Feedback to a restaurant on their kid's menu

[PerkyKP]

Can I say it was Marie Callender's?

Here's what I sent on their guest relations feedback form online:

Hello - I recently had dinner at one of your restaurants with my 5 year old son. We were reading the kid's menu and activity booklet together when I noticed something that bothered me. There is a matching game where the 'correct' answer is to pair up a picture of a baby with a picture of a bottle. As I'm sure you are aware, breastmilk is the optimal food for infants. By showing bottles (and implied formula), it normalizes sub-optimal formula feeding rather than breastfeeding. Please reconsider the message you are sending to thousands of future parents, and change the booklet.



I didn't put a whole lot of thought into it, just jotted down the first thing that came to mind. What do you think?

[go0ber]

it sounds good but too "in your face" for the masses. perhaps mention the breastfeeding but then go on to say, "perhaps you could match the baby to a blanket instead"?

man i was trying to think of non mainstream things and blanket was the only one i could think of!!! mommy/daddy is heterocentric. crib, pacifier, stroller, geez that took me a minute!

[MarcyC]

Some babies get pumped breastmilk in a bottle. I think it's okay...no big deal.

[RoadWorkAhead]

Originally Posted by MarcyC

Some babies get pumped breastmilk in a bottle. I think it's okay...no big deal.

While I agree, and my own drinks formula from a bottle since BM was slowly killing her, I think linking a baby with a diaper would be fairly universal (Most drawings of diapers are cloth looking honestly), and even ECers tend to use back up diapers at some point. So diapers or blankets would be fairly universal where as bottles are not.

[moondiapers]

or a rattle

[dynamicdoula]

... or a mama

[PerkyKP]

Originally Posted by go0ber

man i was trying to think of non mainstream things and blanket was the only one i could think of!!! mommy/daddy is heterocentric. crib, pacifier, stroller, geez that took me a minute!

I know! I did the same thing and gave up on suggesting an alternative.

I know some babies get EBM in a bottle, but that's not as common as formula (and why I said "implied formula"). And of course there are times when formula is needed, and thank goodness we have it available for those times. But to just automatically associate baby=bottle irritated me.

[phathui5]

I think it's a good letter.

[Ruthla]

I think it's a good letter.

Nobody here is denying the reality that many babies get bottles for whatever reason, or that formula is absolutely needed for some babies. But that's compltely separate from the automatic association between babies and bottles that's so prevalent today. It should be "babies are breastfed, unless there are extenuating circumstances."

[Shelsi]

Definitely suggest an alternative....my first thought was matching a breast to the baby LMAO and that certainly wouldn't be appropriate on a kid's menu either. I like the diaper idea.

[sweetpeppers]

haha, wow. I'm impressed. I thought this post might be about the horribly unhealthy food on kid's menus.

[northcountrymamma]

Originally Posted by sweetpeppers

haha, wow. I'm impressed. I thought this post might be about the horribly unhealthy food on kid's menus.

me too! Where do I find that thread

great letter!

[shanti1]

...giggling at the thought of a breast on the kid's menu.......as much as a prob-bfer that I am...I'd do a triple take and question that menu.....

[sahmama_12]

I totally think this bottle centric culture needs to go. My DS who had a bottle maybe 4 times in 12 months of bfing knows babies get bottles. His little brother has never had a bottle. Its too sad that its so prevalent that my two year old who doesn't watch tv automatically pairs a baby doll with a plastic bottle.

[DanelleB]

I agree. My first thought would be an older baby/toddler matched up with a high chair or a sippy cup.

[MaryJaneLouise]

Originally Posted by shanti1

...giggling at the thought of a breast on the kid's menu.......as much as a prob-bfer that I am...I'd do a triple take and question that menu.....

I wouldn't. I would think it was great!



(@) (@)




Or maybe more accurately:



\@/ \@/


(saggy)

[3babesunder3]

I would definately suggest an alternative like the diaper or blanket. And has anyone noticed that the add on the bottom of this thread is for Playtex disposable bottle liners...just kinda funny given the website.

[frontierpsych]

Originally Posted by MaryJaneLouise

I wouldn't. I would think it was great!



(@) (@)




Or maybe more accurately:



\@/ \@/


(saggy)

:

[Smokering]

LOL! I know, the baby/bottle thing is a pain. Bottles are printed on a whole lot of baby clothes, too! And when I read 'Peepo' to DD I'm always slightly peeved by the bottles all over the book. But I take secret delight in the fact that the breastfed baby looks happy on the 'Dinner' page, while the bottle-fed baby is making a face! (I know, I'm mean and maladjusted).

[Septagram]

I second a rattle!!