To be really annoyed you can't get points on formula?

[Jengnr]

Due to 'Government legislation'

How about the Government fuck off? I've made the decision (actually, it was made for me but that's neither here nor there), I'm spending the bloody money, why should I not be able to collect advantage points on that?

Wankers.

[choceyes]

Getting points is not a given right though is it? It's a bonus and we are probably paying for it anyway through a price mark up. I can't see how not giving points for formula is discriminating against the FF mothers.
How come a breastfeeding mother can't get a couple of packs of babywipes for free every month then?
So if you choose to FF (and this is not including those that have tried and failed) why is it fair that you get free babywipes and a BF mother doesn't? Genuine question!

[MooMooSkit]

Well, I, for one, am grateful for formula companies, maybe I wouldn't of been if I hadn't been born with epilepsy and could of naturally fed my baby but it provided my son with what he needed for six months at least and he is a healthy happy baby, thank god. Its just bloomin points for goodness sake, i really don't see why we can't collect points on them at all.

[fairylightsinthesnow]

Is it reasonable that what happens with formula in the UK is influenced by what the formula companies may have done elsewhere in the world? If people want to boycott them for ethical reasons, that's their decision, like Nestle for example, but I agree with those who say that to suggest people ff due to advertising etc is far too simplistic and patronising. Someone upthread suggested plain packaging - really?? I used SMA with DS just as the first one that came to hand when I needed it and swapped to Cow and Gate for DD as SMA didn't agree with her. There is some suggestion on here that MNetters who ff are ok because they have made an informed choice but there are legions of possibly younger, less well educated mums who are ff out of ignorance - well if that's so, then we need to a) improve antenatal info b) put crappy frozen, fast food in plain packaging and not incentivise it with points either as presumably that is what they will move onto using after weaning .
Choceyes, I suppose the argument might go that as you aren't paying for formula, you have more cash to spare for wipes? Its not about "fair" its about need.

[stargirl1701]

Try reading 'The Politics of Breastfeeding'. I FF dd after struggling with bf but it opened my eyes to the contemptible practices of the formula companies.

I agree with government on this one. YABU.

[choceyes]

Choceyes, I suppose the argument might go that as you aren't paying for formula, you have more cash to spare for wipes? Its not about "fair" its about need.
I do get your point, but those that have chosen to FF from the off (again, not mothers with medical complication and those that have tried and failed) should factor in the cost of the formula when they decide to FF when the alternative is free? And are you saying that all those who complain about not getting some clubcard points is because they need the free packs of wipes or whatever rather than thinking it's unfair? I got from the OP, that it's the unfairness of it that bugs her. However ofcourse I don't know her financial situation.

[fairylightsinthesnow]

perhaps "unfair" is the wrong word - maybe what the OP means is that especially given that formula may be one of the more expensive single items in the trolley, it is galling that you don't earn points on it for political reasons that have nothing to do with an individual's right to choose how they feed their child. Also, having re-thought my first post, formula should not be equated with processed junk food that may be a post-weaning diet because it suggests that formula is actively bad for you and full of nitrates, sugar and salt which of course it isn't. It is baby nourishment, an alternative to bf, not poison. I was really sad for one of my friends when, for various reasons she started giving her very hungry baby formula as well as BM she told me she cried and felt awful. Selling it in plain packaging (maybe go the whole hog and only have it over the counter too) will simply reinforce the idea that ff is somehow shameful and wrong.

[SirBoobAlot]

Stargirl it is so eye opening, isn't it? I remember reading it and just thinking "How the HELL did I not know about this!".

Formula companies do not care about your baby, they do not care about your bank balance. They are ripping everyone off to make a huge profit. No one except those reaping the rewards at the top benefits from the outrageous over pricing.

MooMoo, no one is saying that formula shouldn't exist, or that an alternative should not be available for those that either can't or choose not to breastfeed. But that doesn't change the fact that the companies are bastards.

There should be an alternative where the focus is on what actually goes into it (it is only in the last 15 years that companies have had to start declaring what formula is made out of. Think about that for a second...), with sufficient explanation of how to use it safely, and no marketing. There is no need posters and billboards and TV commercials to be screaming at us everywhere we turn.

To those saying that it's not fair, do have a read of The Politics Of Breastfeeding. It's not a breastfeeding book in the sense of explaining about breastfeeding, and doesn't make you feel bad if you chose not to. But it explains in a much better way why things like the WHO code have to be in action.

[SamSmalaidh]

fairylights - the rules about not temporarily discounting formula are to protect babies in this country. Parents who formula feed need to be able to know what the price is before they choose that option, otherwise you could end up in a situation where mothers stop/don't breastfeed because they can afford formula at the current price, and then a promotion/discount ends and it becomes unaffordable.

[SirBoobAlot]

But loyalty points are a form of promotion, both for the shop and the product.

[mellen]

Loyalty points are a marketing device and also a way for the shop to gather information about your shopping habits. They are not designed as method for them to issue you with free baby wipes

[stargirl1701]

Tbh, I would like to see a massive investment in milk banks throughout the UK. I would've chosen to feed dd donor milk over ff had the choice been available.

[SamSmalaidh]

I think it would be very difficult in law to distinguish between temporary price reduction via points, and temporary price reduction via special offers, sales, or 2 for 1. Plus, a line has to be drawn somewhere - if it is blurred so no temporary price reductions except via points, then the formula companies would undoubtedly find a way to increase this. See the way they got round it being illegal to advertise "breastmilk substitutes" but creating a new product (follow on milk) and labelling it "not a breastmilk substitute".

[RichManPoorManBeggarmanThief]

Tbh, I would like to see a massive investment in milk banks throughout the UK. I would've chosen to feed dd donor milk over ff had the choice been available

It's not realistic though because unless the donors are getting paid, they're not going to donate in anywhere near high enough quantities. With the best will in the world, I'm not going to spend another hour a day expressing so someone can avoid formula, not because I'm a mean bitch, but just because I don't have the time. How many new mums do?

[MrsHoarder]

But then what about the boots parenting club where you get 1 point for every 10p spent? Or a "milk club" where anyone buying milk gets bonus points?

The problem is tat when you start introducing exceptions the companies will look for loopholes and to "game" the system.

[TarkaTheOtter]

Even if breastfeeding didn't exist it would still be better for formula feeding mums if points WEREN'T allowed on formula.

Using promotional tactics like points allow shops and companies to hide or complicate the "true" price of formula. You have to look at the actual price, then how much the points are worth etc. This makes it more difficult to compare prices and shop around and therefore keeps prices higher. It's basic economics.

We'd all be better off if these promos were banned on every product, but keeping them off something as vital (and expensive) as first stage formula is a start.

This shouldn't even be about bf v ff. it's about keeping the price of necessities as low as possible.

[ICBINEG]

rich I bet the milk bank model works fine when the BF FF split is 99:1 like in Norway.

It wouldn't currently work here because the split is 60:40 in the early days.

I was very keen to donate milk but was not allowed on account of having had a blood transfusion after giving birth (which is a dumb rule by the way).

[NotADragonOfSoup]

The problem is tat when you start introducing exceptions the companies will look for loopholes and to "game" the system.

Like the utterly pointless "Follow On Milk" which evades the advertising ban.

[NotADragonOfSoup]

Anyhow, infant milk isn't the only thing you can't collect loyalty points on.