isn't information though, its idealising guff with the sole intention of getting you to buy a product.

I mean for example Aptamil go on about 'immunofortis' on their packaging and in their adverts. What is it? Where does it come from? What does it do? What side effects might it have? What other formulas include it under a different name? Is it vegetarian?

You don't get that, fairly important, information from an advert.