Am I the only one to be a bit sad that Mumsnet have caved in?

[oliveoil]

Don't know, just feel a bit that some people felt it necessary to report mumsnet to a baby milk board or whatever it is for a so called breach of advertising. If you use and love a website why on earth would you want to get them into trouble?

Hmmmmm. I bet they feel like they have been beaten up this week. Storm in a teacup.

V weird.

[mumtosomeone]

thanks wwb. Thats ther first time anyone has answered that! Thank you!

[naughtynaughtynoonoo]

i think you missed some of the list

after formula should come

cows milk and condensed milk lol

[HughJars]

I have a sneaky feeling that goats milk is better than cows but I'm not 100% sure

[WigWamBam]

Both of which could do serious harm to a baby, so don't come anywhere close.

[HughJars]

Bottom of the list is IrnBru though. Look out for some very odd coloured nappies.

[mumtosomeone]

yes but if you need an alternative? the best thing is?

[naughtynaughtynoonoo]

ok

formula, goats milk, cows milk, buffalo milk, coconut milk and then condensed milk

[HughJars]

No one is denying that formula is the best alternative to breastmilk, it's just nowhere near being close to breastmilk in its composition.

[mumtosomeone]

the closest though?!!

[Toothache]

How ARE we suppose to decided which formula milk is best BTW? I mean... even Mums who feed their babies formula want whats best for them (contrary to what some MN'er believe)!
So how do we make an informed choice of which formula is best?

Or are they all the same?

if they are all the same, then how come some cause certain babies constipation, which goes when they change brand?

I look at Ads for washing powder that help me decide which one. I buy it, try it and if it lives up to its reputation I stick with it.

[Tortington]

so could mumsnet get fined or something for accepting this advertising or is th onus on the advertisers to keep within the law?

[mumtosomeone]

I thought we had decided it was within the law, but a little underhand?

[HughJars]

If independant information were available then that would be wonderful. Unfortunately all the information is provided by the manufacturers so is biased.

They are pretty much all the same, you just need to find the one that suits your baby the best.

[naughtynaughtynoonoo]

but if theyre all the same surely they should all suit our babies the same

[HughJars]

They're all pretty much the same. Small variations in composition will affect different babies differently. No amount od advertising will tell you which one will suit your unique child. EG DS1 could happily take the C&G follow on milk in the purple box, but not the one in the gold box which made him throw up. Very little difference in thelisted ingredients.

[Toothache]

Hughjars - But isn't ALL advertising done by the people who manufacture the product?

Surely there has been some sort of survey/research on the contents of formulas?

[Chandra]

Toothache, having myself a child who is intolerant to a good variety of food, I think you have very valid point there, besides... how could somebody manage to find a lactose free wetnurse?

[Fio2]

watch out HugJars, your halo is slipping

[Fio2]

HughJars, now hug jars, theres a hobby

[Toothache]

lol Chandra! She would have to be GM'd..... and thats taboo as well.

[Chandra]

No HughJars, there is very little information about the components and their effects, some children are better off casein but who informs you about that? you need to try by upsetting your child until you find something suitable.

[HughJars]

I don't think there's been any not funded by manufacturers - not sure. Of course, all advertising is done by the manufacturers but when you're buying a car you go and test drive a few and choose the one that suits you best. You might need to "test drive" a few to find the one that suits your unique needs - no advert can tell you which one will be best for you.

Same with formula except the information they provide could easily mislead you into thinking their product is far better than another and in some way closer to breastmilk (and let's face it, we all want to feed our child the best that is available). you can't see the differences in formula milk in the same way you can see the differences in a car - you are wholley reliant on whatever spin the advertisers tell you. Independant comparisons would be fab. Still wouldn't tell you which would suit your child the best though

And how would you feel if the one that came out "best" made your child vomit or constimated? More guilt.

[HughJars]

BTW, @m Soupy. CBA tochange my name back.

And I do indeed have a huge arse.

[Fio2]

sorry I thought it was rickman!

[Chandra]

Well, there's a simple way to find that formulas are not the same, is the baby crying in distress for 15 minutes before pooing? is he covered in ecxzema flares after this particular brand?, if he has so many allergies is it safe to introduce soya formula at an early stage? the list is infinite and as particular to any child... They all are good for some babies, but there's no single one that is good for all of them...