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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be annoyed at boots for this

111 replies

pleurotus · 14/10/2021 14:22

I have a 4 month old who is 95% breastfed. She has had the odd bottle of formula here and there to see if she would take it and so that I can leave her with her Dad should I want a night off or whatever and without having to stash our freezer full of breast milk.

I went in to boots today and tried to buy two bottles of ready made formula with my boots points only for the woman to say I wasn't allowed to use my points to pay for them. When I asked why she said 'because we encourage women to breastfeed'

AIBU to find this ridiculous? I felt a little shamed by her and judged. I almost said 'well I do breastfeed actually' but stopped myself because it's a frigen choice! And so what if I didn't breastfeed at all, it would still be my choice and nobody should be made to feel bad about that. I can't imagine not being able to use your points to pay for formula is hardly discouraging anyone from bottle feeding anyway!

However should I have wanted to spend all of my advantage points on dairy milk and coke that's absolutely fine apparently and boots encourage that Hmm

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 14/10/2021 14:40

@pleurotus

I have a 4 month old who is 95% breastfed. She has had the odd bottle of formula here and there to see if she would take it and so that I can leave her with her Dad should I want a night off or whatever and without having to stash our freezer full of breast milk.

I went in to boots today and tried to buy two bottles of ready made formula with my boots points only for the woman to say I wasn't allowed to use my points to pay for them. When I asked why she said 'because we encourage women to breastfeed'

AIBU to find this ridiculous? I felt a little shamed by her and judged. I almost said 'well I do breastfeed actually' but stopped myself because it's a frigen choice! And so what if I didn't breastfeed at all, it would still be my choice and nobody should be made to feel bad about that. I can't imagine not being able to use your points to pay for formula is hardly discouraging anyone from bottle feeding anyway!

However should I have wanted to spend all of my advantage points on dairy milk and coke that's absolutely fine apparently and boots encourage that Hmm

Its the law. No-one can use points in any shops to buy infant formula. If it was follow on milk you could but as its first milk you cant
TattiePants · 14/10/2021 14:40

X posted with @JimmyLennon.

vickyc90 · 14/10/2021 14:41

What happened to fed is best! We all know times are tough for many maybe it's time we relaxed this law seen as we are out of the EU

Comefromaway · 14/10/2021 14:41

YABU because it's the law

YANBU because the assistant should have explained that correctly.

CorrBlimeyGG · 14/10/2021 16:04

@vickyc90 The domestic law has been around far longer than the EU directive. It has not been possible to redeem points on formula since the bonus card was introduced in (approx) 1996.

TheWoleb · 14/10/2021 16:11

Well, that woman was wrong. It isnt up to boots.

They arent, by law, allowed to put formula into any reward schemes, or discounts, you cant earn points on it and you cant spend points on it.

I would be annoyed at her response. It isnt her place to judge. She has no idea about individual circumstances. But you cant be annoyed at Boots for bit selling it to you on your points card. They arent allowed.

letsmakethishappen · 14/10/2021 16:12

Wow that’s news to me

Tink626 · 14/10/2021 16:13

Sorry YABU. They have to follow the law!

WheelieBinPrincess · 14/10/2021 16:17

Technically correct but it was her choice to not to deliver a better explanation and use it to be judgmental.

But that’s possibly just how I’d have taken it. I’ve had a bit of a skinful of judgement from health professionals just recently over the fact I’m not breastfeeding my four week old (I am expressing as much as I can, but it’s about a four hour a day pumping commitment to meet his needs- he has formula to top up)

He has a tongue tie and mashed up my boobs so much I was hospitalised a week later with an infection. Still got told I needed to toughen up and persevere and the tongue tie was a convenient excuse.

Coffeey · 14/10/2021 16:18

I think they need go train their staff to explain their policy a bit better. Ie. It's law. You can collect points on follow on formula (not sure if you can buy it with points).

SylvanasWindrunner · 14/10/2021 16:19

Yes it's the law but she could have just said that instead and it wouldn't have reeked of judgement.

fantasmasgoria1 · 14/10/2021 16:22

They like the profit from formula milk though!

Pesimistic · 14/10/2021 16:23

It's not a judgement of boots staff or any company, formula isn't allowed to be 'promoted' or discounted its actualy a good thing, or we would probably have an even worse breast feeding rate than we already do

Member984815 · 14/10/2021 16:26

It's a well known policy I thought. Just pay cash for them and nevermind her, it won't be a judgement on you at all

dementedpixie · 14/10/2021 16:29

There's lots of things you can't spend them on (i just had a look)

Points cannot be spent on prescription and selected dispensary items, Pharmacy services, selected medicines, infant milks (up to six months), gift cards, postage stamps, mobile phone top-up cards, gift boxes, delivery charges, charitable merchandise, at our ‘third party sites’ Boots Kitchen appliances, on Boots Opticians products and services, Boots Hearingcare or on Travel Services and Boots Insurance, bootsphoto.com, bootsdesignersunglasses.com and bootspersonalisedgifts.com

lemmein · 14/10/2021 16:32

I can understand the thinking behind promotions (so you don't switch brands) - but not being allowed to collect or spend points on first year formula seems punitive and loaded with judgement.

