Enfamil "Family Beginnings" club, can this really be true??!

[freya6903]

Some ladies on another birth board and I were comparing the dollar amount of the coupons that Enfamil sends us in the mail. I EBF, but I am in the Enfamil club because a friends of mine was unable to BF and she uses the coupons and samples.

Women that exclusively formula feed or supplement get coupons for $2.00 in their mailings. Women that breastfeed only get coupons for $5.00 and $7.00!

I couldn't believe it! Can anyone out there confirm that this is true in all cases? I told them that I EFF when I signed up because my friend did, thinking that they'd send more that way!

And if they DO do this, is it moral? IMO it is not.... it is NOT okay to attempt to convert people successfully BFing by sending them big coupons... What do you guys think? I am considering writing Enfamil a nasty letter.... This is creepy, creepy like the first day I found out Nestle marketed in 3rd world countries.

[mzfern]

OK, this may be a dumb question but how the heck does Enfamil know if you're EBF or EFF?? Is it self reported when you sign up for mailings or something? You explained that you're helping a friend, but otherwise, why would someone who is EBF voluntarily sign up for formula coupons? Sorry if I’m being naïve…

[rmzbm]

I don't recall signing up for ANYTHING & since my 6 month old DD has been here I have gotten 3 cans of Enfamil & a few $5 coupons. Any more cans that come will be stamped "return to sender." :

[FiveLittleDucks]

In my experience, sending larger amount coupons to EBF mothers is true. I'm always getting $5+ checks in the mail. I don't think it's unethical, though. It's business. They are trying to convince you to buy their product. Why give $$$ coupons to already loyal customers? I don't see it as any different than Gymboree sending 20% off coupons to people who haven't shopped in their store before.

[bobica]

our local supermarket always gives you coupons (the kind that print out at checkout) for a brand of formula you DON'T use. I was never sure of the idea behind it- trying to convert the masses??? my friends would all trade them, so someone was getting use out of them but sheesh!

[mousemadeslings]

Originally Posted by rmzbm

I don't recall signing up for ANYTHING & since my 6 month old DD has been here I have gotten 3 cans of Enfamil & a few $5 coupons. Any more cans that come will be stamped "return to sender." :

Lots of times they get your information shortly after you leave the hospital. In theory the hospital shouldn't be sharing this information, but the birth records are pubilc once they've been filed.

I think folks who plan on BF sign up because they are unsure of how long they will BF, or because these clubs claim they will send you important information with baby's milestones, etc.

I'd don't know that I'd send any of the formula back. Personally, I took a huge bag full of formula to the local food bank.... I figure if they have it to give away for free it can at least go somewhere useful (although if they would just BF in the first place.....)

[tallulahma]

I have gotten $7 and $11 coupons.

Can drs give out that info?

[NCMommax2]

I didn't sign up and was EBF and got BIG checks from Enfamil and they Early Beginnings program. I got a whole booklet full totaling about $64 worth of checks for their formula. Several were for $12!!! What was worse was that I got married when I was pregnant so my name changed.... I got TWO of EVERYTHING!!!

I understand its business and all but I really wish that the US followed WHO regulations on formula companies advertisements.

[jessjgh1]

Anecdotadly, seems to be true as well from other past discussions and polls.

Jessica

[MiamiMami]

I've heard of other mamas getting together and signing up just to see if this is true. Formula companies will give more $ to the breastfeeding Mamas in an attempt to lure them in:

[2Sweeties1Angel]

I signed up with Enfamil about a year ago to help out my friend was EFF. I told them I was exclusively BF and they sent me coupons for $5 and over. I never asked her how much she was getting.

[justplainbecky]

My neighbor and I actually did this. She signed up as formula feeding, I signed up as breastfeeding. I got coupons from Enfamil, a booklet, with 4 $11 coupons and 5 $5 coupons, and a bunch of $2 coupons. Similac sent me a huge box with 3 cans of formula, this calendar thing, and some $5 coupons, and Nestle sent me $11 coupons periodically, up until around 6 months.

She recieved 1 package from SImilac similar to mine, only with 3 $2 coupons instead of the formula, 3 or 4 mailings from Nestle, and nothing from Enfamil.

So yes, in our little experiment, it did make a huge difference. I was signed up as breastfeeding and got something in the mail every day. She was signed up as ff and she got only a couple things.

(for the record, we both breastfeed, and still are. We gave the coupons and the formula to our local pregnancy crisis center, they said they could definently use them. )

[ColeysMama]

I got coupons for up to $11. Never knew that they did different amounts for different people... that is so sleazy. I mean, I understand it from a business point of view, but it still seems wrong.

BTW, I was fairly mainstream when I first got pregnant (as in, someone gave me a copy of Babywise and I thought it sounded like a darn good idea - thank God I came to my senses before I delivered!), and anyway, I was signed up with BabyCenter. Right after I did that, I started getting all kinds of stuff - coupons and so on. I also sent in a couple of cards from magazines and stuff. Always checked "breastfeeding." But I know a LOT of people sign up with BabyCenter, and I would assume they sell names. That's probably where a lot of it comes from.

