Parents penalised for formula feeding

thechristmaspudding · 2023-08-14T16:56:46+00:00

I just wanted to open up a discussion to find out the perspectives of other parents on this subject. I would also be interested to hear the opinions of midwives, health visitors and other health care professionals involved with families. To give a bit of background information, I am a member of the Boots parenting club, which has many parents are likely to be aware gives you access to discounts and offers on baby related items in store. I went into my local boots today to buy my son's formula, hoping to get a good deal as I had been notified of an offer in store. Now, in my sleep deprived state I did not read the offer properly and it did clearly state that it was an offer for follow on formula and not infant first. The cashier was very polite and explained that due to government regulations shops are not legally allowed to offer discounts on infant first formula due to the government expectation that breastfeeding should be encouraged for the first six months. To be clear, I am not taking issue with Boots or any other shop, but it got me questioning whether this is fair? No, I do not believe that formula companies should be able to dissuade women from breastfeeding through aggressive marketing campaigns that encourage parents to buy their product. But surely parents have the right to weigh up the pros and cons of bottle feeding and make an informed choice that reflects the needs and circumstances of their own family? I tried really, really hard to breastfeed but found it extremely difficult and due to a lack of postnatal support gave up (the inadequate breastfeeding support in this country is another issue in itself). This is something I still regret and struggle with. However, my personal experience aside, formula feeding is a valid choice to make whether parents decide to feed this way from birth or at a later stage. I also remember watching an episode of dispatches a few years ago on how due to the cost of formula many families resort to watering down their baby's feed or even to stealing. This is a situation that is likely to have worsened as a result of the cost of living crisis. So my question is, AIBU in thinking that it is wrong to penalise bottle-feeding parents when it comes to the cost of formula?

frecklemcspeckles · 14/08/2023 17:58

Completely agree with you. It's been the same the last 15 years with my kids. Having been unable to breastfeed due to medication issues I found it really galling that any points etc couldn't be gatherer when I had to spend such large amounts on formula.

PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 14/08/2023 17:59

But you’re not being penalised? You’re just not being rewarded.

WouldJustlikeaLatte · 14/08/2023 18:01

I think there are laws around the promotion of formula milk to supposedly protect babies but if the government really cared they wouldnt allow formula companies to circumnavigate laws on advertising with follow on milks from 6m which aren’t necessary (stage 1 is up to 12m but they can’t advertise that so made up follow on milk)

I do think points such as boots ones should be allowed to be used on formula , I can’t see what harm it would do especially in a cost of living crisis to help parents a bit. I do know there’s a healthy start scheme that you can use to pay for formula milk with but not all families qualify for that

PinkDaffodil2 · 14/08/2023 18:03

I think it’s reasonable that formula companies can’t market infant milk. They invented a whole entire unnecessary product (follow on milk) just to be able to get around the rules and advertise, as of course an advert for SMA follow on milk encourages the use of infant formula. The companies exist to make profit and any relaxation of the rules I’m sure they would exploit, even something innocuous like being included in deals etc.
Not having deals and promotions also means the price of formula is pretty steady, and keeps the overall price lower than if it were half the time on buy 2 get 1 free etc. There’s less pressure on parents to shop around for deals, and the cost is a known quantity.
The answer to families not being able to afford formula is to make sure that an appropriate milk is available for free if needed from food banks etc or via health visitors, not to rely on the market.

Ponderingwindow · 14/08/2023 18:03

Your not being penalized.
you just weren’t given a marketing discount.

LokiCokey · 14/08/2023 18:04

I don't see the harm in collecting points on formula tbh... I breastfed and I wasn't likely to be tempted to formula feed just to get Boots points! if you have to FF (or just prefer to) any support with the cost is surely a good thing...?

Alwayswonderedwhy · 14/08/2023 18:06

Why do you think you're being penalized?
You're entitled to the discount off follow on milk the same as a breast feeding mother is if she chooses to use it.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 14/08/2023 18:06

Not the point, I know, but for a while now I’ve been noticing the huge difference in price between identical size tubs of Aptamil (£14) and Cow and Gate (£10) for the same product (first milk, follow on, etc.)

Why on earth would anyone choose to pay the higher price? Do they think that more expensive must = better?
Cow and Gate is an old and trusted U.K. brand - I can’t imagine that it’s inferior to Aptamil. If Aptamil is imported (I don’t know whether it is) that could account for at least some of the difference.

Clefable · 14/08/2023 18:07

I do wish there was an easier way to donate formula - I had an unopened tub of Kendamil from when I was getting BFing established with DD2 and trying to get rid of it was is really difficult. The food bank won't take it, I can't advertise it on FB or anywhere like that, so I eventually managed to offload it at a baby class to someone who probably didn't really need it to save money but it was better than it going to waste. Perhaps there was another avenue, but it wasn't immediately obvious to me where that was. It feels like there needs to be a common sense approach when breastfeeding is no longer an option; 3/4mo babies needs to be fed and aren't going to be able to be suddenly be breastfed.

But I think the rewards points thing is fairly inconsequential. You could just use the points to buy other stuff you need and use the money saved to buy formula really. And I think if cost is an initial reason for people to consider breastfeeding when they might not have otherwise, that's probably a good thing.

IhearyouClemFandango · 14/08/2023 18:07

You're not being penalised, you're just not getting a discount/bonus. Read about some of Nestle's frankly criminal tactics and you'll see why.

