I hate formula advertising disguised as BF support

[Romana]

There was a banner ad on another baby/mothering forum I visit that was a big ad for Enfamil. In addition to the words Enfamil, it had a photo of a bag with a BF mother on it. And the words,

Breastfeeding? Supplementing? Weaning?

Get FREE tips, FREE advice and FREE product samples
in the Enfamil Breastfeeding Support Kit.

CLICK HERE to get your FREE kit.

I may click and get one because I want to know what kid of breastfeeding "support" and "advice" is really in this advertisment.

Does this bother anyone else? I feel like this kind of thing is a blatant attempt to sabotage breastfeeding. What do you think?

ETA: The Lactivist has blogged about it! http://thelactivist.blogspot.com/200...pport-kit.html

ETAx2: On closer inspection, the "kit" says right on the front "For the nursing mother on her first visit" (first visit to doctor with baby). How awful! 'Cause you know everyone needs to/should supplement!

[acannon]

If it makes you feel any better, I don't know if anyone clicks on banner ads. I sure don't, unless I'm curious about it, and that's really rare that that ever happens. I either ignore them or think they're too much of a nuisance for me to even want to click on them. I know what you mean, though, and I do hate that.

[dex_millie]

WOW...I cannot believe that ad. It looks like they are actually just trying to make BFing mothers switch. Formula on the first visit : Like women don't already have all types of myths and worries when starting off.

[Mama~Love]

Ugh, I hate that crap too. Yes, it's a complete sabotage against breastfeeding, because usually at that first visit, moms are worried if their baby has gained any weight, and if the scale shows little/not much, then they feel like they aren't doing it right, so that formula just might come in handy.

[nevaehsmommy]

My daughter did not gain weight for a month. Never lost but did not gain either. Those stupid bags of formula were sitting right next to the baby scale in the peds office. I was SOOO tempted.

[songbh]

Originally Posted by acannon

If it makes you feel any better, I don't know if anyone clicks on banner ads. I sure don't, unless I'm curious about it, and that's really rare that that ever happens. I either ignore them or think they're too much of a nuisance for me to even want to click on them. I know what you mean, though, and I do hate that.

I never click on ads (at least not on purpose -- sometime my touchscreen mousepad has a mind of its own, LOL) -- but you can be sure that if NO ONE clicked, companies would not spend money placing those ads.

If advertising didn't work, it wouldn't exist.

[flapjack]

That kind of advertising is illegal in most countries worldwide- it's a contravention of the International Code of Marketing BreastMilk substitutes.
SMA are the biggest producers of leaflets on all aspects of new parenthood (including breastfeeding) over here, and the midwives distribute them free. It drives me nuts.

[newcastlemama]

: How disgusting

[APmomto3boys]

My ped office carries these kits. There is a big display of them by the weighing station. I hate them and have commented about them to 3 different people and just get shrugged off. My ped. told me 'oh, the formula reps come in once a month and set that stuff up'... like she had no control over it. Makes me ill.

Anyway, I made this a few months ago. Feel free to steal it for your sites.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...feedingkit.jpg