National Opinion Network "Update" ... what to do?

[Soxfan Mom]

Before I started coming to this site, I filled out a survey from the National Opinion Network about my, as they put it, "feeding experiences." Of course, I wrote that I was exclusively breastfeeding and made some snarky comment in the margin about how I would continue to nurse beyond the 3-month-old mark maximum they indicated.

I was mad at myself after I read a thread here about how the survey is actually a tool used by formula companies to figure out how to infiltrate the breastfeeding community.

So now in the mail today, I have a survey from NON requesting that I update them. It says, "We would now like to learn about your most recent feeding experiences with him or her. Let me mention that you have been selected as part of a national panel of recent parents to provide this information. Your continued participation is very important in helping us understand about infant feeding practices."

Should I fill this out or pitch it? I feel if I don't fill it out, they might think I am a woman who stopped breastfeeding and is guilty about it. But I don't want to be part of a subversive campaign.

[Belle]

Try leaving all the questions blank. When you get to the end where it asks you about what you thought about the survey tell them you think that it's a campaign against BFing.

[annettemarie]

That's a pretty good idea, Belle!

[julie128]

What's all this? I get the same poll in the mail and I always fill it out to its fullest. It has spaces you can check for "no formula" or nursing for "18-24 months" (though that's the highest; I had to write in 30-36 months). I WANT them to record breastfeeding mamas. What if no bf mamas returned the form? Then they would have no data on bf mamas. So what if it's run by formula companies (and I have no information either way)? MOST bf research in the U.S. is done by formula companies. (Source: Our Own Devices by Edward Tenner: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...518744-5227015 This is a great book, and not just for the chapter on bottle feeding. According to the bottle feeding chapter, one study finds that 25% of childhood diabetes cases are related to formula use. Ack!)

[annettemarie]

You may want to search the breastfeeding advocacy forum for more information. Any info they get about breastfeeding mothers is going to be used to more aggressively market formula to breastfeeding mothers.

[MommytoTwo]

what info can they get from a survey to infiltrate the BFing community? Doesnt it just ask how you feed your baby? I havent seen one of these...

[annettemarie]

It has been proven that formula companies market more aggressively to breastfeeding mothers. This is the only reason they do "breastfeeding" research- so they can undermine it. I don't know exactly what they get from the surveys, but why be a part of it?

[Firemom]

I believe Ross is the company that provides the statistics of how many mothers are breastfeeding in the hospital, at 3 months, 6 etc. I wouldn't give them a whole ton of info about you, but let them know you are nursing.

Because by 6 months the #'s have really dwindled from intitation rates. We need to let them know we are not letting their advertising and pushiness rub off on us.+

[MommytoTwo]

Oh so if I send it back saying I am BFing they will send me more formula ads and samples?

[Soxfan Mom]

Thanks, all, for your opinions on this. Oddly enough, I'd feel better returning it if a formula company attached its name to the survey. But "National Opinion Network" seems so clandestine and Ozlike: "Don't look at the man behind the curtain!"

[Kitten]

The problem with filling out the survey is that you get questions on why you choose to BF. Then the formula companies have ammo. Say, for example, you say that you BF because it makes your child smarter. Then the formula company comes up with a new additive that is supposed to make babies smarter and advertises the additive heavily. Some moms will think, well, the formula is going to make my baby smart anyway so why bother BFing? The formula is just as good.

Another huge problem with the survey is they ask where you delivered and whether the hospital offered you formula samples, coupons, etc. Then if your hospital DIDN'T, the companies then have the name of the hospital and can bombard the staff there with formucrap propaganda, undermining future BFing moms.

I really, truly, honestly think the best thing to do is IGNORE this survey. You may think you are rubbing it in the formula companies noses, but really you are just providing them with valuable information and they LOVE it, ESPECIALLY if you BF. An earlier thread on this company (do a search here at the boards) has a posting from a mom who used to do market research and she says the company she worked for liked it best when they got responses from people who didn't like/didn't use their product. They could use the info to revise their marketing.