SunshineCake1 · 14/10/2021 16:32

Boots have never allowed points to be used for formula.

CaledonianSleeper · 14/10/2021 16:33

@pleurotus

Why not use the same law with sugar and processed foods then I wonder...
Because society uses the full force of the law to judge women and their choices. Everyone else can do more or less whatever they want. Grin
Osrie · 14/10/2021 16:34

@pleurotus

Why not use the same law with sugar and processed foods then I wonder...
Excellent point OP . I think you should provide constructive criticism to Boots . Imagine someone who gets totally knocked back by such a thoughtless comment. No need to say when or name the person but definitely something they can improve immediately!
dementedpixie · 14/10/2021 16:35

@lemmein

I can understand the thinking behind promotions (so you don't switch brands) - but not being allowed to collect or spend points on first year formula seems punitive and loaded with judgement.
Its not so you don't switch brands It's in case you bought formula at a discount and then the price goes up and you are then tied into a higher price unless you go chopping and changing milk all the time. Once you start giving formula its harder to go back to breastfeeding.

It only applies to 1st milk so follow on milk isn't subject to the same restrictions (which is why follow on milk was invented!)

WithMyEncyclopedia · 14/10/2021 16:37

As everyone else says. There was even (it might be folklore!) some issue of someone not getting free parking at a store when they went in just to buy formula. (So the equivalent of parking in Tesco's car park but not buying anything in Tesco - doubt anyone really gives a crap).

Basically you can't 'benefit' in any way from buying formula.

You shouldn't feel shamed, it's a weird kind of consequence of a policy decision elsewhere. Flowers

Wineandroses3 · 14/10/2021 16:42

As others have said it’s got nothing to do with Boots, it’s the law they cannot be seen to be promoting formula over breastfeeding because from a purely health point of view breast milk is better for a baby than manufactured formula.

Twizbe · 14/10/2021 16:47

When these threads pop up I feel a little history of formula is useful. Plus a reminder that formula companies don't make it out of the kindness of their hearts.

Before formula babies either breastfed, had a wet nurse, drink cows milk mixed with sugar (I have a recipe for this in a 1950 baby book) or they died.

Formula was a lifesaver when invented. Powdered milk specifically tailored to the nutritional needs of babies is amazing!

BUT it relies on safe drinking water and sterilising of bottles. It was (and still is) expensive. When first introduced it was really expensive when considering average incomes. All fine if you have the money to buy it and to live somewhere with clean water.

Still formula companies were free to advertise as they chose. Slogans such as 'feed your baby with science' came out. Promises that your baby would be clever, sleep better, be more attractive etc.

After a while the issues caused by using unclean water / bottles / watering it down to make it last longer started to become apparent. The claims made about formula were scientifically disproven and general feeling baby nutrition needed to be a bit better controlled.

So 2 things happened. First was putting lots of rules around formula, how it's made, what goes into it and requirements for proof to back up claims.

Second was the ban on advertising first formula. This included all the other reward schemes etc that are included here.

It was because of this ban that 'follow on milk' was created - they can advertise that one.

The person in the shop was sloppy in how she explained it to you. Likely they are not really aware of the rules and why they are there.

Totallydefeated · 14/10/2021 16:50

He has a tongue tie and mashed up my boobs so much I was hospitalised a week later with an infection. Still got told I needed to toughen up and persevere and the tongue tie was a convenient excuse.

That is absolutely appalling.

I’m so sorry you went through all that and (and still are), then got treated so callously and judgementally. Please complain, if you’re up to it.

FictionalCharacter · 14/10/2021 16:50

@fantasmasgoria1

They like the profit from formula milk though!
Indeed! They’re allowed to sell it, it’s women who get bullied.

The shop staff should be trained properly so that they explain that it’s the law, not talk about “encouraging” as if women need to be chivvied into it.

I had premature twins and a very traumatic birth. I very much wanted to bf but it just wasn’t happening despite a lot of effort. I managed to pump a bit but nothing like enough to feed them. There was just no alternative to formula. Despite all my effort and distress I was treated horribly when I asked advice from LLL and NCT. They never accept that some women just can’t bf.

Like you @44PumpLane I finally gave up after 12 weeks. HV was relieved and told me I was doing the right thing. I cried for days at my “failure”.

The babies are now healthy teenagers.