Bottle feeding = 120 Mars bars by 8 months

[MrsDoolittle]

OOoer

Its not like saying that commercials are to blame at all for baby/toddler obesity! (A concept I find hard to fathom anyway...) Its saying that formula companies make it incredibly difficult for anyone to understand what the contents of formula milk is, only going as far as to suggest that their milk is similar to breastmilk because they have put "prebiotics" in etc etc. They dont say WHERE they get the prebiotics from, or any of the other derivatives.

You can't blame parents for that, surely?

P.S. jellybrain - if you don't understand the point of formula, what good alternatives to breastmilk do you refer/suggest?

sorry vvv should clarify - i mean that a hierarchy of mum breastfeeding, then expressed milk from mum, then donated breastmilk, then formula would be the ideal in my opinion - bound to be plenty of evidence pro and anti this but you can always find an expert/ stat to support almost any stance today

yes please - what alternative should I have fed my so to keep him alive?

VVV - I agree that the formula companies make it difficult to know exactly what they put into formula. But may be that is why it is called "formula" - a word that has connotations of something rather difficult to understand ??!!

On the conspiracy theory level, I don't think it is actually in the interests of these companies to fully inform people about what is in them. Their sales will go down if people know exactly what is in them.

However, I come back to the same question, why feed a baby a formula, the contents of which a multi-billon dollar company wants to keep very close to its chest ?

Yellowrose, I think we're misunderstanding each other!

I have no real problem with the content of this article. Breastfeeding's better than formula - yep, heard it before, no big deal.

You said you think Barbieri is brave by writing this. That's the bit I really don't agree with.

She wanted to shock with this article and I think she's written a poor piece of shock-jock journalism. I'm sure there is lots of research to support her claims but it's sloppy of her not to reference it.

I do agree she's not the only journo to say it - many would have said it better.

Why? Because there is no other freely available option of course!

liquid - I don't know your circumstances and why you were unable to breastfeed - I accept that there are afew medical conditions that will cause a baby harm if he/she is breastfed, but nature and biology have enabled almost all mothers and babies to breastfeed. The human race would have been extinct by now if this had not been the case before the invention of formula.

pointy - I agree that she should have thoroughly cross-referenced her article. I said it in my first post and I have no disgareement with you on this

I'm new to mn. I take it you are fiercely pro breastfeeding then, yellow.

Interestingly enough, "formula" dates back a few centuries.....

Contraception is quite a new thing though.....

So fierce, that she runs teh risk of giving the rest of us "pro Breastfeeders" a muddier name....

Ahhh! Ok. I'm bowing out.

afternoon ladies

what are we discussing today?

Message withdrawn

pointy - I am also newish - but not "fiercely" by any means - sorry if I come across as such !

Yes, I breastfeed my 26 month old toddler and am generally on the side of breastfeeding, but have many good friends who bottlefeed.

I am very much opposed to the obnoxious way that companies market formula and would like to see better access to info. that will make it easier for a parent to choose between breastfeeding and formula feeding.

I see this has turned into another bf v ff.

pointy - why are you bowing out ?

vvv - you haven't met my mates down at the good old La Leche League "fierce booby ladies society", then ?

I am a pussy cat compared to my LLL friends !

But serciously, I am sorry if any one has been offended. I didn't realise that what I had said was so controversial !

this is quite mild ......

i do agree that furmula should be clear about what it contains, and if as much money was put into bf support as is into marketing the stuff then more people would bf.
I think every baby has the right to have the chance to bf if it is posible, and not just go stright onto a bottle without evern trying.
(now i am going to hide from all the ffs)

Jools - I gather people end up wanting to murder each other on these threads then do they ?

Oh dear, I am newish here although I dabble on other websites !

I will expect some hate mail soon

Jools....you are being rather more reserved than usual.......

Yellow, I am pro breastfeeding, and pro information on all b/feeding and formula topics, but, I think you probably should go check some older b/f vs ff threads to understand why one or two of the things you said "may" be considered offensive. I am sure it wasnt your intention to be.

you certainly need a thick skin on these threads fortunately I have rhino hide.

I think just about everything that could be said on the subject has been said on mumsnet.

welcome yellowrose - we may find ourselves on opposing benches from time to time

piggie - the formula companies spend the equivalent of £30 per baby on marketing their products

compare this to the 14 PENCE per baby spent by the NHS to promote breastfeeding

Sorry, can't give the reference for this although it was given to me by a very reliable and thorough friend who had read it in a well-known health magazine

jools and vvv - I can see I am going to get a thick skin while I also learn about gun-boat diplomacy as I go along !