Still being subjected to the cow and gate ad.

[LookingForwardToSummer]

Grrrrr. It's so annoying! Is there nothing we can do?

So why do you feel the need to comment?

Please go and add your enlightening words of wisdom elsewhere.

I never see the point of coming on a thread to say yawn or something of that ilk (unless tis obvious trolling that needs outing). If you don't want to hear/see the same old argument, why bump the thread? Do you not realise that you are doing the thread a favour as it means more people will see it. Surely if you want the topic to die you just click hide thread or leave the thread and just ignore it?

Thanks for the bump though

She likes to see her name up in lights

Daisy, I saw that - she said "breastfeeding gives you nipple warts" iirc.

CE, if it bores you so much, there's a simple solution. For instance, I find discussion of ditch drainage and sheep breeds very dull, so I don't go on ditchesandsheep.com and I steer well clear of any discussion re ditches or sheep breeds on this or other forums.

I only gave my opinion on the subject

How very odd though - as I said, I don't go and seek out topics which I know will bore me to tell the people who are interested in them that their topics are boring.

It's rude. Can't you see that?

just browsing and had a bit of a read thats all, nothing odd.

I see you didn't deny it was rude though.

oh i forgot that bit. Im not rude at all.

Lovely, glad to hear it.

Then I expect you'll either join in the debate with your own views on the subject, or go and post somewhere else on something you are interested in.

Gosh, i do love it when people come on a give their opinions.

Especially such well thought out and erudite opinions as Carmen.

I've been giving my opinions......

Meanwhile I have written a letter to Cow & Gate with my thoughts on the advertisement in question.

What did you say?

More or less regarding what I perceive to be a sublimimal message - the happy, living the dream type scenario that the advert portrays.

And that that life can be achieved by using Cow & Gate products.

TodayToday - I think one of my posts may not have been clear.

My definition

• Advert = promotion of product, look how brill we are, buy us, buy us

• Information = unbias details about specific products, not in the form of adverts but the "small print" iyswim.

I'm not linking the two (or not attempting to in my posts), can you point me in my exact post so I can explain it further as I didn't mean to link the two.

My DS thinks the add is hilarious.....she chuckles throughout....as much as she does to the teletubbies.....she has been bottlefed since birth but don't think thats the reason!

Good on you, hf

"* Information = unbias details about specific products, not in the form of adverts but the "small print" iyswim"

When it comes to formula, not even the 'small print' can be trusted. You notice on many Cow and Gate leaflets (might also be on formula tins) there is a disclaimer in small print on the back: "Breastfeeding is best for babies.... etc etc about formula being the only appropriate substitute. In the same paragraph, also in small print is the comment that in preparation for and during breastfeeding it is important to eat a healthy, balanced diet". Why do they include this in the small print? Because then mums who are concerned about the quality of their diet (probably the majority of women in the UK) are likely to feel that the quality of their breastmilk may be questionable.....

Also presented as 'information' on the Cow and Gate website:

"Many mums choose to combine breastfeeding and bottlefeeding. Because it?s so flexible, it can actually help them to continue breastfeeding for longer. Mums often find it offers the best of both worlds ? their baby still gets the goodness from their breastmilk, but their baby can still feed when it isn?t convenient to offer a breast, and without the need to express milk. Plus, it?s a handy way to top up a feed if a baby?s still hungry for more. Combined feeding also means you can share the feeding through the night with a partner."

No mention of the impact of formula on your chances of long term breastfeeding.

No mention of the possible impact of formula on your baby's health.

WHY DOES THE GOVERNMENT CONTINUE TO ALLOW THESE COMPANIES TO OFFER ADVICE AND INFORMATION ON BREASTFEEDING?

Elf, as part of the helpful information from formula manufacturers they FAIL to update their instructions for making up formula powder to comply with European wide guidelines (including in the UK recently re-issued ones from the DoH) about making it up with very hot water (no less than 65 degrees)

So the packets all give different WRONG information on the whole.

Is this ethical?

Why might they not be interested in changing the details?

Because a. it would draw attention to the substantial delusion that many FF mothers have: they think powder is sterile but it isn't; b. it would highlight the additional if rare risks of using powdered formula; and c. it would actually remind women that making up formula properly is now more complex than it was and risk a blow to their sales.

Are they really providing unbiased information to their consumers?

Mike Brady's blogged about this ad, as always very intelligently

Wilf, that's a good point. It amazes me though that anyone can think that an open box of formula that you are dipping in and out of for however long would be sterile (not that I think you're wrong, I believe it, I just find it amazing).

Is that supposed to be the same bottle (pictures on the link)? Because the one feeding the baby doesn't have a handle on it. Is there a reason for that, does anyone know?

Tinkerbelle, and it's not even sterile before you open it...

There will be a reason - you don't spend squillions on an ad without every frame being carefully selected.

My guess is this - the bottle with the handle simply looks better in that final pack shot. But they deliberately used a bottle without a handle in the sequence with the real baby as it makes the baby look younger.

I know Wilf, but the idea that people would think the last scoop would "still" be sterile amuses me.

Tiktok, I thought it might be something like that. The picture where the baby is being fed does look quite young and like it's a younger baby being fed.

I haven't read the whole thread, but just thought I'd add that I'm waiting for a response to my complaint to the ASA about this ad, and would be really interested to hear if anyone can suggest more effective ways of campaigning against this kind of thing. Can anyone post me a link