To be shocked at the price of formula milk?

[Souredstones]

It's been 9 years since I was last pregnant and this time round I'm not going to attempt breast feeding because for my previous pregnancies I produced no milk and wasn't able to feed them. So I'm not stressing out I'm going straight in for the formula. I have medical reasons for doing so.

I get that they've put the price up to deter formula feeding. I know why. I agree breast is best. But from what I saw today it's now a sneeze under £10 a tin.

I'm lucky we can afford it, but what if you're on the threshold of not receiving help and find yourself, as I did, unable to bf even with the full intentions of bfing and being unable to afford this price.

Is there a reason it's doubled in price in the last decade? Have production techniques changed that much?

[HumphreyCobbler]

No need for multinationals to be making vast profits from an essential foodstuff.

yy to this

[Puffykins]

I too am unable to breastfeed, at least unable to breastfeed for very long. I did the maths though and child benefit pretty much covered formula, nappies, and baby wipes - I think.

[StealthPolarBear]

Congratulations OP :)
I think it's a valid point, and the way things are going I suspect desperate people will start to use the 6m+ milk earlier, or use other substitutes :(

[StealthPolarBear]

That's interesting Puffy. That said, that will only apply for the first child- I don't think you get much extra CB for the second? And you're screwed if you have twins!

[itchyandscratchy26]

I have twins. Aptamil first milk is costing me £20 per week.

[Souredstones]

The bottom line is babies health is what is going to suffer if people start switching early or start finding other alternatives.

[ImNotBloody14]

If you have twins do you only get cb for 1?

[Souredstones]

Children that arrive after your first get cb at a lower rate

[marriedinwhiteagain]

Well in Europe (France anyway) they put babies on cow's milk from 6 months. They did when dd was 6 months (14.5 years ago anyway). >>whispers

[mouseymummy]

The vouchers are the healthy start, you get an allowance of 620 a week. In my local shop (nearest supermarket is around an hours walk away) a tin of c&g is 10.75 and a small tub is 540.

The vouchers only cover 'from birth' milk so once you switch to 6m+ milk you have to find that money. One of the main reasons I've not switched dd2 over.

I will attempt to bf with this baby but if he is anything like his sister, ill be ff by day 2!

[ImNotBloody14]

You get £20 for child one and £13 for all children after that.

I agree- i think there should be a non- profit supplier of baby milk.

[HumphreyCobbler]

The formula companies have done a really good promotional job if the promotion of breastfeeding can be blamed for expensive formula.

[Parker231]

The formula manufacturers are the same as any company - they are in business to make a profit and baby formula is a marketing managers dream product as they know we have to buy lots of it.

[Souredstones]

Surely it's a regulated industry though? Or if its not shouldn't it be?
The price is ridiculous. How do mums of multiples cope? Is it not something that the government can step in and produce a standard product?

[LoveBeingUpAt4InTheMorning]

I don't believe the price is put up to make people bf why would they want to do that?

[Queen0fFeckingEverything]

You don't have to switch from first milk at all though mouseymummy

You can keep using it til 12 months then switch to cows milk :)

[MooseBeTimeForSpring]

A 663g tub of Enfamil powder is $34.99 here in Canada.

That's £22!

[XiCi]

Get yourself to Home Bargains. SMA is 5.99 a tin

[MairyHoles]

I was led to believe that they can't advertise the first stages milk, only follow on, as they can't advertise encouraging people against bfing. You don't get clubcard points for first stage formula, nor can it be on offer, which I believe is government rules, not individual shops.

[marriedinwhiteagain]

dons flak jacket a second time: If you can't afford the formula milk, why have a baby in the first place? Get yourselves jolly well organised.

[MairyHoles]

Oh, and my youngest 2 could only have aptamil, which is almost 11 pounds in my local shop. HV told me it was closest to breastmilk when other kinds gave them tummyache. You are right, it is expensive.

[Bakingtins]

If you really want to be disgusted about it, in the third world they dish out free formula samples until mum's milk has dried up, then a tin of formula is often most of a family's weekly income, so baby gets it watered down with dirty water. If they don't give a shit about thousands of babies dying directly as a result of their actions, what makes you think they care about your weekly budget?

But £7 for 5 days doesn't sound a huge amount to me. How much do you think the child will cost to feed when they are a bit older

[iamadoozermum]

We've noticed the increase in price since DS3 was born in 2010 and DD who is now 6 months old.

[MairyHoles]

I can afford it. But I do think it is overpriced, much like I think tampons are overpriced as well as being necessary.