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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think tommee tippee products are a bit shit?

114 replies

Summerholsdoingmyheadin · 07/09/2016 09:52

After months of people raising concerns about the tommee tippee steamer blender being unsafe and asking for it to be recalled tommee tippee have finally issued a safety recall. People were finding the blades were chopping bits of plastic off the jug presenting a choking risk due to the plastic ending up in the baby's food. Tommee tippee spent months denying that this could happen and said it was only possible if it was assembled incorrectly. Tommee tippee have now admitted that bits of plastic can break off even when used correctly and have offered replacement jugs and blades with a new design to those affected (notice they didn't offer full refunds as an Automatic right).

Independent Research has also raised concerns about the safety of the perfect prep machine (due to water temperatures and the filtered water) but tommee tippee have failed to respond to those concerns.

Aibu to think tommee tippee products are a bit shit and until they properly address all the concerns they should not be allowed to make any more electrical products?

OP posts:
HateSummer · 07/09/2016 14:55

I'm from the uk, I was born here and have given birth to 3 children here.

Sterilising is a waste of time. The moment the bottles/utensils are taken out of the steriliser they're unsterile. Washing in hot soapy water and rinsing thoroughly does the same job.

parlezvousfrancais · 07/09/2016 15:01

I've just read that link about the safety of PP. I did have to laugh though at the part that said "The only benefit to parents is time saving..." That is exactly the point?! I would have paid triple the price for it if I had to. After doing bottles for DC1 without it, I think it's invaluable.

FeliciaJollygoodfellow · 07/09/2016 15:01

I had two of the hand breast pumps and loved them. Unlike the mandala (or something similar) one which I returned as it was so shit.

I also only used the bottles for my twins. I don't think I would have been able to successfully mix feed without them.

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 07/09/2016 15:01

I agree about the sterilising - my DH is a dentist and thinks it a load of shite. His point being that if bottle sterilisers were so great, dentists would get a load and get rid of their decontamination rooms. His view is that it's recommended as a belt and braces approach as there will always be a certain amount of people who have sketchy washing up skills. We've always just put bottles in the dishwasher and none of our 3 have been ill. Have a perfect prep and none of them have been ill either.

ineedwine99 · 07/09/2016 15:05

Love my perfect prep machine and the microwave steam steriliser.
Only other things i have are bottles

ineedwine99 · 07/09/2016 15:09

The prep machine hot shot really is bloody hot so I'm happy using it. I put filtered water in the machine which then filters it again. No issues with baby so far (4weeks old)

ShelaghTurner · 07/09/2016 16:18

Brought my two up on TT bottles/dummies/sterilisers etc and not a single problem over 2 children. They brought out the PP when DD2 was just too old to need it. I was gutted!

divafever99 · 07/09/2016 16:31

I love my pp machine, but had a tt electric breast pump which was awful and kept cutting out, so that was sent back.

Runningupthathill82 · 07/09/2016 16:36

The tt electric breast pumps are AWFUL.

I like the bottles though. And I've never had a problem with the microwave steriliser.

ConvincingLiar · 07/09/2016 16:46

I'm a bit pissed off about the TT bottles with the leak proof valve that goes mouldy inside.

To think tommee tippee products are a bit shit?
Original poster
Summerholsdoingmyheadin · 07/09/2016 16:54

It isn't just the pp machine though that has safety concerns. The steamer blender has had concerns for a while, there have been loads of news articles but TT denied there was a problem and insisted it was safe. Only yesterday did they finally admit it wasn't safe and issue a recall (well actually they only want to replace a part rather than giving refunds).
I don't trust that we won't get a similar situation with the pp machine in the future - months of denial that it is unsafe and then a sudden recall.

I'm sure a lot of people using the blenders had no problems as the reviews on it were quite good, same as the pp machine. If 99% of people have no problems does that mean it is okay to risk the 1% of cases where something goes wrong.

I do think some TT items are okay - the pelican bibs, the microwave steriliser, the bottles. I just think they are shit at making the more technical stuff.
Does anybody think it is appropriate for a company who makes baby feeding equipment to deny safety concerns for months and then finally do a recall when goodness knows how many babies have potentially been put at risk of choking on bits of plastic? I personally don't think such a company can be trusted.