[Fiercemama]

Originally Posted by FiveLittleDucks

In my experience, sending larger amount coupons to EBF mothers is true. I'm always getting $5+ checks in the mail. I don't think it's unethical, though. It's business. They are trying to convince you to buy their product. Why give $$$ coupons to already loyal customers? I don't see it as any different than Gymboree sending 20% off coupons to people who haven't shopped in their store before.

Whether I shop at Gymboree or Gap doesn't affect anyone's health. Breastfeeding is a public health issue. Shouldn't public health trump Enfamil's right to market their product? When was the last time you saw coupons for cigarettes or beer?

[momileigh]

Actually, I recently saw an advertisement for a free CARTON of cigarettes, available to any U.S. smoker over the age of 21. It was in a major magazine, Newsweek or Time or something. If I remember correctly, it was those all-natural or organic ciggies or something. Of course, how do they know you're a smoker? You tell them. Probably the same thing for being over 21. I doubt it would be all that hard for a kid to get them.

[Fiercemama]

Shaking my head up here in Canada....

[FiveLittleDucks]

Originally Posted by Fiercemama

Whether I shop at Gymboree or Gap doesn't affect anyone's health. Breastfeeding is a public health issue. Shouldn't public health trump Enfamil's right to market their product? When was the last time you saw coupons for cigarettes or beer?

I don't want to get into a debate or anything, so here is my view in a nutshell. Two major points: 1) I have BFed all 5 of my babies (one still doing so) and and am a raging lactivist and 2) I don't smoke or drink, so I honestly don't know if there are coupons for those (in all sincerity, not being snarky). That being said, if there were, I really wouldn't care. Those products are not something I would ever buy, so I wouldn't use the coupons no matter what. It is very hard for me to believe that one $2 coupon for Bud Light would turn me into an alcoholic in the long run.

Each person has to take responsibility for his/her own actions, whether it is drinking alcohol or feeding one's child formula. It is up to each individual to not rely on manufacturers' propaganda to make his/her decisions regarding products. Now, we know that many people don't do this, but manufacturers shouldn't be vilified for this reason. High fructose corn syrup is horrible for you. Are companies who send out coupons for products containing HFCS responsible for the rise in diabetes and obesity? How far does this go? And I'm asking in all sincerity here. The line has to be drawn somewhere.

And frankly, I believe acohol/cig consumption *is* a public health concern, but again, because we live in a free country (and I'm so thankful we do), they have a right to be in business whether we like it or not. We cannot blame companies for advertising to adults (of course minors is another story). It is how they stay in business. If you (collective you) honestly disagree with this whole premise, then we are quickly approaching communism in our ideals.

Holy cow, this turned out to be a novel. Sorry about that. I'm sorry to ruffle any feathers if I have. I realize this is *my* opinion only and am not casting aspersions on anyone.

[AdinaL]

To some extent I agree. If everyone is provided the *exact same information* about breastfeeding, and everyone is informed and supported - then yes, the choice is theirs to own.

HOWEVER, that is not the case. People are routinely told that formula is just as good and BF is too hard and So, given that, then the advertising suddenly takes on more weight.

Hence the WHO codes about formula advertising.

[lotusbeans]

Originally Posted by mousemadeslings

I'd don't know that I'd send any of the formula back. Personally, I took a huge bag full of formula to the local food bank.... I figure if they have it to give away for free it can at least go somewhere useful (although if they would just BF in the first place.....)

That's a really good idea.

[Arwyn]

Free, readily available formula undermines breastfeeding. Even formula advertising, and their "breastfeeding pamphlets" undermine breastfeeding (breastfeeding is largely, though not entirely, a confidence and commitment game). The companies KNOW this, they research it, they only spend money on advertising methods that earn them big bucks in the long run (like "free" formula in hospitals, "free" formula and formula coupons to breastfeeding moms, the "pro-breastfeeding" booklets that have incredibly biased portrayals of breastfeeding v. formula feeding moms, using the phrase "breast is best" or "next to breast, ____'s the best" in their ads, etc, etc). They know formula feeding is harmful or risky when done unnecessarily, and they do all these things anyway.

Yes, it is absolutely unethical. An adult choosing to smoke is one thing (although even there the companies do everything in their power to hook people when they're young and create life-long addicts, which is also unethical), because the adult is harming THEIR OWN health (and the health of everyone around them, but that's a different discussion). Also, in this country, the risks of cigarrette use are well known and advertised. A parent "choosing" to give their child formula when breastmilk is unavailable because of the lack of support they received for breastfeeding, the lack of information about the real advantages of breastfeeding and risks of unnecessary formula, and the pressure they were under to formula feed, that's the health of the next generation that's affected. That's the health of the mother and the health of the baby that's affected, and that's not usually something the mother understands or has a "choice" about. (Is formula sometimes necessary? Heck yea, at least in our current society. Is it anywhere near as harmful as cigarettes? Heck no - it keeps babies alive, and even allows them to thrive, when they would otherwise die. It's a food that carries risks, as opposed to an only-harmful drug. That's not under question at all.)

What formula companies do is absolutely unethical. Legal. But unethical, at least according to my ethics. I obviously don't believe in "I can do whatever I want as long as I am not physically directly attacking you" or the corporate ethics that say as long as they're making money for their shareholders and not overtly breaking the laws, they're ok.