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 ?

My ds1 is nearly 18 and even back then no points in boots for formula! This isnt new even before the law changed

Dana: You have (inadvertantly I'm sure) made this new mum feel awful. I already feel bad combination feeding now with what you've said I am terrified for my baby.

OP I agree wholeheartedly and started the exact same thread a couple of years ago when it happened to me.

I got all kinds of abuse about it and had to walk away from the thread in the end. It was horrible. There are some really unpleasant people on here who crawl out of the woodwork to try and guilt/upset ff mothers like has happened above already.

And no, breastfeeding mothers don't get points on breastmilk because they don't spend money on it. That's just about the most obvious thing in the world but has been trotted out about five times on this thread already. sigh

Startrek how you feed your baby really doesn't matter. All that matters is that you do. Good luck, try and ignore the guilt trips. xx

startrek don't be terrified, your baby will be fine on formula.

star mine is exclusively rd, he's fine he's safe, happy,growing and developing, and I can guarantee your baby is absolutely fine too. There is nothing wrong with formula it's just some rather it not be available at all and tout silly nonsense about how damaging formula is, it's all crap, enjoy your baby

Lots of women probably could breastfeed but if they're on medication for certain diseases, it's dangerous. I fail to believe that the 2% includes all women on medication and those who biologically do not produce any milk. I smell an agenda and it ain't pretty.

Some women dont want to breastfeed. And that is fine

chunderella it's not a case of it being fair or unfair wrt points on the paraphernalia around bf and not on ff. It's a case of formula not being sold as part of any offer. Points would be an offer that the formula companies would get around.

I struggle to understand why people are getting upset that they aren't getting a money reward( that's what points system is right, money off other stuff, or to pay) when it should be a privilege to feed your child no matter what way you choose to nourish your child!

Really??! Get over yourselves

Think Oh yes of course, I should have said that too. :) I'm just commenting on this assertion that 98% could breastfeed when maybe they produce milk but they can't for other reasons. Not wanting to is a valid reason too, of course.

It's not about the points, it's not about the money. It's more the " you don't get rewarded for feeding your baby THAT, go home and breastfeed" statement.
I am aware, to many this is CRAZY, it's just some points get the F over it, but as a new mum , feeling already guilted by family, health visitors and various other professionals regarding not breast feeding or the importance of it it's kind of like that extra kick in the teeth.
Now my dd is almost 2, I look back and think "meh" I was just stating that actually it's can be pretty upsetting for a new mum who just wants to get it right.
I understand why the law is there. Honestly , I do. But I do question how affective it really is.
"You mean I don't get offers on formula? You mean to tell me I can't claim boots points on my babies milk. Well have it back then , I'm going home to breastfeed" said no mother at the counter ever .

The 2% is women who are unable to physically breastfeed, not including those on medication as medication can often be changed to suit breastmilk.

It makes me laugh that people like nataukashi seriously try to undermine the benefits of breastmilk and imply there are no actual benefits. Even if that is true, it's the natural way to feed your child and no substitute with milk from a whole other species will ever be equal.

And Dana is not 'making' anyone feel bad. You can't do that, guilt heavily comes from within. She's merely stating facts, and the fact is ff does Carry risks. And rather than people sticking their fingers in their ears and going "la la la I'm not listening" or telling others "don't worry the nasty lady is just trying to guilt trip you" because people clearly have nothing better to do how about researching the many ways you can minimise those risks?

startrek of course your baby will be fine - no one said otherwise.

The likes of boots aren't interested in making mums 'feel bad' - they're too busy making profits. This is a law that is in place for a very good reason so that underhand formula companies can't undermine what is undoubtedly best for babies. If this makes you feel guilty I think you need to look within yourself to change that!

I'm constantly baffled by this perception that everyone is trying to make FF mums feel guilty and pressured with reminders that 'Breast is best' apparently is everywhere - yet they NEVER see multinational companies who make enormous profits and make it their business to kill babies in developing countries for the sake of a few quid, pushing their products as 'pressure' - no, there's a teddy on the box and the lady in the advert might have breastfed, so they're really lovely and care loads about my baby

It's not about the points, it's not about the money. It's more the " you don't get rewarded for feeding your baby THAT, go home and breastfeed" statement

But that's not that statement they're making OP, it's just in your head like that cos it didn't work out for you. I think rather than getting upset over things like Boots points pour your energy into giving support for better support & info for new mums who want to breastfeed so that they don't have to go through what you go through.

I don't know what it is about feeding your baby that brings out such self blame in people. I reckon 9 times out of 10 a breastfeeding mum struggling can be helped, but I don't need to point out that support in this country is utterly shit and the amount of times I had formula shoved in my face by a HCP when I deaperatly wanted to BF was heartbreaking. If a physiotherapist for example cocked up a persons recovery they'd be making complaints to the NHS and quite rightly pointing the finger at them. Yet when we are let down with breastfeeding (because it IS HCPs job to help us succeed) we blame ourselves. It needs to stop, it is not the mums fault!

It DID work out for me.
I exclusively breastfed for months and then combi fed.

One can get points on ff paraphenalia (great word) though, right? Bottles and sterilisers and so forth, just not the actual formula itself. In that, at least, it's the same as breastmilk and breastfeeding 'paraphenalia'.

and Chundarella - just wanted to say that I'm self-employed and got a remarkable amount of work done whilst DS was surgically attached to my nipple, so don't assume that feeding one's baby renders one incapable of doing owt else at the same time ;)

But I do question how affective it really is.
"You mean I don't get offers on formula? You mean to tell me I can't claim boots points on my babies milk. Well have it back then , I'm going home to breastfeed" said no mother at the counter ever

Ha, you're right! But there isn't a specific law around loyalty points, its just encompassed in the 'no promotion' law. Because as someone pointed out earlier if the law wasn't watertight and banned any kind of promotion you'd be sure as shit formula companies would find a way to sneakily push their first stage formula on mums. So if they were allowed to award loyalty points they'd be constantly paying Boots to offer double and triple points and before you know it the formula is on an all singing all dancing display at the front of the shop, getting round the laws that are there to protect babies for the sake of profit

nat Breast milk is better for babies than formula. Are you really arguing against that point? So is pigs milk better for cats then? Or dogs milk better for rabbits?

I would be very interesting to see evidence from a non-formula funded source to suggest this is not the case. It's human milk for human babies - if formula hadn't been invented and everyone breastfed successfully do you honestly think scientists would be looking for a better substance because BM just isn't up to scratch?

I will find the 2% studies and get back to you