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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

'healthy start' vouchers promote formul feeding

112 replies

buttonmoonice · 13/05/2010 10:50

im a tad annoyed here. mt df is a single mum, so therefore entitled to benefits and healthy start etc. she is currently preg with dc4 and when asked how she intends to feed the baby she snorted and i quote ' why the hell would i consider bf when i get free formula'.
just made me think if she had to pay for the formula herself she may have considered breast feeding.
and maybe if the healthy start scheme was not in place a lot more babies might be getting a healthier start by being breast fed. i no this is not for everyone, some mums cant breastfeed, so maybe the scheme should be that if formula tokens are needed they are provided when asked for?

OP posts:

biddysmama · 13/05/2010 10:52

i think we decided the other day that healthy start vouchers only paid for 1/3 of a can of formula?
they are only worth £3 ish? i dunno how much formula costs but i guess its more than that?

pinkfizzle · 13/05/2010 10:53

No sorry I think you are being completely unreasonable.

You can not link your one reaction as indicative of an entire scheme.

nickschick · 13/05/2010 10:53

From what ive seen many times in tesco 'healthy start' vouchers pay for a lot worse than bloody baby milk .

SirBoobAlot · 13/05/2010 10:54

Formula is about £6 a tin (Well SMA is) so it won't be free...

MonTuesWTF · 13/05/2010 10:55

the healthy start vouchers can be used to buy fruit, veg, regular milk and probably other things for herself as well. this way, a breastfed baby will benefit from the vouchers as well as the mums.

she ought to take them up anyway and health support workers need to know this and pass it on so mums don't feel like they are being penalised for making the decision to breastfeed.

Original poster

buttonmoonice · 13/05/2010 10:56

its about £8.00ish but my friend hets 3x £3.00 vouchers a week, therefore will cover her formula. and once her baby reaches one she will get less, so imo that shows prefernce to ff rather than bf.

OP posts:

AmazingBouncingFerret · 13/05/2010 10:56

formula is alot more than that! almost £7 a tub!

I dont think you should be annoyed at the healthy start vouchers. If you really have to be annoyed, be annoyed at your friend (?) who says that's the reason she wont bf.
However... her baby, her choice.
So YABU to be annoyed!

biddysmama · 13/05/2010 10:56

how long does a tin last?

Original poster

buttonmoonice · 13/05/2010 10:58

yes i agree. if the healthy stat scheme was promoted fro being able to but fresh fuit etc aswell im all for it, just think its a bit sad people wont even consider bf as they get free formula, and cant help thinking if they had to pay for it alot more people would bf.
although i must say im not against ff in any way, my dd3 is mix fed, bm and fm

OP posts:

Meglet · 13/05/2010 10:59

about a week IIRC.

GoldenSnitch · 13/05/2010 11:00

But BF is free too.

Sorry, Don't know how healthy start vouchers work but if she breastfed wouldn't she be able to spend the vouchers on other stuff like nappies? Or like MonTuesWTF said, on fruit and veg for herself?

She'd then get more for 'free' if she breastfed.

Sounds like she's not thought it through.

biddysmama · 13/05/2010 11:01

oh right, thats not too bad then.. i know how to make a bottle up , thats about it lol

MonTuesWTF · 13/05/2010 11:01

the vouchers can't promote formula feeding though. They are in themselves neither good or bad.

it is the human beings - the HCPs - who are educating or in this case, not educating mothers about the uses of the vouchers which by default end up promoting formula feeding.

they should actively promote the fact that they are for food for mothers too. this way, the mums will get more bang for the buck voucher.

BallpointPen · 13/05/2010 11:02

But BFing is free too?

ABatInBunkFive · 13/05/2010 11:02

'if the healthy stat scheme was promoted fro being able to but fresh fuit etc aswell im all for it, just think its a bit sad people wont even consider bf as they get free formula'

It is.

And don't tar everyone with your friends brush.

Original poster

buttonmoonice · 13/05/2010 11:05

yes she can spend them on fruit, veg etc, not nappies though, but it just seems my friend thinks they are for formula and has not considered the veg etc. i no bf is not for everyone, and would not discriminate because someone ff but just think its a shame she wont even consider it because she gets these vouchers.
also her shop will allow her to spend them on fags, booze etc and i just think this is wrong.

OP posts:

GoldenSnitch · 13/05/2010 11:05

Its against the WHO code to promote FF. It would be illegal

AmazingBouncingFerret · 13/05/2010 11:05

What would you propose then Op?
Getting rid of the vouchers?
That's not really very fair on others is it.

GoldenSnitch · 13/05/2010 11:07

Stopping them being used for 'Healthy Start Marlboros' would be a good idea though!

Original poster

buttonmoonice · 13/05/2010 11:08

sorry for making assumptions about 'everyone' i no obviously its not everyone, just i get the impression that it could be the majority, as all of my df friends seem to have the same view as they get free formula. also another df is preg and entitled to the healthy start vouchers and uses them to buy fags. i think this is a disgrace

OP posts:

AmazingBouncingFerret · 13/05/2010 11:10

Buying fags and booze with them??

You should have issues with your friend and the shop that allows this, not the healthy start vouchers.

Original poster

buttonmoonice · 13/05/2010 11:11

no of course i would not propose to get rid of the vouchers.
as i said in my op i think it might be more appropriate if when you give birth you decide to ff, you can apply for the vouchers.
just so that people would nt have the attitude 'oh well i get these vouchers may aswell ff'.

OP posts:

colditz · 13/05/2010 11:11

how do they get used for cigarettes? It's illegal for the shop to allow them to be redeemed against anything other than fresh or formula milk, or fresh fruit and vegetables.

GoldenSnitch · 13/05/2010 11:12

I would report the shops allowing them to be spent on fags and booze here

biddysmama · 13/05/2010 11:12

but they are for breastfeeding mums too, so they can buy fruit and veg... so everyone would still get them.. they arent milk tokens anymore

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