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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Right, clearly we don't pay enough already.....

45 replies

Fruitbatlings · 05/03/2010 22:26

for formula. I can't believe the price has been increased!
I noticed today.
I hate the stuff, never wanted to use it, I have no choice but to give it to my baby.
It's so bloody expensive already.
Fuckers
All I can say is thank god he'll be 1 in two weeks.
I dread to think how much it'll cost when I have another baby

Why it's not free on the NHS is beyond me.

OP posts:

ImSoNotTelling · 06/03/2010 16:11

Never really thought about this before but yes formula should be affordable shouldn't it.

cat64 · 06/03/2010 17:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster

Fruitbatlings · 06/03/2010 19:53

Yup, I agree but I also chose to breastfeed like a lot of other mums who get the same amount of child benefit. Unfortunately my choice to breastfeed was taken away from me. It just annoys me that most women can feed their babies for free using their own milk, which is what I'd dreamt and longed to do

OP posts:

rubyslippers · 06/03/2010 19:58

the formula companies KNOW they have a captive market

i cannot believe the price - i think on average it costs £500 approx to formula feed for the first year

rubyslippers · 06/03/2010 19:59

and now they make milks for one year olds when that isn't necessary as they can go onto cows milk ...

moomaa · 06/03/2010 20:03

Yes formula is expensive and that is a pain, but the child benefit does more than cover it.

I don't think it helps to compare it to breast feeding, which for me was not free. I purchased breast feeding bras, loads of breast pads, an electric pump, a steriliser for bottles plus bottles and different sized teats to feed expressed milk, special bags to keep milk in the freezer, cream to go on sore nipples, nipple shields. Yes, that was my choice and some women buy none of that but I bet they are a tiny proportion.

Original poster

Fruitbatlings · 06/03/2010 20:06

Based on one carton per week I have spent roughly £377 on something I should be able to provide for free (and mine should be healthier too!)
I really don't understand that 1+ milk.....why?

OP posts:

rubyslippers · 06/03/2010 20:08

they invented the 1 year plus milk so it could be advertised unlike formula milks for under 1's

Original poster

Fruitbatlings · 06/03/2010 20:10

Moomaa - you're absolutely right, I hadn't thought of all the gubbins that go with breastfeeding but I would have been happy to pay that if I could have breastfed as I know it's so much better for my babies. I just begrudge paying for something I hate giving to my babies

OP posts:

gaelicsheep · 06/03/2010 20:13

Yes but then you're not able to spend the child benefit on other things that one might consider essential, like clothes and nappies for example. I'm totally with Fruitbatlings on this one. When formula feeding is not a choice, and you hate every minute of it, the expense of it really does add insult to injury.

I totally intended to breastfeed, and I did to the point where it was just impossible to continue. So I'd already bought the feeding bras, the washable pads, the pump, etc. etc. Two pumps in fact as I desperately tried everything to avoid formula. It wasn't to be, but it was all bloody expensive even before I had to buy the formula.

I guess if you're happy to be formula feeding then you would feel differently - the cost of it would be one of the things you would weigh up in your decision. And of course for women on "low" incomes it makes no difference one way or the other. I for one fully expected and wished my baby's food to be free for the first six months and I was devastated when it all fell apart.

moomaa · 06/03/2010 20:15

Just did some quick sums. Excluding bottles and steriliser as ff needs that, from memory bf cost me over a year:

bras £60 for 3 or 4 as size changed a few times, pump £70 midrange, breast pads from pound shop, a box a week £52, freezer bags £21 (£7x3), Lanisoh £12, nipple shields £8. Total £223.

That is nearly 30 weeks of formula feeding where formula is £7.50 a box and a box lasts a week.

That's with no special chairs/cushions/posh pump/more than a couple of bras at a time/special bf clothes/luxery soft breast pads that a lot of people get.

So for me, the difference was not that much.

GibberingGinger · 06/03/2010 20:15

I agree that the cost is really prohibitive. Which is fine in some ways as it will reduce the amount people will use it. HOwever it's really unfair on people who HAVE to use it.

As far as I understand there are a lot of rules set by the government about formula milk (the stage 1 stuff that you have to use for the first 6 months) such as there cannot be any offers such as buy one get one free on it, and you cannot get loyalty points when you buy it.

FB would start the cows milk now, just a bottle a day and gradually up that and decrease the formula bottles until this tin is done. Sudden change to fully cows milk might upset your baby's tummy

moomaa · 06/03/2010 20:18

gaelicsheep, I think you are exactly right when you say 'I guess if you're happy to be formula feeding then you would feel differently'. I think I feel the way I do because bf was not a joy for me and it pissed me off when people said 'well at least it's free!'.

But I'm glad I had a choice and do understand why you are fed up paying for it!! And yes it is bloddy expensive. I hope they put lots of it into R&D to make better milk?!?

BigWeeHag · 07/03/2010 09:33

Breast feeding cost me £20 for pump and bottles (Lansinoh one on special offer) and £5 for reusable pads. Bras were dearer, but I ghave to buy expensive bras anyway (gigantaboobs) so that was not a cost that was new or extra. So I can spend all the child benefit on gin. joke

anotherusername · 07/03/2010 19:04

How about the extra food breastfeeding mothers eat, 500 calories a day, that's like an extra lunch a day we need.
Over a week I'd say that levels out at about the same price as formula

coldtits · 07/03/2010 19:15

If he'll be one in 2 weeks give him cows milk now. If he'd been born at 38 weeks gestation you would do it.

foxytocin · 08/03/2010 06:14

breastfeeding mothers digest their food more efficiently due to hormonal changes. they don't really need that much extra calories while breastfeeding though many on there will attest, the cake and choc bill is higher when breastfeeding.

no need for a lot of the extras taht were mentioned earlier when breastfeeding but everyone here pretty much knows that.

it is all mostly about baby products companies making sure they sell stuff irregardless of how we feed our babies.

Original poster

Fruitbatlings · 08/03/2010 14:05

Coldtits - I have no qualms about giving him cows milk. I just want to finish off this (expensive) carton of formula
I also bought all the breastfeeding bras, pumps (x2) and bfing tops as I was fully expecting to bf this time (thought I just had a very hungry baby last time - no idea it was my crappy boobs)

I will be moving onto cows milk once this final carton of formula has finished and I can't wait to see the back of the stuff!

OP posts:

Clarissimo · 08/03/2010 14:11

I would chat to GP yes; DS3 had formula prescription milk for 3 yaers- I now its his allergy not mine but nonetheless its not your fault is it?

And it certainly can be done as a prescription if GP says yes

Debs75 · 08/03/2010 14:23

When my ds was born 11 years ago he was on formula due to me not producing enough milk and being too tired to persevere. We were on the dole so got free milk tokens. 1 token 'bought' 1 tin of formula. The healthy start tokens we get now give you £3.10 towards a tin of milk. At current prices you are still paying about £4-5 on top of the token. Oddly though you get the same amount of cows milk, 8 pints.

The cost of ff is what made me persevere with dd2 to get to 1 year. I was lucky she loved breastmilk and still loves it at 18 months old.

Foxy nice to see you how are you all doing?

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