UPFs, prepared baby foods and the issues

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From The Guardian and a recommended read for all parentshttps://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/mar/15/ultra-processed-babies-are-toddler-snacks-one-of-the-great-food-scandals-of-our-time#comments

An occasional dose of paracetamol isn't really comparable to dail pouches and snacks.

If parents are giving painkillers very regularly then the worry is the medication themselves not the e numbers!

There are worldwide studies aimed to identify the causal effect of breastfeeding on postpartum depression . It’s not just a case of developing some resilience. A little humility would help you.

I am guessing yoy bf and I am guessing you found it easy.
I am also guessing that you are convinced it's made you a superior mother and you have no empathy with people who are not the same as you.
You are being very unpleasant.

My point is not that there are no cases of MH related issues that make people not want to BF. My point is that the majority of people who choose not to BF are not making that choice out of a MH issue but out of simply not wanting to do it. Like not wanting to do the vacuuming or go to the gym. Many women make the choice out of ignorance or concern that their boots will look wonky or because they feel awkward

these are not valid MH conditions. They are selfishness and/or ignorance. If you fail to put your baby first for reasons like inconvenience then your whole parenting experience is going to be a massive problem.

And your comments would be very harmful to a new mother finding her way through the numerous decisions you have to make. You have no idea what impact on someone’s mental health these decisions could be
No one is a better mother by deciding to breast feed rather than use formula. I’ve the advantage that my DC’s are now in their mid 20’s so I can the benefits of the decisions we made - including using formula.

Thankfully you don't get to decide what is or isn't valid about what a woman does or doesn't do with her body.

Some people really want to bf and can’t - they aren’t exercising a choice and obviously it’s fantastic that formula is available.

Some people don’t want to bf and choose not to, for a multitude of reasons. It doesn’t really matter why they make that choice or whether it’s deemed by random other people to be a good reason or not. The only thing that it’s important is that it’s a properly informed choice so that its consequences can be weighed by the parents against their own personal reasons for making the decision.

In this context first infant formula really isn’t the main issue - it’s what happens after that. Obviously parents who formula feed (the majority in the U.K.) are the main target market for the follow on milks discussed in this article, and in that sense are at greater risk of being taken in by the aggressive marketing and believing that this is what they should be giving their babies.

But it’s not like bf mums don’t end up buying all the UPF melty puffs too - in fact I think a lot of the organic natural type branding really appeals to people who might bf (myself included).