Patronising messages about formula feeding on formula websites!

[Gemmy96]

This is a bit of a rant so let me know if it would be more appropriate elsewhere.

I exclusively formula feed my child for good reasons. Unavoidable, not-a-choice reasons. When I was researching different options, I came across something that has really pissed me off. On every website I go on once you click "infant formula" there's an incredibly patronising message displayed that requires you to agree that "breastfeeding is best" before you're allowed to see the page! I'm assuming this is due to some kind of regulation. Screenshots attached below.

Am I wrong to think that men would never be expected to click "accept" or "I agree" to this kind of infantilising, shaming nonsense?! Why do we accept this rubbish? I DON'T agree that breastfeeding is always best, fed is!

People have all kinds of reasons for not being able or not wanting to breastfeed and it's often difficult enough without constant reminders that you're apparently not doing quite enough for your child. Sigh.

Yup, everything to do with formula feeding is completely treated like a grown adult may have made a choice that society doesn't accept.

In the case of a woman choosing an abortion there are rules about what can be displayed and harassed. Yet we accept a society that thinks women need to be told every moment about formula feeding.

I chose to formula feed despite telling this in my first appointment I had midwives ask and then try navigate my husband. As I told her if it is his breasts he gets a say if not then he doesn't.

While I'm pro breastfeeding and believe that restrictions on formula advertising should go further I don't see what good these messages do. If a woman can't BF or has chosen not to and has stopped producing milk then no amount of shoving unwanted information in a person's face can change that.

It's a legally required disclaimer I think. Formula manufacturers are not allowed to 'promote' formula over breastfeeding, I believe.

My issue is with it being legally required, it would be odd for formula companies to add these disclaimers voluntarily!

Not to make this political, but if you are going to have socialised medicine, you will have to endure these stupid reminders.

There are people who want to be disclaimers about the dangers of sugar in food. As if we already didn’t know that lol

Yeah, that would have upset me with my first 2 DC. I tried really hard to BF them but had to switch to FF. I was heartbroken and sobbed through my DH giving them their first bottles. I didn’t need that disclaimer kicking me whilst I was down too!

It's because formula companies killed so many babies in developing countries by lying to impoverished mothers. It's a blanket rule now, they aren't allowed to do it anywhere.

Regulations do have to be super strict on formula companies as they are so unethical, they control a lifesaving product and are willing to risk babies' lives if allowed to do what they want.

These messages can be very distressing for parents trying to find information.

there’s a website called first steps nutrition which is evidence based and free from commercial interest. They have comparisons of the all the formulas on the UK market as well as information about safely making up bottles etc.

there’s also a really good book called why formula feeding matters. I’ve just finished it and it’s full of really useful evidenced based information.

If you’re interested in the reasons why the restrictions are there, google the WHO code or why the politics of breastfeeding matter. Sadly time and time and time again the formula companies have shown that they put profits above families. Even a few months ago it came out that nestle was adding sugar to baby food and milk in countries where the rules weren’t as strict.

it isn’t about parents not being able to make decisions, but rather about commercial organisations spending £££ on spreading non evidenced information.

It's the same reason they aren't allowed to do temporary price reductions or discounts.

Op formula manufacturers are there to make money. They don't make formula out of altruism. Humans make milk to feed their babies, like all mammals. Some women don't want to or can't, and formula is brilliant for that purpose, but without the restriction on marketing, formula companies would be out to persuade everyone that formula is liquid gold because that way, they'd make more money.

I'm all for informed choice, personally.

I think it's less for the reader but more about formula manufacturers being notoriously unethical so have to be regulated this heavily and visibly.

I do understand that formula companies are not charitable enterprises, but the specific wording seems designed to kick mothers when they're down. I can't breastfeed, I don't need to be constantly reminded that I'm somehow failing my child.

i think it’s fair enough - anything counteract the insidious advertising power these companies have. Personally I think artificial milk should be available on prescription for those who, like you, can’t breastfeed. Or at the very least in plain unbranded packaging. And there should be much more support for bf women. I just find it really weird that many people put such store on healthy eating, cooking from scratch etc but are happy to use a powder of chemicals to feed their new babies, and they completely trust that this stuff is good!

Have you read ‘the politics of breast feeding’? It’s very interesting and might help you understand why these messages are needed.

It's not about what men would have to put up with though is it? It's about the baby and what is scientifically best for him or her.

Scientifically I'm pretty sure it's best for my child to be fed.

"I exclusively formula feed my child for good reasons. Unavoidable, not-a-choice reasons"

Sentences like this do more to stigmatise mothers than the websites you complain of.

Are you better than the mothers who you believe don't have as good a reason as you did?

I assume you missed the part where I said there are all kinds of reasons why people can't or don't want to breastfeed and their decisions should be respected.

I couldn't BF DC1. I was upset but on balance I don't want this warning to change. You are intelligent and informed but many aren't. It's there to regulate manufactures, not punish mothers. If you look at a certain company in Africa it's clear they need it.

Realistically you understand it's not about kicking mothers though?
Why would either the formula companies or the WHO want to do that?
The companies want to make the largest profits possible.
Health organisations want to protect babies' health.
Neither of those aims involve making you feel bad.

I didn't miss it, no. But it came long after you felt it important to set the tone by asserting your own superiority.

Tbh I think it is. I don’t think there is any wording specified by the code (happy to be proved wrong if someone knows that there is)

But it serves the formula companies purpose to word it in this way. The psychology behind this sort of marketing is literally mind blowing.

At some point, if you feel it would help, there is a book called why breastfeeding grief and trauma matter. I’ve just started it and it’s helping process some of the issues I had around feeding my eldest.

Sure.

Of course fed is best, but they're not comparing starving your child to formula feeding. Breast Milk is obviously better for your baby than formula milk, but that doesn't mean you're a terrible mum if you choose or have to formula feed at all. It's good to encourage breastfeeding when it's best, and if you can't do it for whatever reason, just ignore the message? You're choosing to get annoyed about it, I highly doubt that's their aim.

Clarifying your reasons were good - implies other reasons are not good.

Clarifying yours was unavoidable and not a choice - trying to differentiate yourself from those mothers you think made an avoidable choice.

Its obvious what you were doing. Maybe even unintentionally.

Or it could be a response to the usual assumptions and comments people have made to me offline. But sure, it's all designed for me to be cruel to people for no reason. Naturally.