Please, please, please people, just ignore this survey. Don't give them anything they can use to destroy the BFing relationship with future moms.

[annettemarie]

I like this new member- she's smart!

[stafl]

I agree with Kitten. Throw the survey away. I got one, well, I think I've gotten a few of them in the mail, and they immediately went in the recycle bin. They use the information gathered to market formula to new breastfeeding moms. Everything and anything you might tell them gives them insight into how to more effectively market their product.

[julie128]

These surveys have NOT asked why I'm bfing! Have you actually read one of them? They ask me IF I'm bfing or what formula I'm using and how much of each. They ask if I received any samples or coupons and what brands. I do not believe that this is sent out by a specific formula company, though they may be collecting information that they sell to several. They ask about ALL brands. I still feel that it is very important for bfing mamas who have no intention of using formula to respond to this survey. I suspect they are wondering about brand loyalty and if it correlates to samples and coupons received. The more responses they get from bf mamas, the more they know it didn't work.

[annettemarie]

The more responses they get from bf mamas, the more they know it didn't work.

And the harder they will market to them.

[Firemom]

I no longer breastfeed, but I used to respond to these surveys that I 100% breastfeed and had no intention of using formula ever. I never gave them any information, other than what they had to send me the survey.

[Kitten]

julie128, I have to respectfully disagree. Corporations don't take "no" for an answer, and their feelings are not hurt when you tell them there is no way you are going to use their product (although I know it feels really good to tell them their stupid marketing doesn't work!).

I also don't think the survey is done for a specific company, but rather the info is sold to several formula companies.

I have NO intention of telling a marketing research company that my hospital didn't offer formula, coupons, or even a formula company's diaper bag. All that will do is encourage the companies to harangue the hospital, or perhaps even offer a nice "donation" to the hospital. Also, if they see a large percentage of women from a certain region are BFing, or a certain income or education level, it tells these soulless corporations exactly where to target their advertising money to expand their market.

With all respect, I truly don't think that the surveys are used to determine brand loyalty. I think they are solely used to pinpoint what kind of woman breastfeeds, so they can tailor advertising campaigns to those women. The big money isn't in brand loyalty, it is in getting into markets that previously did not consume your product at all. This might sound cynical, so I strongly urge you to read "Politics of Breastfeeding" to see documented instances of what the formula corporations stoop to.

You and I both know the formula companies will never win us over. But I can *guarantee* you they WILL use any and all info we give them to undermine the woman on the fence who could go either way, and the woman in the hospital giving birth today.

And yes, I HAVE read the survey for myself. I agree that I did not see any questions about why I BF. I am going from information another mother posted at MDC. She said a later survey asked her questions about why she chose to BF. But even if this woman gave us incorrect info, there is still plenty of info in the survey formula companies can use to undermine BFing.

Didn't mean to write a book here but I wanted to explain my reasoning thoroughly.

[Soxfan Mom]

Some of you may be ticked at me, but here's what I did. There was a cover letter from "Kathy Wilson" with the survey. (Yeah, right, I used to be a copywriter for direct mail and I know those names at the bottom of letters are fictitious.) I wrote on the top: " 'Kathy,' I'm a breastfeeding mother and have no intention of helping evil formula companies market their garbage. Please delete my name from your mailing list."

They can probably assume from my zip code what demographic group I fall into, and heaven knows how much info on me is available to them with a few keystrokes. But it felt better sending something in. I didn't return the survey; just the cover letter.

I was tempted to put a few fishing weights into the envelope so that it would cost the National Opinion Network about five bucks in postage to get my reply.

[crunchyconmomma]

Kitten you are so very right. I agree with what you have said and I will add something about this National Opinion Network survey (which I have gotten and am very familiar with) and why NOT to respond to my repertoire for all moms-to-be in my social circle.
And Soxfan Mom, even if they get some info to their advantage, I still think what you did was awesome!! that rocks!