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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:
WheelieBinPrincess · 14/10/2021 20:17

I will just point out though, they don’t actually let you use your points for partial payment of anything, it has to cover the whole amount. You can’t use them towards anything.

FictionalCharacter · 14/10/2021 21:52

@BFCfairy she was saying the wrong thing. She didn’t say it was the law, she said “we encourage women to breastfeed” which makes it sound like it’s just Boots policy.

grapewine · 14/10/2021 21:55

[quote FictionalCharacter]**@BFCfairy* she was* saying the wrong thing. She didn’t say it was the law, she said “we encourage women to breastfeed” which makes it sound like it’s just Boots policy.[/quote]
This. Crap communication.

Motherland101 · 14/10/2021 22:15

I literally bought a stage 3 little carton of ready milk for my son from boots and paid with my boots card just last week. It was 80p or something. I bought deodorant too. Also, our local Sainsbury's often have a 2 for £19 on Aptamil powder and I have also bought it from Asda on offer too, so absolutely no idea where this promotion ban come from? This is all recent so we aren't talking years ago. DS was formula fed from birth and is still on toddler milk rather than cows milk. HmmHmmHmm

alexio · 14/10/2021 22:17

I've came across this before and found it frustrating, however....

In response to other comments stating you can't use 'point' to buy formula I've bought formula several times in Tesco with Clubcard points/vouchers. So what the difference?

dementedpixie · 14/10/2021 22:19

@Motherland101

I literally bought a stage 3 little carton of ready milk for my son from boots and paid with my boots card just last week. It was 80p or something. I bought deodorant too. Also, our local Sainsbury's often have a 2 for £19 on Aptamil powder and I have also bought it from Asda on offer too, so absolutely no idea where this promotion ban come from? This is all recent so we aren't talking years ago. DS was formula fed from birth and is still on toddler milk rather than cows milk. HmmHmmHmm
Stage 3 is follow on milk and not covered by the legislation against promotion of first infant formula. Follow on milk from 6 months can have special offers. Infant milk up to 6 months can't have special offers. They are a different product
Bigassbeebuzzbuzz · 14/10/2021 22:19

I sort of knew they couldnt promote formula and I remember when I had my first two the hospital provided ready made up formula for you. Yes it was branded, but I remember years later you had to take your own which I thought was odd when the hospital always used to provide it but tbh I just thought it was budget cuts. Never gave it too much thought.
Baffled why you cant use points to BUY formula though. Surely if you need formula but have 0 money using your boots/nectar points to buy some is better than the baby going hungry?

dementedpixie · 14/10/2021 22:20

@alexio

I've came across this before and found it frustrating, however....

In response to other comments stating you can't use 'point' to buy formula I've bought formula several times in Tesco with Clubcard points/vouchers. So what the difference?

Was it follow on milk from 6 months? You can buy that with points but not first milk
Hopesakiller · 14/10/2021 22:36

www.babymilkaction.org/tigers

I really enjoyed this film which gives insight into the reasons behind the law

PoetryLaser · 14/10/2021 22:39

It's the law of the land that you cannot promote baby formula (note, not follow-on-milk which is what all the adverts are for). So I don't think they're doing it to be judgy arses or to upset you. They're not allowed to give away free formula milk.

BewaretheIckabog · 14/10/2021 22:48

It may be frustrating but if you google Nestle Baby Milk Scandal you will understand why the rules are in place.

alexio · 14/10/2021 22:54

@dementedpixie no it was aptamil 1. Bought it on several occasions with Clubcard vouchers

dementedpixie · 14/10/2021 22:59

Were you buying other products as the T&Cs say they can't be used for infant formula?

Vouchers are the property of Tesco Stores Limited and have no cash value. They are not for resale / publication and valid in the UK and IoM only. Defaced / copied vouchers will not be accepted. Valid for use only by the recipient, age restrictions apply. Excludes tobacco, Esso fuels, lottery, bureau de change, prescriptions, e-top up, infant formula milk, saving stamps, postage stamps, online delivery charges, in-store cafes, Tesco and branded gift cards and the Tesco Outlet eBay shop.

Stuckhere2021 · 14/10/2021 22:59

Another example of taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut and blaming women for problems caused by multinational companies. Take an extreme case - a mother with bilateral mastectomies - why should this mother be shamed because companies put profits before people. And without being too feminazi (although I am happy to be) most of the CEOs are men.

