Bulk Buy SMA baby mik?

digitalphase

How can a simple question about bulk buying baby formula end up with people bleating on about breastfeeding and statistics and what not?

Yes, someone made a comment that formula is expensive. No, it isn't if you break it down into how much it costs to feed your baby per day, and of course it goes without saying that you'd buy it regardless. This person is entitled to their opinion that formula is expensive, because to her, it may well be in the context of other things she buys. Maybe she buys everything else from supermarket 'basic' or 'value' ranges?

I don't think people need to hear the same old 'facts and statistics' about breastfed babies. There's enough pressure on mothers as it is, without some sanctimonious comments about how formula fed babies are going to cost the NHS in the future. Oh right, and we as parents don't pay enough in taxes already?

I also liked the comment about tax payers subsidising other people's kids in terms of benefit etc, but you forget that many of us who work have kids. So in effect, we're just not getting taxed as much. We still earned MORE before tax, than we get back in benefits. This comment obviously doesn't apply to old mother hubbard and her numerous kids who doesn't work

neverdespairgirl

digitalphase wrote: »

How can a simple question about bulk buying baby formula end up with people bleating on about breastfeeding and statistics and what not?

Because it answers, partly, the question of why the NHS is so keen on breastfeeding, and why, therefore, they don't encourage formula.

It also explains the ban on special offers and so forth for infant formulas.

barbiedoll

When I had to buy a tin of formula for my son, 13 years ago, it cost almost a tenner. If anything, the price has come down in recent years!

It is sold much cheaper to Third World countries, in fact the companies practically give it away. In the same way that they used to provide "free" samples to English hospitals so that they could snare the new mums who were having trouble breastfeeding (and let's face it, who doesn't struggle for the first few days?) so they now do the same in Africa. The milk companies employ so-called health workers who promote and push the formula onto mums there and they trot out the same rubbish as they did to my mum in the 60's, that formula is better for the baby, it has lots of vitamins etc, it's easier and more convenient and so on and so on. It's why breastfeeding rates are falling dramatically in African countries and it's why many babies get sick, mums in poor countries often don't have access to clean water and sterilising facilities.

If women genuinely cannot breastfeed, and I know for a fact that some can't, then they probably should get formula on prescription, at least until the baby is 6 months old. But only if a medical practitioner could confirm that breastfeeding was impossible due to a medical condition. Sore nipples and being tired wouldn't count as medical conditions, but poor lactation, HIV, and previous breast surgery would.
Not everyone has the choice!

onlyroz

barbiedoll wrote: »

It is sold much cheaper to Third World countries, in fact the companies practically give it away.

It is for this despicable reason that many people now boycott Nestle products.

digitalphase

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

Because it answers, partly, the question of why the NHS is so keen on breastfeeding, and why, therefore, they don't encourage formula.

It also explains the ban on special offers and so forth for infant formulas.

I see your point, but the way you put it comes across as sanctimonious. Even though you FF one of your babies.

barbiedoll wrote: »

It is sold much cheaper to Third World countries, in fact the companies practically give it away.

Really???? :eek:

neverdespairgirl

digitalphase wrote: »

I see your point, but the way you put it comes across as sanctimonious. Even though you FF one of your babies.

I didn't, I only have one child (who is 6) and I breastfed him.

emsywoo123

onlyroz wrote: »

It is for this despicable reason that many people now boycott Nestle products.

Wait I don't get this bit......

Teenie_D

http://www.breastfeeding.com/advocacy/advocacy_boycott.html This is why and is actually pretty disgusting. I remember hearing about it about 15 years ago while I was doing a childcare course never really thought that much about it tbh.

I too get fed up of these threads as soon as one appears I think "here we go again"!! It is a personal choice wether you want to breastfeed your baby or not, some people can't some just don't want to and to be honest it is nobodys business how you feed your child. Yes the statistics show that breastfed babies are more protected due to the antibodies but it doesn't affect your child if someones elses baby is bottle fed. I think what is happening in the 3rd world countries is wrong though, those poor babies are being fed with unclean water in unsterilised bottles

Oh and yes I did/do breast feed my 2 children (with a bit of formula now and again )

madnessandmayhem

emsywoo123 wrote: »

Wait I don't get this bit......

Because nestle send in sales people posing as health professionals into hospitals in 3rd world countries and tell the mothers that formula is better for their babies than breatmilk. Obviously as this is coming from a 'health professional' they believe them. The mothers then do not always have access to clean water, or facilities to sterilise the feeding equipment effectively which causes all sorts of nasties. Also as some of these mothers find buying formula expensive so dont always put in as much powder as is needed. this all puts the babies at risk of disease, and sadly death.
I have a friend who is very 'up' on this so i will ask her if she has a link to a website that shows more info.

And for what it's worth, my (almost) 5 month old has been formula fed since he was 6 weeks. Yes it is expensive, but then again so is the amount of fruit, yoghurts etc that my 2 older boys get through. i do not begrudge paying for it and I budget for it every month (I spend about £50-£60 a month on it)
I think, some places have offers on the follow on (from 6 months) milk, (which to be honest comes all too soon ) but I may be wrong???
sorry for the waffling-am tired and have a stinky horrible cold!!!

trulymadlyhannah

I can't wait for my little one to progress on to cows milk,
Based on SMA @ £8.99 for 900g Vs. Cows milk @ £1.10 for 2 litres.

214 scoops in the 900g box(4.2g per scoop as stated on the box). 1 scoop makes 30mls of baby milk. 214 scoops make 6420ml.
6.42 litres(6420ml) for £8.99 for SMA
or
6 litres(3 x 2 litre bottles) for £3.30 for Cows Milk

Its a considerable saving when you progress onto cows milk, and when weaning they need less milk anyway. My 8 month old LO has a maximum of 4 x 180ml bottles per day as part of her weaning diet. From 6 months she moved onto the SMA follow on milk which can be found on offer! Not much help now but things should get cheaper!