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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
zippy79 · 13/05/2010 16:11

If this woman is smoking and boozing maybe she should stick to FF

Supercherry · 13/05/2010 18:46

Buttonmoonice, if, to buy formula, one had to specifically request tokens then you would have people complaining about discrimination against formula feeding mums. I would have to agree with them too.

I am shocked at the misguided opinions re: healthy start vouchers on here. They are only for FRESH fruit, veg and milk and formula- they help both formula feeders and breast feeders and pregnant mums.

I doubt your friend really based her decision not to breastfeed on free formula when breast feeding is also free. I might be wrong but I get the impression that you are narked by her decision not to breastfeed or the fact that she is on benefits. Sorry if I'm way off here.

porcamiseria · 13/05/2010 18:49

the goverment cant win on this one

katkouta · 13/05/2010 19:03

I dont think so at all. If you want to breastfeed you'll breastfeed. I receive these vouchers and spend them on milk and veg and breastfed my 1st for 16 months and currently feeding my 5 month old.
Healthy start frequently send leaflets about what the vouchers can be spent on, including recipes for smoothies and such like.
The vouchers themselves have pictures of fruit milk and vegetables on them! So I think thats a weak excuse.

Original poster
buttonmoonice · 13/05/2010 19:44

supercherry im not so narked by her decision to not breast feed or that she is claiming benefits, its more her attitude towards it that annoys me, and how if people are given the chance they will abuse the system. for example spending these vouchers on fags and alcohol.
i dont think that claiming benefits is wrong, however i do think that people who claim as a lifestyle choice, and not because they are in need, are wrong.
it does get my back up a bit too be honest that my friend flaunts her money the way she does, like designer clothes, taxis everywhere with the 'im too good for the bus attitude'. makes me sick to think that our taxes are funding her lifestyle, when we are buying value everything from the supermarket some weeks.
maybe the new coalition between Cameron and Clegg is just what this country needs.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 13/05/2010 19:54

'it does get my back up a bit too be honest that my friend flaunts her money the way she does, like designer clothes, taxis everywhere with the 'im too good for the bus attitude'. makes me sick to think that our taxes are funding her lifestyle, when we are buying value everything from the supermarket some weeks.
maybe the new coalition between Cameron and Clegg is just what this country needs.'

And there's what is really bothering you. Why not just say that first time round?

Oh, I don't know, because you were afraid to start another benefits thread so instead tried to make it about breastfeeding.

Sigh.

I'm not a lone parent or on benefits, we're working poor.

This gal is probably in major debt or she's cheating the system somehow if she's got all that or the clothes are counterfeit.

Oh, things are giong to change alright, it's just a shame no one first goes after men who father child after child and don't pay maintenance, or the workshy prisoners and their human rights, first.

BabyDubsEverywhere · 13/05/2010 20:08

But even if she had none of those things you still wouldnt have anymore so why let it get to you so much?

Original poster
buttonmoonice · 13/05/2010 20:21

no i started this thread as i really did wonder if other peoples attitudes regarding the vouchers and ff were the same as df. as i can obviously see frm this thread they are, thankgod, not.
but yes it does annoy me that she can afford to live thatway, when other ppl are funding it.
to be hnest babydubs if i was offered her lifestyle i would not take it, i would not be content with living off the state

OP posts:
pinkfizzle · 13/05/2010 20:30

You state that you would not be content with living off the state? How strange?

I mean safety nets for people are needed - are they not?

You are not currently in a position where you need the state - but think for a moment - imagine if you paid the full cost of your healthcare for example, instead of having access to the NHS?

Supercherry · 13/05/2010 20:37

Buttonmoonice, why are you friends with her?

3cats3dogs · 13/05/2010 20:44

I may have got this all wrong, but isn't there a law meaning that there can be no vouchers or promotions involving formula?