As for breastfeeding - breastfeeding rates were appalling well before the introduction of the pp machine so I don't think it is encouraging people away from breastfeeding so an agenda from any pro breastfeeding group to discredit the pp machine would be quite unnecessary. In any case I don't think most people who breastfeed do it to avoid making bottles. Anybody with common sense would realise that you don't need a pp machine to make a perfect temp bottle In 2 minutes anyway. You just need a jug of cooled pre boiled water and a kettle so you can do a 50/50 mix. Even more convenient is the premixed cartons.

OP posts:
allthecarbs · 07/09/2016 18:03

I know 5 women who have used it, found that their babies screamed a lot and had stomach pain. They stopped using it and the problems went.

There's no need to be so defensive. I was only stating what I've heard.

allthecarbs · 07/09/2016 18:05

The arguments about breastfeeding on here are ridiculous, why are you all so defensive? I couldn't give a rats arse if you FF, use the PP machine, whatever!
The women that breastfeed do it because they want to and because it's best for the baby.

Blueberry234 · 07/09/2016 18:11

I wanted to breastfeed first time round found I couldn't and resented making every bottle for my Son especially trying to do it safely whilst keeping some semblance of sanity. Second time round wanted to breastfeed but knew it was unlikely due to previous experience, as lactation consultant told me to stop trying she also advised I buy a pp machine it made a personally emotional situation easier

MrsSnow · 07/09/2016 18:57

Yanbu

I hate tommy tipee. I still resent the money DH spent on their products.

milkyface · 07/09/2016 19:23

I know 5 women who have used it, found that their babies screamed a lot and had stomach pain. They stopped using it and the problems went.

I find it unlikely that all 5 babies were having the same problem. There a hundreds of causes of stomach pain and screaming. Colic can be incredibly common in small babies, I would find it more likely to be related to something like that, than the way the milk was made.

Bugs don't just give stomach pain do they? Wouldn't they have constant sickness / diarrhoea if they all had a bug?

Minesril · 07/09/2016 19:39

The teething dummies seemed to help. Electric pump useless. Sterilizer was ok.

allthecarbs · 07/09/2016 19:52

I don't think they had a bug milkyface, they were reacting to the filtered water and not hot enough 'hot shot'. As soon as their bottles were made the old fashioned way they were fine.

milkyface · 07/09/2016 19:54

I thought the purpose of the hot shot was to kill the bugs? I'm confused!

allthecarbs · 07/09/2016 19:59

It doesn't get hot enough apparently.
I've never used one so I can't comment for myself, I'm just going off the horror stories I've heard first hand.

milkyface · 07/09/2016 20:03

I'm sure the hot shot is to kill bugs (like the kettle water does) so if it didn't kill the bugs I'd have thought there would be some sick/poo issues, though I am not a doctor so I can't be sure!

minipie · 07/09/2016 20:06

Tommee Tippee first cup is great. I see them everywhere and ours have never ever leaked (with the spout shut, obv).

Their leakproof super sipper cups on the other hand leak all over the place.

Big chill cup is good

DropYourSword · 07/09/2016 20:13

The women that breastfeed do it because they want to and because it's best for the baby.

I want to breastfeed and I know it's best for my baby. But after 10 weeks of battling to feed I had to accept that BF just wasn't going to work for us.

Don't assume that all parents who formula feed initially wanted to.

nellypledge16 · 07/09/2016 20:14

I have a friend who, when our kids were babies, never used hot water Tomane a bottle up the whole time she fed her son! She boiled the kettle, filled bottles and kept them on the worktop til she needed one and added milk powder then. So the powder was added to room temp water every time. She just didn't see that it was an issue. Her son was never sick from it but it's not something I would have ever done.

I got the TT bottles and hated them, went on to Mam but I had the TT manual breast pump and loved it, used it for 5 months til it packed up and bought a medala (sp?) one and it was rubbish, and way more expensive.

I had the TT microwave sterilisers and thought they were great too.

Original poster
Summerholsdoingmyheadin · 07/09/2016 21:05

Don't assume that all parents who formula feed initially wanted to.

I didn't assume that anywhere. saying that women who breastfeed donor because they want to is not the same as saying that those who formula feed do so because they want to. Obviously some Women formula feed because breastfeeding hasn't worked out for whatever reason and some women formula feed because they choose to as a first option. However, women don't usually breastfeed because they are forced to due to formula feeding not working out because it Just doesn't work like that.

OP posts: