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 ?

Dana your posts are veering dangerously into thinly-veiled FF-shaming. Suggesting that because only 2% medically cannot feed, the rest of us should try harder or we're responsible for the lack of proper BF support?

mosthighly I have tried to explain what I meant through out the thread if it still makes no sense to you I doubt is be able to explain anymore.
I have had others who see where I am coming from, I think it just depends how you think & personal opinion :)

oh do shut up Dana, people have choice and free will, it's up to them what they do, stop trying to nanny everyone and judge them.

feed your baby whatever way you can/want to, not feeding it will have far worse consequenses.

YABU
It's the law and it's a good 'un...

I'm sorry moomin I distinctly said the formula companies were the ones who had destroyed and continue to destroy breastfeeding support. IMO the blame lies very firmly at the door of formula companies who have deliberately undermined our natural instincts.

and the more women that can and do feed their children normally, the better for the health of the whole nation.

Your arrogance is mind numbing.

It's not like women get 'points' for breastfeeding.

They get vouchers

What vouchers? Did I miss out again?

possibly, in 2013 they offered new mothers who breastfed £200 in shopping vouchers to encourage breast feeding.

I see the thread has taken a nosedive OP but yes I know what you mean. It makes you feel like you're buying tobacco or booze or something for your baby. Then you remember our society's general level of hysteria about motherhood and laugh it off. On a good day anyway.

On a practical level what I found much more awkward was the 2 boxes rule! I don't know if everywhere does this but Tesco will only let you buy 2 boxes of formula at a time (I think because of grey imports to the far east). A bit awkward for me as I have twins and I used to do a big shop every fortnight, while we went through 3 boxes in 2 weeks.

^ a very few women in a very small area were offered vouchers as part of a study, let's not get confused...

Despite any law, points for any purchases is a promotional item offered by a store. It's up to the companies to decide (aside from those they are required to by law) what they will and won't give in their promotion. If they decide that you can only have points on pink fishnet stockings sold before 7am on a Sunday, then that's their choice.

I couldn't breastfeed but would've loved to. If I broke down in boots over 24p worth of points and felt worthless, I'd have welcomed a slap.

Oh but for the 'try harder, only 2% can't breastfeed for medical reasons' bullshit FUCK OFF
I'd 'justify' why I FF but I can't be arsed. I fucking love formula milk.

but calm this is a thread of sweeping statements and bullshitty figures, can't see why a sweeping statement about a trial can't be allowed .

Oh I am quite clear why I formula fed my two from birth. So that DH could help with the feeding and I could get some sleep and have some time off. I could quite easily have breastfed, I CHOSE not to. As is my right.

The kicker is that formula fed babies are, as a group, poorer and more disadvantaged in pretty much every way. Poor people get ill more.

This isn't the case in many other countries, and research mentioned on the UNICEF website is international, quite a lot in Scandinavia where bf rates are much higher.

The current economic climate and pressures, of which the inability to obtain loyalty card points on first stage formula is one very small part, have also created an environment in which poorer communities are now seeing sub-optimal formula feeding:

Absolutely. The laws on promotion and discounting don't stop formula milk being sold cheaply though, if it is usually sold at that price. Why do formula manufacturers price formula to be so expensive? Why is so much spent on branding and promotions (of follow on milks in similar packaging to first milk)? There are no scientific head to head studies comparing formulas so that parents could make an informed choice between different brands- e.g. least likely to constipate, least reflux- instead just advertising promoting dubious claims, and meaningless branding.

How much better for parents if formula was cheaper, in plain packaging, no adverts and stuffed toys, but proper studies comparing the different brands so parents could make informed choices.

Oops I was meaning to bold not cross out the quotes!!

I think another reason the loyalty points are not allowed is because you are supposed to stick with one formula not chop and change. So if they offered extra points with aptimal one week then for and gate the next people would keep changing.

Well, obviously not all people, but you know what I mean, it would be tempting to change and the formula companies would influence the shops to do the offers.

owl I highly doubt choppping and changing would happen just because of points, not unless you wanted a very constipated baby or an explosive nappy every week I really don't think that is worth a few extra clubcard points.

I don't really know ginger, I'll take your word for it, but I think it's another reason why they don't do loyalty points.

Chunderella, Im only saying it could be seen as unfair. it's difficult to form an opinion re:points without taking into my account my views re: BFing FFing.

I generally think the government is right to prevent promotion of an option that may be necessary in some cases but is ultimately not what is best for baby. Quite frankly the more restriction on advertising of any kind, the better.

I know BFing isn't always possible and in those cases, fine. But I'm firmly in the camp that believes BFing is always preferential. I don't think points should be available, only because you cannot really equate BF paraphernalia that could 'earn' points with actual Formula. I do understand that for mothers who have chosen to FF, formula is an essential but the government would rather that wasn't the case in the first place and cannot be seen to condone FF when they preach breast is best IYSWIM.

Evening all,

We've had a report or two about things being a bit heated on this thread earlier tonight.

We know this is a bit of an emotive topic, but could we ask for a bit of peace and love please?

Many thanks