To think we don't need a formula feeding month

[LilacSky95]

I have seen a couple of mum 'influencers' on Instagram writing posts about how it's not fair we have breastfeeding month when so many mums can't/didn't breastfeed, and we should start a formula feeding month too.

AIBU to think this is totally unnecessary?

Disclaimer - Not looking to start a breast v bottle debate

I'd really hope no one needs to be told that! But it wouldn't surprise me actually

And yes I bet the formula companies would be rubbing their hands in glee! Probably a FF company shill who sowed the seed for the idea in the first place on social media or something.

Is there any real need for a month for either? Or any of the "months" for that matter. I still feed my child the other 11 months so I'm not sure what the isolated months brings really.

From the parents I've seen over the years, if they want to try bf they will.

Id much rather see the divide removed. I've had parents....

1. Feel guilty that they can't bf
2. Feel guilty that they can (because they've known others that can't)
3. Felt pressure from friends/family to bf
4. Felt pressure to bottle feed by friends/family
5. Feel like they have to justify why they've chosen the method they have.

It's ridiculous - let's just feed them - and we don't need a special "month" to do that.

We don't need a breastfeeding month either but if it helps people then it wouldn't bother me.

We absolutely need a formula feeding month. To help women who feel horribly guilty (me) and depressed. Also to help educate the mums who do formula feed on best ways to do it etc. we shouldn’t hide formula feeding away like it’s a shameful thing- it is absolutely up to us if we want to or have to for whatever reason.

also there’s no such thing as “formula companies”. That’s just a fake bogeyman lots of people who like to put women down bandy about. Formula is manufactured by food companies and supermarkets same as other foodstuffs. It should be encouraged for more companies to manufacture it and some price competition (keeping appropriate quality standards of course). That would bring the price down.

And yes I bet the formula companies would be rubbing their hands in glee

Of course they will be!

Totally agree!

Everyone needs to feel special. Will they get their own flag? 🤭

Why’s it helpful- to ease peoples unfounded guilt

I doubt any of the formula companies would be able to get involved with anything like a formula feeding day/week/month due to the laws on advertising first infant formula.

Formula feeding is the overwhelmingly the dominant cultural norm in the UK. There's no need to promote it, to persuade women who would otherwise be happy to breastfeed that formula is a more appropriate choice. There is a huge amount of support and information available for formula feeding, and every midwife and health visitor will advise and support parents who are using formula, which is the overwhelming majority across the country.

The main manufacturers of formula are

Nestle
Danone SA
Reckitt benckiser
Abott
Kraft Heinz
HiPP GmbH

This is who we mean by formula companies. And yes they make a fucking fortune off of formula.

I dont think formula needs advertising any more than it already is, even though I dont disagree with formula feeding and am totally impartial to how others feed their baby

Absolutely agree. I am still breastfeeding my 19 month old and I had people asking when (not if!) I was going to give bottles since he was a few weeks old. Encouragement to formula feed is EVERYWHERE, and companies really don’t need the opportunity to ram their products down our throats more than they already do. Formula feeding is absolutely fine, but it doesn’t need promoting - it’s by far the most common way to feed a baby in the UK!

No they don’t. Women feel appallingly guilty and depressed because they can’t breastfeed. We absolutely need to stop that. Formula is fine and to be honest I doubt it makes any difference.

also there are all sorts of misconceptions about how to sterilize bottles and powder formula which can be harmful to young babies health if you get them wrong. My health visitor told me she couldn’t advise on that (which is absolutely ridiculous). Education on that and other formula matters is crucial.

Formula is fine, breastfeeding is fine- it’s all fine!! People should know about both. I guess if this needs a special “month” for each, to raise awareness, that’s great! Women should know that they can go for either option and what ever that choice is, for whatever reason - it’s fine, as it’s no one else’s god damn business!

I fed one bottle one breast.

I struggled with the thought of breast feeding with my first, the how and fear of being a failure. I did try and it didn’t work out and thankfully the bottle feeding was an option.

If I’m really honest with myself with my first the thought of breastfeeding gave me the ick and I was so freaked out by the idea! I just couldn’t relax and overthought everything from it hurts to is she getting enough milk.

The second time around I was more relaxed with the process - I had also matured - being a mother already knew that if it didn’t work out bottle feeding would be ok! It was a lot easier process.

We don’t need bottle feeding month - it is already normalised (and that’s ok) what we do need is fed is best. But also proper funding and support around breast feeding we need to normalise it in the same way bottle feeding is. Watching my Mum freak out as I was about to feed my child she thought I should be hidden away - it was fine and no one got a shot of my nipple - but I realised their generation bottle feeding was the best thing and the marketing really did a number on her and I guess when I had my first it also rubbed of on me (without me realising). We do have to undo a lot of that marketing and normalise breast feeding again. But it’s so difficult without someone feeling judged.

Yes Fed is best - breastfeeding is normal and shouldn’t be hidden, it should be promoted positively and honestly. Also a bottle feed baby will also be just fine.

Perhaps a week aimed around postnatal mental health would be more appropriate then rather than a FF week? Is there one of those already?

Women are shamed because we live in a patriarchal society and that's just the norm. The way we look, what we say, our relationships, parenting choices and inevitabilities, education levels, careers and on and on ad infinitum. Often, we turn that shame and guilt on ourselves. I did it because I had a cs. Not because a cs is shameful but because I was trying to attain an impossible standard.

Do I think we need a ff month? Not really. It would just be an excuse for a furthering of the disingenuous marketing from formula companies I suspect. Supporting new mothers is something which needs to happen regardless and the whole attitude to this probably needs overhauling. Within that, I'd argue that establishing general feeding support is necessary and that should in turn work to address bfing rates, support and information as a key focus.

The word "best" is so loaded and "fed is best" is not objectively true. Fed is non negotiable and breastmilk or formula are largely, the two ways of doing this. One is the biological norm and the other is a safe, often necessary alternative. Bit like giving birth. Natural labour is the norm and then we have lifesaving alternatives which are available through necessity and choice. The "best" rhetoric just feeds into the judgment.

Agree @Hugasauras

I don't see why not. I've got friends who faced real pressure/guilt trips (from so-called professionals too, not just friends/the public) for not being able to or not wanting to breastfeed. The more formula feeding is talked about and considered as valid as breastfeeding the better, IMO.

That is an absolutely terrible argument, used in any context.

The day people are forbidden to care about anything that doesn't immediately impact them personally is the day people stop donating to charities which provide communities in developing countries with access to clean water or rescue and relief after natural disasters or for refugees fleeing war, and the day they stop picking up liter unless it's in their garden, or volunteering at foodbanks, homeless shelters and animal sancturies... and a million other things which help make the world a slightly less bleak and evil place.

I'm just bored with months (and days) for "awareness", it's so over-done. It's beyond saturation.

Today is World humanitarian day, international bowtie day, kool aid day, aviation day, orangutan day, men's grooming day, potato day and soft ice-cream day.

@ProbablyPossiblyPerhaps 👏👏👏👏👏

I'm not a hardcore breast is best advocate. Formula feeding certainly shouldn't be demonised- 2 of my kids were combi-fed at various stages, and I was very grateful to have the option of safe, nutritious formula, and sanitary conditions to prepare bottles.

But I don't think it should be actively celebrated. That would basically just be an advert for formula milk.

FWIW I'm not sure we need a breastfeeding month either tbh!

Clearly you do disagree with formula feeding. All of those companies make all sorts of food stuffs. Others make formula too such as Aldi. There is nothing wrong with that. Without formula many millions of babies would starve every year.

We need to stop stigmatising formula and formula feeding mums. That will bring more companies into the market and bring prices down.

Formula is an essential food for babies. The fact that the above companies (and others) make good quality formula is a good thing. Food companies and manufacturers (and farmers) make a profit on all foodstuffs. That’s fine by me - we have a good competitive market for food in the uk that brings us good quality food at a reasonable price.

I completely agree with this.
For some people, there is no choice, it's just doing what you can to ensure your baby gets fed at all.