Interesting timing of formula commercial

[merry-mary]

I had to share this.

I DVR Oprah every day. In my area, it airs at 4 pm and again at 1 am. The other day I deleted the 4 pm show, so my DVR taped the 1 am show for me (how nice of DVR).

Anyway, about 3/4 of the way through the show (so I guess around 1:45 am), there was a formula commercial on. I found this really interesting b/c I have never ever seen a formula commercial on when Oprah airs at 4 pm, and frankly, I've never seen a formula commercial aired on a major national network: I usually see them on TLC or Discovery Health or something like that.

The commercial was for one of the formulas, I can't remember which one, but it had a peaceful scene with a very sleepy, quiet baby who was in his bassinet as a soft breeze wafted through the room, and mama looked at him with much love. It was very soft ... very quiet.

And it hit me: duh. This is targeting! At 1:45 am, there is a good chance that a lot of mamas are up with hungry newborns. They're tired. Their babies are tired. And a lot of these women may be watching Oprah as they (breast)feed their babies. How tempting that sight is of a baby who is sleeping so soundly and peacefully ... I wonder how many are duped into thinking that formula will make baby sleep longer or will be tempted to give it a whirl, just to see.

Anyway, just my own ramblings but my goodness! Just something I noticed.

[Claire and Boys]

Wow, that is insidious.

[LeighB]

Makes sense. I've never paid attention, but I do see a lot more formula commercials at night (when I am indeed up nursing).

[MarcyC]

Yes...I've noticed that in the middle of the night every other commercial is for Nestle Carnation formula or for Playtex bottles w/drop-in liners.

Just what us sleep deprived moms need. It's mighty tempting as a bottle and formula would probably be easier than an SNS and a breastpump at 3 am!!

[LydiaJW]

:Puke

[aaronsmom]

nak
wow, how misleading. i ff'ed my firstborn and i'm now bf'ing my 9 day old and i can say i've gotten more sleep the past nine nights than i did the first few months of ds's life! when you ff you have to get up, make a bottle, then sit up in the living room or whereever to feed babe. now that im bf'ing babe #2 (and cosleeping) i can just pop my boob in her mouth and all is well!

[mamabadger]

How tempting that sight is of a baby who is sleeping so soundly and peacefully ... I wonder how many are duped into thinking that formula will make baby sleep longer or will be tempted to give it a whirl, just to see.

That is probably just the message they were trying to get across. Almost nothing is left to chance in advertising, considering all the money that is put into it.
I had a lot of trouble initiating BF with my first baby, but once the early, difficult weeks were over, I was able to tuck DD into bed with me and literally nurse her in my sleep, something that is very hard to do with a bottle.