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

“Why’s it helpful- to ease peoples unfounded guilt“

in the same way that some people will find breastfeeding month helpful, to provide information.

dont understand at all why anyone else cares how others feed their babies.

ProbablyPossiblyPerhaps ·

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”

no it isn’t. How a woman chooses to feed her baby is no-one else’s business. Unless you’re suggesting that ff is “bleak and evil”?

all of those examples you mention may well affect me/my family one day. How you feed your child won’t.

It is the same sort of thing as saying we need straight pride and all life's matter. We don't need these things.

We certainly need more education about formula feeding. The amount of posts on here and misinformation about correct ways to make up a bottle are proof of that. I don't think a formula feeding day is the solution though as it would just turn into a marketing campaign. We need a "Mum, you're doing a great job whatever your feeding choice" day!

Exactly. Massive whataboutery - we don’t need straight pride as being straight is statistically more common and no disadvantage to to. Formula feeding is VASTLY more common than breastfeeding; that some women feel guilty about it doesn’t mean it’s stigmatised (although obviously people can be unnecessarily nasty about it). Stigmatised things don’t tend to be the significantly more common option! HCP promoting breastfeeding for health benefits to both baby and mum, as they rightly do, is not stigmatising formula. That seems to be the most common ‘shaming’ women experience; being told, like adults, one option is objectively better (although harder) and the other is absolutely fine. Something that’s already dominant doesn’t need promoting further.

Well a few weeks ago it was national emoji day. So really. Just pick a topic, allocate it a day and then start promoting “national mcDonalds day” or whatever on social media and there you have it.

We don’t need any of these months. Not even a breastfeeding one.

You can spread awareness without having to dedicate a time or a hashtag to it.

I think formula month could be good for all sorts of reasons. One would be to help mums who feel guilty or depressed about formula feeding (me for example).

Another would be to educate how to formula feed correctly which would be incredibly beneficial for infant health.

A third would be to ease the stigma on formula and formula feeding to encourage more supermarkets etc to make own brand formula. That could really bring prices down and help poorer mums.

all around it’s a great idea.

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.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.businessinsider.com/nestles-infant-formula-scandal-2012-6%3famp

www.swissinfo.ch/eng/who-slams-baby-milk-industry-for-rampant--manipulative--marketing/47369706

I would have literally killed my son if I breastfed him.

This didn't stop SO many mums choosing to tell me what I was doing was wrong, what I actually needed to do, how I was damaging my son. Which is always so useful when you're a new very stressed mum.

We need a "mind your own business" month!

How on earth does ‘stigma’ against ff prevent for-profit companies from making a profitable (and highly in demand given it’s by far the dominant way to feed a baby) product? Bonkers.

Maybe we have a don't shame mothers for feeding their children month.

You assume I'm anti formula because I named a few of the top companies that make it 🤣 ok, I like your logic.

I’m really sorry you feel so bad about ff though; you don’t deserve to and I hope you can let it go. Formula is a completely valid, safe and healthy option for your DC, who I’ve no doubt will grow up to be wonderful humans!

@MsPincher

I agree with the people who have said it would just turn into a massive advertising campaign for the various brands. I'm sure they'd pump huge amounts of money into it.

And the influencers pushing for it will have their eyes on the money, not helping people.

I would support a Safe feeding day/week. Concentrating on amounts, hygiene, making up bottles etc plus safe weaning timescales.

The UK is one of those countries fortunate enough to have a plentiful and clean water supply so formula is a safe option here. Not everywhere in the World is as fortunate, there is a reason behind the marketing rules.

whet or not something is common is irrelevant! There are still good reasons to promote formula awareness and to stop stigmatization of mums who formula feed.

the anti formula brigade are very harmful to many mums mental health. That may not be something you recognize or care about but it’s important to me and many other mums (including on this thread) who have experienced it.

equally education on proper formula feeding is not being given because of stigma. That absolutely should be stopped.

we don’t need a month necessarily but we absolutely should stop stigmatising mums who formula feed and formula itself. Maybe we should just do that every day.

I assume you’re anti formula because your posts clearly reveal that. There’s nothing wrong with any of the companies you mentioned for making formula or any of their other products (many of which are favourites of mine).

in fact as I was unable to breastfeed without formula my daughters would have been malnourished or could have died. Thanks so much to the formula companies for making an essential foodstuff for babies I say! I would like more companies to make it though so it could be cheaper.

I'm breastfeeding and have only ever breastfed but have experienced a lot of pressure throughout my journey to bottle feed from many different angles

Poor you. Try genuinely not being able to breastfeed and see what pressure’s brought to bear on you with a large side dish of guilt to go with it.

I am aware of that now - actually I’ve looked into it and studies show it makes little difference. I now don’t feel guilty at all, just angry at the poor treatment I received by the NHS.

My dds are thriving and I have no doubt that formula did them no harm at all.

I did go through a difficult time as many women do due to the stigmatization of formula feeding by the NHS and others such as NCT. I am passionate about it - we need to stop doing that to women.

@Blossomtoes

Totally agree, I went through that myself during covid with my inability to breastfeed my DS and constantly getting judged.
I had severe PND because of it but hey my DS is fine and has a healthy immune system even though he was raised on formula.
How about a fed is best month with helpful advice for both.

Neither needs celebrating! Neither method is better or worse: whichever method works for that particular baby, mother and wider family is the best!

I don’t think we should pressure women to do either. Breastfeed if you can or want to but if you don’t here’s how to bottle feed. There should be no stigma either way.

at the end of the day it’s our bodies.

MrsSkylerWhite I've already posted on the topic of formula feeding week up thread - my opinion (as I've already stated) is that fed is best but a formula feeding month would need to walk the fine line between accepting that fed is best and formula is perfectly fine way to feed babies, without allowing for profit companies to exploit it for free advertising and promotion of formula as better (as in the Nestlé scandal in the 70s/ 80s).

Your argument that people are not allowed to care about anything that doesn't immediately adversely affect them would be a really terrible basis for shutting people up in any context because its an essential that people care about things which don't impact them personally in an immediate context. Without that there's no civilization, no humanity, no society, no charity, no ultruism.

You're advocating for pure self interest only.

What doesn't adversely impact us today may adversely impact upon our children tomorrow - that includes turning a blind eye to media campaigns and keeping our mouths shut about things that are fraught with problems but don't impact us.

Maternity care and breastfeeding don't impact me any more because I've finished child bearing; but I have a daughter who might be directly impacted by the consequences of changes in policy now, as indeed less directly might my sons if they become fathers, and theoretical potential grandchildren.

Nobody should be told not to voice reservations about anything on the basis that it doesn't adversely effect them. Its hardly ever true - as you yourself say things might come around unexpectedly, might impact family members, or ripple effects can mean consequences for people other than the intended target audience.

Promoting formula definitely could have negative effects. A "fed is best" month or a "Baby feeding month", "0-6 months nutritional campaign" or even better just generally better support for women and their families postpartum would be better surely - emphasising that any responsible way of feeding a baby is acceptable is unlikely to be objected to by anyone.

Nothing is stopping them to start on it with some company
Well except maybe The International Code of Marketing of Breastfeeding Substitutes.

@Blossomtoes I genuinely am sorry for your struggles and have honestly been nothing but supportive to anyone I know in real life who has FF. I bought my friend a lovely bottle warmer and am always positive, supportive and encouraging to my FF friends. All I'm asking is to be treated with a bit of kindness and not negatively. I'm sorry if my post hit a nerve with you but I really don't see what I've said that's wrong, just worded my own opinion / experience. Well done on FF your baby