To start a thread about boots not giving "points" for formula

[Kab13]

Saw someone complaining about how she had breasted for 10 months and went into boots to buy some formula and couldn't collect points on her boots card because boots don't allow it (when buying formula for under 2's I believe).
I'm breastfed for 12 months then moved onto formula & it never really bothered me that boots didn't give points out for buying formula for children under two.
I kind of get it but can't help but feel if you really struggled to breast feed and chose to move on to formula for whatever reason this could make a new mum feel ridiculously guilty (even more than she did before)
What about mums that CANT breast feed? I do think it's a little unfair on them... Someone who worked at boots commented on this lady's status saying that they can not promote formula use (give rewards for buying it) by LAW. Really ?

I formula fed and I collected points on the 6 month plus formulas

No store has ever given points afaik, I don't see the problem.
If you have to buy it then you find the cheapest price surely.
We bought for all 3 of ours, its also what cb is for.

I never understand this debate when it comes up. Loyalty card points aren't a right, they are just a perk that can encourage people to shop at one place over another.

I agree with the law as it stands. Breastfeeding mothers don't get points from boots with what they feed their babies, so where's the issue? It's not like ff feeding parents are being discriminated against.

I just switched to follow on at did months as it's cheaper and you can get points etc so may as well.

Healthy start vouchers help with first formula.

I don't think that allowing promotions would actually make formula cheaper. It just makes the true price harder to calculate, reducing price competition and leading to a higher overall price. Isn't it the case that formula is more expensive in countries where more promotion is allowed?

Also, I don't think that formula industry should be regulated because formula is "bad" (like tobacco or alcohol) but because formula is important (like medicine).

I think the points thing is just taking it a bit far. Not advertising or allowing specific discounts, fair enough, as it will avoid horrible behaviour like nestle in Africa, but given that the points are simply to influence where you buy your set price product, and do not equate to significant discounts, it seems a bit ott. And the who guidelines say 2 years, so why allow advertising and discounting of follow on?!

I see what you mean op that by lumping formula in with the 'bad' stuff it implies formula is 'bad' and someone who is trying very hard to bf but failing would feel even worse because of that implied 'badness'.

Except at that stage (ime) absolutely everything upsets you because you feel such a failure so if it wasn't loyalty points it would be something else. Anything else :)

On balance given the explanations upthread about it being promoting ff that's the issue and believing that big corporations would find a way to push ff over bf, then I prefer the no promotional activity side.

I wish there was more info.on formula. Why is one brand better than another? Lots of friends were very smug about using actimel as supposedly it's the closet to breastfeeding milk - advertising I'd say. Iv heard rumours actimel and c&g are made exactly the same just different packets

The problem is that formula milk manufacturers are sinister greedy fuckers. If they were allowed they'd be peddling it for free on maternity wards making women feel it is a better option than breastfeeding. I think it was a bit like that in the 70's hence why breastfeeding is still a bit taboo with some people and years and years of experience was lost.

They paid clinics in developing countries to give it out for free. Now here this is not so much of a problem but in a country with poor sanitation and unclean water, it's a fucking death sentence.

It's not the retailers at fault. If the companies who make formula could be trusted to market it responsibly there wouldn't be restrictions. The whole situation around breast and bottle feeding is so messed up in this country and it helps no one. Just another stick to beat women with however you choose to feed your baby.

"formula milk doesnt kill, lessen your lifespan and hasnt been proven to be a cancer risk, yet it gets lumped in with cigarettes and alcohol in its retrictions"

Using formula means that women aren't bf as much, BF reduces the risks of certain female cancers, therfore, you could argue that electively choosing to formula feed, you're increasing your chances of cancer. Formula is also proven to increase risks of obesity, raised blood pressure and diabetes.

I do think it's bad that it's lumped in with booze and fags, because there are certainly other foods which are much much worse, however is not true to say that using formula is without risks. I'm not saying this to make people feel guilty for FF, I think formula is brilliant and many many people have been saved by it, just presenting evidence.

I live somewhere where promotions are allowed. I also am part of a program that houses young, marginalised Mums. I have seen how this works. Similac sends vouchers and some bottles of easy-use formula. When 'my' young mum was low and struggling, she didn't want to ask for help. The formula was right there on her table. She used it then felt horrible afterwards.

Had it not been there, she would have talked to me or her worker. She could still absolutely have used formula if that was what she wanted. However, having it there; free and convenient was just so easy. When I spoke to her about how expensive it would actually be if she swapped, she was horrified. Similac implied it was all vouchers and free stuff. The price of an actual tub of formula was not mentioned.

Lots of these Mums have less access to money, a clean home and structure to clean, sterilise and store. BM is better for them, by a long way. Formula is pushed on them and it works. I agree with the UK system and long may it continue.

You can't get nectar points for cigs or cig related items but you can get points for booze...

It's just one of those things. Not really worth getting worked up about

Surely that is an argument for good quality support for breastfeeding, which is 'free' rather than making FF more affordable? In the low-income, young mum program I am with all the mums are BFing. There is a very high proportion of mums in that group leaving abuse, leaving care, recovering from addiction. All BFing. They don't need offers and points. They do get free BFing bras and support stuff.

Or, make formula like fags are in some countries and just have no name, plain packaging. No advertising, no points but no fake 'better than the others' nonsense either.

This has been done to death

people feel guilty about how they feed their baby? why?

Surely not feeding your baby would be more problematic

mine is ff, I have no mammary glands so no chance of BF, do I feel guilty? no. Do I care about points and discounts? no. Would I care if he was starving? yes

We swapped from aptamil it was horrendous for making him constipated, he's now on hipp organic and is thriving, musch better softer stools and mote frequent which is great. I really am of the opinion aptamil isn't "the best" for everyone.

The "law" thing is right. You aren't allowd to give points or money off just in case it encourages mothers to use it instead of breast feeding.

The whole blooding feeding game is a joke and a half. Yesterday a woman's made to cover her baby with a cloth in claridges for fear of offending some arsehole. You can't bloody win.

People should start giving much less of a shit about how other people CHOOSE to feed their child