Similac to be new sponsor of Baby Boom Show--Guess what MILKFACE DID?

[underthebluerug]

They pulled out of the show!

In Eastern Ontario, the Baby Boom Show is a HUGE event with an awesome array of vendors of baby- and mama-related stuff. I'm sure it's also the biggest business opportunity of the season for those WAHMs who participate with a booth or workshop, etc.

I was talking to the owner of Milkface Nursingwear today (bought myself the black sleeveless Sleepy Dress ---but that's another forum ). She's one of the mainstays of the vendors at the BBShow, and says she counts on it for a big proportion of her sales for the fall season.

Apparently this year the show has taken on the formula company SIMILAC as a sponsor! : Read the show's appeal for sponsors from its website:

Why Become a Sponsor?

• Brand Exposure: Shape consumer attitudes and connect directly with a target audience for your product or service;

• Deliver your message face-to-face;

• Leverage your marketing dollars for greater impact by utilizing an energetic and interactive atmosphere to communicate your message;

• Signal a message specifically to this audience - niche marketing prevents waste;

• Enhance your company profile and initiate a long-term relationship with the consumer.

That's a lot of ways to violate the WHO Code.

So this means even La Leche League, which always has a booth, won't be there either. LLL Leaders that I know have said that the BBShow has helped them reach *many* mothers who are weighing whether to breastfeed. Now that won't happen.

I'm going to write to the show organizers and say that I won't be attending/shopping there this year. If anyone else would like to express their displeasure, their e-mail address is [e-mail]. (The website URL is www.babyboomshow.com).

Meanwhile, I am SO impressed with the business ethics of Milkface Nursingwear.

[CryPixie83]

That is awesome! I wish more people acted with such responsiblity.

[HerthElde]

While I'm impressed with the ethics of their business . . . it saddens me to think that new mamas to be who may be on the fence aren't going to see good breastfeeding representation. I wonder if the businesses that pull out might be able to organize an alternative - it would be awesome if they could organize something on the same day that would draw women away - especially if they could convince a high number of vendors to come with them! I'll be watching the situation with interest.

[lactationmom]

I just fired off a letter, yes I am sad too that breastfeeding won't be there to help combat this violation!

[Luvmyboyz]

We have a Breastfeeding Coalition here where I live to do this sort of thing. IT is not for profit and is run by local LC and LLL Leaders and just plain ol' caring mommies. They had a non profit booth at the baby fair where I live and they handed out lots of neat bf info (101 Reasons, Cost Comparisons, etc.) They also have all of the community resources on a one page handout for new moms (WIC, LC's, Pump rental info, LLL). Maybe it is time to form a local coalition and send some representatives to the Similac sponsored fair!

Oh, here is a link to the coalition's page:

http://www.scbc.us

[Quirky]

Wow, Britt is awesome to show such integrity but I am so sorry her business is going to take a hit because of it! She is a member here and has great customer service!

[Trishy]

Maybe someone could organize some type of protest drawing attention to the violations of the WHO code while the show is going on?

[Ellien C]

I hope MommyBrit reads this thread. I think she was on-the-fence last I looked....

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...5&page=1&pp=20

[underthebluerug]

Update

*NAK*
The organizer/owner of the Baby Boom Show has responded to my letter, and I thought you'd be interested in seeing it. It's an interesting way of ignoring the issues. Anyone feel like rebutting it? Go for it. I'm knee-deep in alligators right now. [e-mail]

Note the affiliation between Similac and Dora.

This was my (hastily-written) letter:

I've just been told at a La Leche League meeting I attended that the Baby Boom Show 2005 will be sponsored by the formula company Similac. That's extremely disappointing. Surely mothers face enough pressure to formula feed as it is without having it promoted so directly---something which I also understand violates the World Health Organization Code against the marketing of formula.

La Leche League must pull out of the show because participating would violate their policy and ethics. All I can think about is how many mothers might have breastfed their babies (and enjoyed all of the health benefits for their babies of doing so) and won't because one more chance to get support and information will be missing.

Because of your sponsor, I won't be shopping at the show this year. I wish you would reconsider your decision to partner with a formula company.

This is the reply from Jody Taylor:

Thank you for bringing your concerns to the attention of Baby Boom
Show Management.

Similac is the Baby Boom entertainment sponsor for Dora the Explorer.

The Baby Boom Show is an educational, nonsectarian, nondiscriminatory
consumer show offering an open floor where all participating exhibitors and
sponsors have equal rights and opportunitues to reach new and expectant
parents in the Ottawa region. The purpose of the Baby Boom Show is to
provide new and expectant parents with products, services and resource
information so that families can make more informed parenting choices.

LLL is welcome at any time to join the Baby Boom exhibitor network to
educate and promote a better understanding of breastfeeding to our show
audience of which 58% are expectant mothers.

Regards, Jody

[lactationmom]

Oh man, a PROTEST would be PERFECT! Think about all those pregnant moms walking into the building, *thinking* about breast/bottle and seeing picket signs with "JUST SAY NO TO FORMULA" and other signs with stats on illnesses and bonding. What a perfect voice for breastfeeding. Peaceful but factual.

Goodness I wish I lived there, I'd be all over that one!

I got the same form letter, and I didn't even mention LLL but I wrote a letter much nastier than yours (such as, I won't attend, will tell everyone I know not to attend and will write your sponsors letting them know I won't buy their products).


NUMBERS SPEAK.

[HerthElde]

Originally Posted by lactationmom

Oh man, a PROTEST would be PERFECT! Think about all those pregnant moms walking into the building, *thinking* about breast/bottle and seeing picket signs with "JUST SAY NO TO FORMULA" and other signs with stats on illnesses and bonding. What a perfect voice for breastfeeding. Peaceful but factual.

I think it would backfire, personally. Having been in the shoes of a mainstream-thinker, I really think doing it this way would drive mamas-to-be who are on the fence AWAY from "those crazy people with the picket signs". JMHO.

[underthebluerug]

...Couldn't help chuckling at the juxtaposition of your post with your signature line, though.

[MamaTT]

[spearso]

Hmmmm...

I still plan on participating, does that make me pro-formula? I don't think so. If Baby Boom doesn't allow Similac's sponsorship, does that mean all of the new/expectant parents attending the show will be immune from formula advertising? They won't see advertisements on TV? They won't be offered formula samples by their pediatricians? Again, I don't think so.

I'm still really disappointed that no one (other than me, I guess) will be there to advocate for BFing. What if there's a new mother there having a hard time with BFing... who would she get advice from? The Similac ppl?

If LLL etc. could have the event all to themselves, that would be great, but it's not a realistic proposal. But now they're *giving* the event to Similac. And I agree that to have a bunch of ppl picketting the event would just contribute to the 'BFing nazi' stereotype that may scare some ppl away.

I'm disappointed that this is becoming such a big issue. The show is a great venue for local vendors to showcase their businesses, and more importantly, it's a great venue to expose new/expectant parents to alternative products/lifestyles they may not necessarily have considered or investigated for themselves.

I can admire the place that this 'boycott' is coming from, I just doubt the intended effect. Will the press cover it? I doubt it, do they cover every advertisement that formula companies place on TV or in magazines?

I think an educational campaign would be more effective... Maybe Jody would be willing to donate space to someone (not affiliated with LLL, I get that they're not going to chage their policy to attend the show) pro-BF who can provide a list of local resources, and BF literature (even if some BF moms donated their time). I just think it's such a shame that Ottawa offers parents so much in the way of natural parenting resources, and ppl attending the show won't get exposed to any of it.

I plan to take as much BF literature with me as I can, and I guess I may as well distribute a list of local natural parenting resources, so parents can at least take something away from the show other than disposable diaper and formula samples...

susie

[lactationmom]

Ok, what about a 'silent' picketing of sorts? Such as, many nursing mothers attending and nursing their children at the event, during the event? Carrying their babies in slings, and attending as new moms, not vendors of course? That way all the pregnant moms will see all these normal mothers walking around with their babies, nursing them when they need it, rather than seeing the bottles that are going to be pushed on them by the S. vendors?

[Momtwice]

Someone close to this ought to contact the 3 minute activist at http://www.promom.org

[spearso]

A nurse-in would be nice...

but again, I'm not sure what the intended effect would be. I will be there with a newborn, possibly as young as two weeks old. Baby will be in a sling, I will nurse on demand. I've always loved NIP just b/c it's a great way to show ppl that it can be done, it's not offensive, and it's convenient... more convenient than a bottle! My helper at the show will be with her 1 year old, nursing her as needed. I will be in close proximity to the Similac booth, so I hope it will provide a nice contrast.

But if the show promoter would donate space that could be used as a natural parenting resource, that would also be effective, and educational. Let ppl volunteer their time to talk about local businesses/resources that may not be able to participate due to the fact that it would violate the WHO code... wouldn't that be better than no one attending? Given the passion that some local ppl have shown in posting about this issue, I would think it would be easy to come up with some moms willing to donate their time if the show promoter was willing to donate the space....

susie

[Momtwice]

Originally Posted by spearso

And I agree that to have a bunch of ppl picketting the event would just contribute to the 'BFing nazi' stereotype that may scare some ppl away.

...I can admire the place that this 'boycott' is coming from, I just doubt the intended effect. Will the press cover it? I doubt it, do they cover every advertisement that formula companies place on TV or in magazines?

The whole point is that these organizations like LLL and Mothering magazine, even, have made a commitment to the WHO Code, an important code of ethics put out as a joint statement by the World Health Organization and UNICEF. You might want to read up on the Code if you wish to understand why it is important to people.

I see your point about giving the event to the formula cos., and I recognize your right to participate and support moms with bf info. Your casual use of the "nazi" word hurts and makes me wonder if you truly understand the Who Code. But that is good too, for those on this thread to be made aware that this is an issue where so many people don't understand the WHO Code. There is a need to present points CLEARLY and politely with REFERENCES from health authorities about exactly why it is so harmful to allow formula advertising.

I wish I had more time to respond in depth....kids are calling...

[Momtwice]

Hold on...this is in CANADA? Isn't the WHO Code law in Canada? It is not here in the US but I thought it was in Canada, at least in part.

You could contact InFact Canada for more help. I know they have a website. Our poster "Janice in Canada" could help a lot if someone PM's her.

Got to go!

[spearso]

I think INfACT is already involved...

and to have a look at their website, a similar issue has come up at a parenting show in Barrie, it would be interesting to know what the result of that was.

In terms of me using 'BF nazi' in my post, that's not a term *I* would casually use, but it *is* a term bandied about by those who feel the need to label pro-BF women who take an active stance...

For the record, I am completely comfortable with my decision to participate in the show, probably as comfortable as Britt is not to participate (and I totally respect her decision). In terms of the WHO code, I am familiar with it, but that's about it. As a mother and a businessperson, I am committed to encouraging breastfeeding, and I don't think that by participating in the show, I'll be contradicting my own personal beliefs and goals.

susie