so if a shop knocks 10p off a carton of 1st formula......

[misdee]

is that breaking the code?

My DH doesn't get his staff (works for Tesco) discount off of 1st milk, but does off of SMA Progress.

So we just started the kids on SMA Progress at about 4 wks old.

ONLY JOKING.... before someone reports me to...... well...... who ever people report to.

I just don't get the whole thing about not allowing shops to discount formula milk. Someone who wants to breastfeed will not switch to formula because sainsbury's are offering a 2 for 1 promotion. On another thread yesterday someone said that if you are on income support you can get free formula, so why is that allowed?

Windemere - I know! Daft isn't it!! My local clinic sells discounted powdered milk anyway..... so why is that okay?

windermere if you are on income support/ctc etc, you get milk tokens, they can be used for formula or real milk for the mother if she is breastfeeding.

I also got was allowed to buy discounted milk when I had Ds as we were on a low income.

Mind you, Ds was a fussy bugger and ended up only liking the only one that wasn't on the list for a discount.

It is assumed that when you get milk from the clinic that there is some kind of medical advice

Windermere, there have been posts on Mumsnet from mothers on low income who have literally run out of money and formula and are panicking. If they start buying half price formula on a tempting promotion, and then the price rises they could be in real trouble. I just don' t think formula manufacturers shoudl be allowed to tempt people into giving formula under the false impression it is inexpensive.

And if manufacturers were allowed to discount, you can bet your boots they would be giving away free tins to new mothers, knowing this would completely undermine or prevent successful breastfeeding - and then lock them into a long term financial commitment. If you are struggling with breastfeeding, the formula is given to you - free - and is sitting in your cupboard, and you have read adverts saying it is the same or even better than breastmilk, yes, I do think that would further reduce our pitiful breastfeeding rates.

aha

thanks for that Ameriscot - about follow on milks designed to circumvent the code.

I finally understand why follow on milk exists!

all very interesting

I just had a thought, breast is best ok which is the reason for the ban on promoting formula. Well we all know that fresh food is better than junk food like McDonalds and sweets and crap. So why is there not a ban on that? The decision to choose formula will always be made by the mother, the baby will not ask for a bottle because of some glitzy marketing campaign and yet a 3 yr old will ask for a McDonalds because they are giving away cute cuddly toy puppies with every happy meal. It makes me really cross

would anyone be swayed to formula feed by an advert?
Really come on!!
Cheap formula v free breast milk!!!
mmmm now which would I go for given a choice?

I think milk is a little different because it is the only food a baby has.

I don't really understand the problem with reduced prices in shops. I understand that promoting formula in advertising is a bad thing but no breastfeeding mother is going to be persuaded to stop just because formula is 10p cheaper than usual. breastfeeding is free.

and baby foos aimed at under 6 months can be advertised?

mumtosomeone, why do you think companies advertise (and spend millions doing so) if it doesn't make any difference to anyone's decisions?
And plenty of people choose expensive formula over free breastmilk as it is - I think it very likely that if the initial supplies of formula were free it would skew that further towards formula feeding.

also no-one really understands why breastmilk is better for babies nutritionally than formula

and babies have no choice!

beansmum, but a system that allowed 10p off would also allow companies to give free formula to women who have just given birth. It would just blow the whole thing wide open.

but alhoa if someone has run out of money AND formula theyre obviously already bottlefeeding aren't they. so a promotion on half price formula isnt going to change the way they feed just help them continue feeding the way they already are

if the price rises again well i guess theyd be back to square one but at least theyd have some of the half price stuff to keep them going.

what I meant is if you breastfed and saw an offer on formula would you awitch?
Not wanting a slanging match today. Got too much housework to catch up on!!!

no of course not

but would be angry and that might interrupt my supply

I know aloha but junk food is also the only food that some children have. I know someone who literally only feeds her 2 year old sweets because she says she won't eat anything else. When my mum tactfully asked her if she ever eats real food she said "oh yes, she loves McDonalds, we go there most days". This is not uncommon.

Formula is no substitute for bf but if you can't bf then it is a good alternative. Formula will not pass on the health benefits that bf does but it won't harm your child either, it is still nutritious and does the job. Whereas a diet that consists mainly of junk food does harm your child, every week new research is announced finding a link between poor diet and illnesses such as cancer. I think it is about time that something is done in relation to marketing junk food for children.

I breast fed all mine and they have between them : excema, asthma, glue ear, food intolerence oh and a mum that cant spell!!!

I wonder if they would have been worse on formula!!

Do children that are breast fed really grow up to be different to formula fed...can you pick them out in the classroom.

sorry gone of on a tangent there.

The NHS baby clinic in my town don't assess income..... or offer advice..... they just have a sign up saying:

Reduced Price Baby Milk on Sale Mon-Fri 2-4pm.

The receptionists just sell you it, the only restriction is 1 tin a week.

yes, they are naughtynoonoo, just pointing out how incredibly tight things are for some women, and how for them, free formula might be very tempting. We don't always think sensibly ...hmmm, that may be free but let me research how much it will cost to be full time on formula, and how that would fit with my household budget. You are struggling with bf and there's that free tin of formula in the cupboard, given to you by that nice formula company... plenty of committed breastfeeders get tempted at 3am, and with free supplies of formula, bottles etc already there, well, I think we can visualise the rest.

I don't know MTS but you can certainly pick out those that are fed well.