Clymene · 14/08/2023 18:07

Can you explain how you're being penalised?

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 14/08/2023 18:07

You’re not being be penalised. I think the rules are right and follow on milk is a giant con to bi pass the regulations.

WouldJustlikeaLatte · 14/08/2023 18:08

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 14/08/2023 18:06

Not the point, I know, but for a while now I’ve been noticing the huge difference in price between identical size tubs of Aptamil (£14) and Cow and Gate (£10) for the same product (first milk, follow on, etc.)

Why on earth would anyone choose to pay the higher price? Do they think that more expensive must = better?
Cow and Gate is an old and trusted U.K. brand - I can’t imagine that it’s inferior to Aptamil. If Aptamil is imported (I don’t know whether it is) that could account for at least some of the difference.

They are made by the same manufacturer and are almost identical

CurlewKate · 14/08/2023 18:08

The concept of follow on milk makes me sooooo angry. Sorry, I know that's not what you're asking, but it does.

Alicethecamelhasa · 14/08/2023 18:08

You don’t get points on breastfeeding either. You’re not being penalised.

willywallaby · 14/08/2023 18:09

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 14/08/2023 18:06

Not the point, I know, but for a while now I’ve been noticing the huge difference in price between identical size tubs of Aptamil (£14) and Cow and Gate (£10) for the same product (first milk, follow on, etc.)

Why on earth would anyone choose to pay the higher price? Do they think that more expensive must = better?
Cow and Gate is an old and trusted U.K. brand - I can’t imagine that it’s inferior to Aptamil. If Aptamil is imported (I don’t know whether it is) that could account for at least some of the difference.

They're both made by the same company and Aptamil is marketed as their premium brand and Cow and Gate as their budget brand. The extra £4 goes on marketing, the quality is not different. This is one reason formula companies are subject to so much regulation, they do whatever they can get away with.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 14/08/2023 18:09

Roughly,

It's been the case for decades that retailers can not promote infant formula milk for babies under 6 months. It's why follow on milk was invented. It's to encourage breast feeding, and I believe these regulations have their roots in WHO guidance (I may be wrong about this). This is particularly relevant where new mothers do not have access to a reliable source of clean water, are were preyed upon by formula companies, who'd supply free formula, which they'd become reliant on. (I know the the majority of the UK has safe, fresh water on tap, but WHO is global).

And you're not being penalised, you're just not being rewarded.

More here

WouldJustlikeaLatte · 14/08/2023 18:10

CurlewKate · 14/08/2023 18:08

The concept of follow on milk makes me sooooo angry. Sorry, I know that's not what you're asking, but it does.

Me too and they are just allowed to get away with blatantly circumnavigating the rules about advertising and selling an unnecessary product

MamaGhina · 14/08/2023 18:10

PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 14/08/2023 17:59

But you’re not being penalised? You’re just not being rewarded.

This 👆

Merseymum992 · 14/08/2023 18:13

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

BoohooWoohoo · 14/08/2023 18:14

Not being rewarded isn't the same as being penalised. Lottery tickets don't get loyalty points either and petrol is usually rewarded at a less amount than food.

ladygindiva · 14/08/2023 18:14

Yanbu op. I formula fed twins ( not through choice) and it nearly bankrupted us. The passive aggressive disapproval I met everywhere sent my mental health into a downward spiral.

TakeMe2Insanity · 14/08/2023 18:15

Clefable · 14/08/2023 18:07

I do wish there was an easier way to donate formula - I had an unopened tub of Kendamil from when I was getting BFing established with DD2 and trying to get rid of it was is really difficult. The food bank won't take it, I can't advertise it on FB or anywhere like that, so I eventually managed to offload it at a baby class to someone who probably didn't really need it to save money but it was better than it going to waste. Perhaps there was another avenue, but it wasn't immediately obvious to me where that was. It feels like there needs to be a common sense approach when breastfeeding is no longer an option; 3/4mo babies needs to be fed and aren't going to be able to be suddenly be breastfed.

But I think the rewards points thing is fairly inconsequential. You could just use the points to buy other stuff you need and use the money saved to buy formula really. And I think if cost is an initial reason for people to consider breastfeeding when they might not have otherwise, that's probably a good thing.

I gave unused formula to the health visitor. They were delighted, said they often see ff babies with mums in very hard circumstances and they took it.

SoSad44 · 14/08/2023 18:16

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 14/08/2023 18:06

Not the point, I know, but for a while now I’ve been noticing the huge difference in price between identical size tubs of Aptamil (£14) and Cow and Gate (£10) for the same product (first milk, follow on, etc.)

Why on earth would anyone choose to pay the higher price? Do they think that more expensive must = better?
Cow and Gate is an old and trusted U.K. brand - I can’t imagine that it’s inferior to Aptamil. If Aptamil is imported (I don’t know whether it is) that could account for at least some of the difference.

not all babies like all formula. Mine refused most brands

Marblessolveeverything · 14/08/2023 18:16

I would like to see the restrictions removed. The idea that women can't make a decision based on their personal choice versus marketing is frankly insulting.

I was never going to consider breastfeeding, fully respect another's women choice to and will always sign up in support of increasing bf supports. But the fact is I was in a privileged position to afford my choice. I am in ROI is formula available from support agencies in UK?