Should Formula instantly be free for all women on benefits?

[mummyof2byapril]

Before now I've always i've always used mothering forums that are frequented mainly by americans.
One thing that strikes me is that many of them on welfare or low incomes have a very strong incentive to breastfeed to avoid the prices of formula.
In this country I see that people on benefits are actually much less likelier to breastfeed and often simply plan to bottle feed.
Do you think the fact that they instantly get vouchers for free formula may sway the decision somewhat?
Remember we're talking about people who're on benefgits so more likely to be young, vulnerable and dare I say less informed or terested in doing any great ammount of research on their decision.

Do those on benefits get vouchers for formula? I've never heard this before? I know those on low incomes get milk vouchers for cows milk.

Tough one. There could be mothers out there who like my sister was pretty much bullied into bottlefeeding by her (now ex) partner, just so he could do some of the feeds. (but then lost interest a week later but whole different thread subject there..) They were struggling on benefits and she also left him not long after so she would of been in a whole lot more trouble if she was having to pay for her formula.
What if mother on benefits cant bf for medical reasons?
But it would be a good incentive, in theory.

Im going to sit on this here fence and see what the others have to say on it!

Milk vouchers could be redeemed for either cows milk or formula (at least that was the case 15 years ago)

The milk vouchers were replaced with healthy start vouchers which you can use to pay for cows milk, formula and also fresh fruit and vegetables.

I had DD when I was 19. I planned to bottlefeed. I knew all about breastfeeding and the benefits and the support available etc, but I didnt want to. It was my own informed decision.

I can't see how it sways the decision one way or another - breastfeeding is free, and with the vouchers, so if formula feeding.

Believe it or not, breastfeeding isn't the be all and end all, and it is perfectly fine for mothers, regardless of their age, or income (or lack thereof) to choose to bottle feed their child. It doesn't mean they are a bad person, nor that they are less interested in researching their decision.

But breastfeeding is also free, so your theory doesn't really make sense does it.

i think the cvouchers are for about £2 and a tin of formula is about £8. its not free

if bf was the norm, there would be no need for vouchers, surely.

hmm, i feel like i've been here before

I hate this theory that people on benefits will cash in on something because its free

The vouchers can also be used for VEGTABLES, FRUIT AND MILK TO BE EATEN BY BFing mums!

If someone wants to breastfeed being on benefits won't stop them!

If they want to FF then it wont be because of free vouchers FF,, it will be their own personal reasons and women have a right to feed their children however they want. Formula is not illegal. You BF your kids? Fantastic, seriously well done, but why does it bother you that soneone else gives their child a bottle? Its non of your buisness.

I used to get free formula for dd1 back in 2001 when a voucher actually got you a whole tin of milk rather than a couple of quid towards it.

I couldn't breastfeed her, i tried for 3 days in hospital before i was advised to give her a bottle as she was geting dehydrated, it wasn't the free formula that prompted my decision.

Having ff 3 of my babies and bf the fourth i wouldn't just ff if it were free, and i do think it should be free for all families on a low wage as £8 a tin each week is a large chunk of grocery money.

There we go, knew people with stronger opinion on this matter would come on and make my mind up for me!!

"One thing that strikes me is that many of them on welfare or low incomes have a very strong incentive to breastfeed to avoid the prices of formula."

makes sense

"In this country I see that people on benefits are actually much less likelier to breastfeed and often simply plan to bottle feed."

tis about more than money methinks - tis generational / women's choice etc etc

www.healthystart.nhs.uk/

ok so you get £3.10 a week, less that 1/2 the price of formula

The vouchers are now at the value of £3.10 each, and for the first year or so of the childs life, parents receive 8 vouchers per month totalling £24.80.

I really hate people getting on their high horses about breastfeeding. It's the mothers choice surely.

Worth remembering that nothing is ever FREE. It's without charge to the person receiving it. Someone pays for it somewhere.

I hate the word free in relation to money. Just makes me think of freeloading....

It's strange, I remember a week's milk vouchers covering a week's can or sma baby milk, only about 9 years ago.
It seems things have changed or I have a very bad memory!

The vouchers did used to cover a whole tin of milk yes.

But as I said, breastfeeding is also free, so I don't really understand your point. If someone is going to choose purely on the basis of cost, then it is a level playing field surely.

I chose to bottle feed, and the cost had chuff all to do with it.

I used to use another parenting website, but found alot of stuff was one-sided, closed-minded and 'black and white'. I am new to this website and it is so refreshing to hear different opinions. I only breastfed for two weeks - I had an emergency c-sec and found it too much on top of trying to recover. At the end of the day, whether you want to breastfeed or bottlefeed it is your choice. I would not dream of forcing my opinions down anyone's throat. My son was FF and is thriving.

Ok the logic of my OP is based on outdated information.
I'm glad formula isn't free then.

Breastfeeding isn't technically free either, we breastfeeders probably do eat more which costs.

As I said I saw formula prices being an incentive to breastfeed in America, and remembered knowing many people who got formula for free here with tokens, back in the day!

I wish healthy start would provide me with my weekly soya milk! We don't drink formula or cow's milk.
And I get £6.20 a week healthy start vouchers.
Not complaining though we have some nice fruits like blueberries and things we probably wouldnt otherwise get that much.

mrsmorgan
Let me explain my original logic.
If formula was still free here, and not free in America and then we noticed Americans in the lowest economic situations were breastfeeding more often than the people here, then we might assume that there was a financial pressure over there which was causing them to have higher breastfeeding rates.

I understand what you are saying, I just think you are wrong.

I don't know anyone who has made their desicion on feeding based on cost.

Don't you Mrs Morgan? I know lots of people for whom it was a strong factor? (Some on benefits, others with larger incomes but who are thrifty!)

Poorer people are also more likely to smoke, which costs a fortune. It's not just a financial decision.

No I don't, and I know people on benefits and people more comfortably off.

Breastmilk is free and there's child benefit - what more do people on benefits expect my taxes to pay for??! Granted not everyone can breastfeed, including me, but I don't think our taxes should be used for this purpose.