To be annoyed at boots for this

[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

This has been the policy for two decades at least. And, it’s not Boots’ decision.

Op it's the gov decision not boots...boots aren't legally allowed to give points on formula...think it's the silliness gov decision ever but that's not the point. Yabu as it's not boots fault..you find it in ever single shop...no point s on formula

@Totallydefeated thank you! It’s still a bit raw (like my nipples 😅) but absolutely I’m complaining. Unfortunately all I could do at the time was cry and then I was told I had the baby blues to boot. But I’ll definitely be taking it further.

@FictionalCharacter sorry to hear of your experience too

@pleurotus

Why not use the same law with sugar and processed foods then I wonder...

Obvious. Because Boots has a choice about that, but they don't about this. But the assistant should have just made it clear that it wasn't allowed.

@lescompagnonsdeloue I meant the government

It is a legal obligation not to promote or discount first formula, not a Boots rule.

No need for the lady to phrase it so judgementally though

While I agree with the reasons behind the rules (basically formula companies couldn't behave ethically when left to their own devices) I do think some of the rules are stretching the original intent a bit far.
I doubt any woman would give up breastfeeding to spend a fortune on formula to be able to collect a handful of extra tesco clubcard points (that you can barely spend on anything interesting these days either). Nor have any said I'll give up this breastfeeding malarky as I've a couple of thousand nectar points built up so I'll bang a tub of formula in the trolly and cash them in to pay for that, but I'm sure there has been more than the odd parent whose out of money till next payday/benefits payment who is running out of formula and would like to dip into their safety net of saved up nectar points/clubcard vouchers etc to buy a tub so they can continue feeding their child. There's a difference between not promoting/not incentivising it and penalising those that have already made that choice (or had that choice made for them for any number of reasons).

It’s a blanket rule because the formula companies have behaved appallingly in the past, and continue to do so in parts of the world. Think, aggressively marketing formula, giving out formula samples for free in hospitals, making promotions available to new mothers and then, when their own supply has gone, and they have no choice but to use formula, dropping all those promotions. This leads to people not being able to afford formula but not having a choice, so watering it down or using sugar-water substitutes, which leads to malnutrition in babies. As a result there is an international code, which the UK has signed up to, to ban marketing and promotions of first stage baby milk. Not being able to use boots points on it is a side-effect.

It’s not meant as a judgement on those that do choose to use formula for whatever reason. Just to protect people so they have a choice.

Sounds like the woman in boots explained it very badly though!

It’s the law, not Boots fault. Sainsbury’s nectar points are the same.

I truly don't think this about women's choices as some have implied.

Agree with you @TuckMyWin
I thought about how these companies behaved in Africa - I think it was nestle we heard about in geography class. They don't deserve more business as far as I'm concerned, nothing to do with bullying women.

Although this is new to me, I didn't know you couldn't do points with formula

Badly worded but it is the legal stance.

The whole thing is patronising imo. Can't see that it's particularly effective in promoting bf rates either.

Well said @user1471447863

@44PumpLane Thanks, you too

I really resent the narrative that bottle feeding is a choice (an irresponsible one) and that pumping is a solution if you can’t bf. It was a nightmare. And formula is mighty expensive!

^^100%

Its a cheek. Years ago Boots was great. Dreadful now. But I suppose it makes sense why it cant be offered discounted if parents would be tempted to change brands. But it is a bit big brother like IMHO.

This is depressing infantilising of women.

I remember this 14 years ago. My twins were premature and tube fed in NICU. Neither had the suckling reflex and I couldn't express. I would have love to breast feed but couldn't, so had to buy formula. I remember the shop assistant was very apologetic. Of ALL the reasons a woman chooses NOT to breast feed I doubt the lack of loyalty points would ever be a factor.

Really then if the powers that be were serious they’d make follow on illegal as well.

All very well punishing the consumer under the ‘umbrella of good intentions’ but really still allowing companies to advertise and profit from babies under 1 year . If stage 1 is suitable 0-12 m then they should only be allowed to have 1+ milk surely that they can advertise

Yabu as its the law not boots. Also infant milk can't be advertised and thats why follow on milk was invented. the wording on 'follow on milk" advert also alludes to this.

So yes it felt crap but she wasn't saying the wrong thing.

Not like being denied the map because of the pharmacists beliefs

@Viviennemary

Its a cheek. Years ago Boots was great. Dreadful now. But I suppose it makes sense why it cant be offered discounted if parents would be tempted to change brands. But it is a bit big brother like IMHO.

I’m in a few groups and honestly parents switch brands a lot and you’d be surprised that cost is rarely mentioned as a reason if ever. The commonest factors are : -constipation -reflux and/or colic -wanting a formula free of certain ingredients -rashes -poo issues Rarely as I said cost.

Years ago Boots was great. Dreadful now. But I suppose it makes sense why it cant be offered discounted if parents would be tempted to change brands. But it is a bit big brother like IMHO.

Except that Boots have didn’t allow points to be used for formula “years ago” because the law prohibits it in accordance with WHO guidance which has been in place for many decades. I’m surprised people still don’t know this. They used to say so on the shelf, don’t they do that any more?

Ok. Sorry. I didn't know it was the law. I thought it was just Boots being awkward. Still don't like them much though.

They’re not allowed to let you pay for formula with reward card points, no shop is. They’re not allowed to have special offers on it either (except follow on milk I think).

Both of my babies were formula fed and I never felt put out or judged with these policies. Would have been handy to pay with reward points for formula when I was a bit strapped for cash mind you.