I'm sure I read that on a thread recently

Supercherry · 13/05/2010 20:46

3cats3dogs, the vouchers don't promote formula. The idea is that it is another benefit but one that ensures that a family on benefits get some fresh fruit or veg or milk. That's why they are in the form of vouchers- not hard cash.

littleducks · 13/05/2010 20:48

I think that the vouchers are really good, much better than the old milk tokens. It would be much better if instead of handing all pregnant women cash 'to spend on vegetables' they were given these vouchers, would remove the stigma from using them as well.

I have seen formula being sold in surestart centre and they would accept healthy start vouchers. But in that particular situation i thought it was fair, there was a really deprived community (one of the pilot SS) and there was only a chemist, small budgens type shop that stocked formula in walking distance so it seemed like a better idea to provide a reasonably priced outlet to prevent it being watered down to last until there was bus fare money about.

Original poster
buttonmoonice · 13/05/2010 20:50

supercherry i am not friends with her through choice she is my mums goddaughter. so i assosiate with her when she at my mums and i dont like going out of my way to be rude, just because i dont agree with her lifestyle choice. she can be a really nice person though just her attitude to money etc really winds me up!!! its as if she has more dc to claim more benefits!

OP posts:
ScreaminEagle · 13/05/2010 20:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

chesgirlNOTgriffins · 13/05/2010 21:06

Good post Screaming

Cant tell you how much it fecks me off to have that old toss rolled out again.

Like we all queue up outside the offie waving our milk tokens (as they were in my income support days) drooling until we can swap em for alco pops

willowflower · 13/05/2010 21:23

oh buttonmoonice you are sounding so nasty...

GypsyMoth · 13/05/2010 21:27

buttonmoonice....you have such a HUGE chip on your shoulder,i bet you are less than perfect

underactivethyroidmum · 13/05/2010 22:13

I'm probably going to get flamed for this but I was brought up to believe if you can't feed 'em don't breed 'em !

I regularly see mothers trying to sell their vouchers in the aisle of our local boots store for cash !

GypsyMoth · 13/05/2010 22:19

buttonmoonice.....your other thread. you are moaning how your dh is controlling,abusive and nasty....you are still with this man,letting your dc see his behaviour towards women....you are letting it carry on....this friend,or whoever she is,she has at least not got this situation to deal with,she has sense!!!she is a lone parent and doing better

larks35 · 13/05/2010 22:33

IloveTiffany - a bit out of order to drag another thread into this one IMO.

OP your mate/god-sister is obviously deluded regarding the costings of feeding. Her HSVs might just cover the formula powder, but she will need bottles, teats - upgrading every few months, a steriliser. TBH if she's like me and a lazy arse BF has to be the way forward for her. I had a proper shock when due to having to return to work I switched from BF to FF. Gawd blimey, I was felt like I was constantly making up feeds, sterilising, heating up or cooling down milk - IT DID MY HEAD IN! Honestly tell your mate that if her DC takes to it easily, BF is soooo much easier.

willowflower · 13/05/2010 22:33

Really underactive, how so? Please explain about these regulars in boots - nearly every boots store I go to has pretty decent security - I do not believe you.

underactivethyroidmum · 13/05/2010 22:40

WF - there is no security in the Boots in our city - you obviously don't have a massive drug problem wherever you live ........

tiktok · 13/05/2010 23:14

If anyone sees abuse of HS vouchers, then they need to report it.

www.healthystart.nhs.uk/en/fe/health_professionals_faqs.html#11

With any welfare benefit there is a risk of abuse. Impossible to stop it 100 per cent. This inevitability does not discredit the voucher system, or suggest it should be stopped...makes no more sense than, say, stopping child fares on public transport because some teens pretend they are younger than they actually are.

Original poster
buttonmoonice · 13/05/2010 23:15

i love tiffany, what the hell has that got to do with this???? NONE OF UR BUSINESS UNLESS YOUR POSTING ON OTHER THREAD. so basically you think i should leave and claim dole?? bring my children up thinking it is correct to do so?
if u really want to no, we are working things out and for your information i can provide for my children myself. ME. not the state or anyone else.
and if you think just because my relationship is not perfect that i am not allowed to have an opinon about others, then YOUR BANG OUT OF ORDER. if you dont like this thread dont post. SIMPLE.

OP posts: