To be annoyed at Boots Advantage Points policy discriminating against formula feeding

[alicet]

Recently found out that Boots don't give advantage points for formula for babies under 6 months. When I asked why I was told 'because we promote breast feeding'.

I guess they can give their points to whoever the hell they like as it is an extra but this really riled me. I am all for promoting bf but this isn't doing that - it's stigmatising ff. Promoting bf would be to give double points for bf stuff like pads / pumps etc.

Anyway thought no more of it until the next time I was in Boots and wasn't allowed to buy my ds's formula with the points I have acrued. this REALLY annoyed me as I have earnt them spending money in Boots and feel I should be able to spend these on whatever I like!

So AIBU? I don't want this to turn into a ff v bf debate - I bf my ds1 for nearly 6 months so am all for it - just didn't work out for us this time. And very pro them promoting it. Just don't think this is... Thoughts?

Monkey butler it's not quite that simple.

They are not allowed by law to offer an 'incentive' to buy formula for under 6 months.

Although it is very silly, as I cannot imagine a mother giving up on breastfeeding just so she can get a few extra points on her advantage card.

Well, doing at least (any) one of those too regularly will kill you Fio, so I think that is appropriate Health and Safety, and looking after their employees

Plus you would find it really hard to kill yourself or anyone else with SMA.

Those tins are farking heavy you know

You lot beat me to that one soz!

My understanding is that the prohibition on promoting formula also exists to protect women as well as promote breastfeeding. Due to the difficulties of relactating, women should not be given a false idea of the true cost of formula feeding - by promotions, discounts etc.

Boots have also been prosecuted in the past for sharp practices re baby formula, so they may want to tread carefully.

I don't think Boots legally have any choice. If you have a problem then you are better off taking it up with your MP.

I am surprised that bottlefeeding parents are not allowed in mother and baby rooms. I think that is unfair.

There was a legal trial recently that all formula cans had to have 'breast is best on them' and they failed to rebrand all the cans in time, but they won a extension.

I am pro breast feeding but it seems like bottle feeding is the new 'smoking' stigma.

I was going to write a reply to whoever said that formula should be available only on prescription (?!! So you'd have to justify to a doctor who knows bugger all about anything why you need it to feed your child?) until I realised that if I could get my Aptamil on prescription, under my maternity exemption it would be free and thereby save me about eight quid a week. Bring it on!

Relactating - love it. Will try to use the word more in general conversation.

But isn't there still a government scheme whereby you are given vouchers for free formula if you bottle feed or (heavy, difficult to carry and store)fresh cow's milk if you breast feed. That really seems like a disincentive to breast feed. Imagine if all mothers were given a tenner a week- ten pounds in your pocket if you breast feed!

Just googled it and you can spend it on vegetables and fruit- to really big up breast feeding it should be cash- could be spent on feeding bras, cabbage leaves and other useful breastfeeding aids.

They're called Healthy Start vouchers, you can redeem them for Milk, Baby Formula and Fresh Fruit & Vegetables.

They basically replaced the milk token scheem they used to have.

The reason that milk tokens exist is to stop people with low intelligence and a low income feeding their newborn baby cow's milk instead of proper formula. Cow's milk is fatal to a newborn baby.

Message withdrawn

"Poor equals low intelligence? "

No. A bright person who is poor will not feed their baby neat cows milk.

An intelligent bottlefeeding mum, on a low income would put buying proper formula as a high priority. However as formula is expensive, it might mean that the mother goes without food so that her baby can get proper formula.

The problem comes when you have women who are REALLY desperate for money. For example a drug addict might consider that buying a line of coke is more important than baby formula.

Very few women on benefits are drug addicts, however it would be unfair to give free formula to drug addicts and not give free formula to all women on low incomes.

Message withdrawn

Yeah, but those tokens can be redeemed for either.. and you can get more milk with it than you can formula.

Its not going to stop someone feeding their baby milk instead of formula

Just to stir things up, will mention that our local shop used to swap milk tokens for anything in the shop - I saw people buying fags etc....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OP - why not buy your formula in tesco - probably cheaper in there anyway, and then when you get your clubcard points you can spend it on formula too, cos you use them to pay towards your shopping?
I never buy any baby stuff in boots - too expensive. Just a thought?

Oh I've stopped buying it in Boots as this annoyed me!

Tesco isn't that near so to be honest would be more hassle than it's worth but I have been buying it in Asda or Sainsburies instead.

Actually though if it's the law I might relent - to be honest it was more the principle than the points if you know what I mean?

This is the kind of tragicity that giving out formula tokens is trying to avoid.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3641475.stm

If you feed a baby on homemade formula or cows milk you are liable to have the same results in China. It is only since the 20th Century that there has been an alternative to breastfeeding.