Happyhedgehog20 · 14/10/2021 23:00

I had this exact same rage at Boots about this. Was told the same thing and told that it is illegal for them to promote formula in anyway in order to encourage breastfeeding. I was a new mum at the time struggling to feed my child and felt very shamed by it.

YourFinestPantaloons · 14/10/2021 23:03

Not just Boots, everywhere does it. A bit like how you can't buy a lottery tickets or fags with points.

The woman was wrong about the intentions tough. She should just have said legally we can't because laws that protect breastfeeding.

I actually agree with the law. Formula companies spend billions in advertising, and will try shady tactics to circumvent regulations and rules. Give these places an inch and they'll take a mile. Whereas no one really advocates for breastfeeding - theres limited NHS funding and charities/organisations may run campaigns but can't stack up against the money formula companies have. I think we need to support any opportunity to ensure it's a more level playing field. And stop lying to ourselves that anyone is trying to make women feel guilty. Guilt comes from within

Stuckhere2021 · 14/10/2021 23:09

All this shit actually makes me angry. What if the mother died in childbirth/ was too poorly to feed? What if the baby was given up for adoption? What if the mother had a condition that could be passed on through breast milk? What if the mother was on chemo or medication which meant she couldn’t breast feed? What if the mother was ill / unconscious/ depressed and couldn’t breast feed? This is in addition to the mastectomy situation allied to in my earlier post. Note also - points can’t be used for stamps - what’s that about!!

Stuckhere2021 · 14/10/2021 23:11

@YourFinestPantaloons

Not just Boots, everywhere does it. A bit like how you can't buy a lottery tickets or fags with points.

The woman was wrong about the intentions tough. She should just have said legally we can't because laws that protect breastfeeding.

I actually agree with the law. Formula companies spend billions in advertising, and will try shady tactics to circumvent regulations and rules. Give these places an inch and they'll take a mile. Whereas no one really advocates for breastfeeding - theres limited NHS funding and charities/organisations may run campaigns but can't stack up against the money formula companies have. I think we need to support any opportunity to ensure it's a more level playing field. And stop lying to ourselves that anyone is trying to make women feel guilty. Guilt comes from within

But what about babies who cannot be breastfed for reasons I’ve mentioned?
BoredZelda · 14/10/2021 23:14

will just point out though, they don’t actually let you use your points for partial payment of anything, it has to cover the whole amount. You can’t use them towards anything.

Is this new? You used to be able to use partial points off your boots card and pay the cash balance.

Stuckhere2021 · 14/10/2021 23:14

@YourFinestPantaloons - “guilt comes from within” is really quite a vile thing to say in this context. Victim blaming at its finest. Shame on you.

Darceyhemingway · 14/10/2021 23:14

That's absolutely disgusting I'd be complaining! I'm pregnant and would so so love to BF but if my milk dosent come in or I just can't I don't want to be shamed but I know I will!

Darceyhemingway · 14/10/2021 23:14

Or don't want too. It is a choice! Disgusting behaviour from
Boots

Darceyhemingway · 14/10/2021 23:15

Just read some more replies. Okay good I'm glad it's not boots on rule but the way the cashier said it made it sound like it was

YourFinestPantaloons · 14/10/2021 23:22

But what about babies who cannot be breastfed for reasons I’ve mentioned?

What about them?

Let me explain, I should have elaborated...I don't care how people choose to feed, more power to women having a choice I say! But let's not pretend that the cashier at Boots is judging us. Or anyone for that matter. The whole "feeling guilt" gubbins is spun to women (for a reason) as if we should always be second guessing our choices, but it's a lie. It's not real, and no one cares how randoms feed their baby. But corporations have a vested interest in women feeling insecure and guilty about their choices. If you feel guilty it's because it comes from within, rather than anyone else's real feeling, and we all need to stop telling ourselves there's anything to feel guilty about! Not just regarding feeding, but every parenting choice.

I feel guilty about nothing, I refuse to buy into that BS

YourFinestPantaloons · 14/10/2021 23:27

@Stuckhere2021

All this shit actually makes me angry. What if the mother died in childbirth/ was too poorly to feed? What if the baby was given up for adoption? What if the mother had a condition that could be passed on through breast milk? What if the mother was on chemo or medication which meant she couldn’t breast feed? What if the mother was ill / unconscious/ depressed and couldn’t breast feed? This is in addition to the mastectomy situation allied to in my earlier post. Note also - points can’t be used for stamps - what’s that about!!
You can still buy plenty of formula. You just can't use your points. Access to formula is not restricted by any means in this country
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