Vocal Voices

£200 if you do, nothing if you don't.

Studies down the years have constantly shown that breastfeeding is more beneficial for the vast majority of mothers and babies, not all but the majority, than formula. Breastfeeding should be the norm, as it once was, not the exception; and surely the best financial incentive is to not have to buy expensive formula - the saving would be far more than £200!

What I find interesting, but a bit patronising, are the reasons and excuses given by the experts. Poorer mothers are the biggest culprits, the implication being that they do not have the intelligence to breastfeed. Midwives do not have the time to show new mothers how to breastfeed. There are books aren't there: videos? Mothers don't have time. Which is quicker, undoing a few buttons or preparing all the paraphernalia associated with formula?

Could it be that the real reasons are totally different? What about the incessant advertising of formula, even in hospital maternity suites? What about the social pressures upon women to always look perfect? What about mums having to go back to work well before weaning?

Will £200 in vouchers change the world? I bet not.

Don't even get me started on it..............

Bloody ridiculous idea. If mothers want to/can breastfeed then they will. If they don't/can't then they won't.

Its as bad as bribing kids into school by paying them..........

Very definite views on this subject, fine for the baby, possibly with supplement but not so good for the mother if she wants to keep nice looking breasts. Of course it should be the mother`s choice who it is hoped would not be influenced by the endless plugs for the supposed benefits of formula.

I breast fed all of mine, suffered with mastitis, however I got over it and persevered. Last daughter 10lbs 20zs. Thought I was having a Heffer calf ! She latched on within hours of being born. I certainly think breastfeeding is excellent for babies and far less expensive.

I agree with Debih and think the money would be better spent on more help and support for those who choose to breastfeed, as it is not always at all easy - and they should leave the mums who don't want to well alone!

£200 is a drop in the ocean with the expense that babies incur, I can't see that influencing anybody TBH I dread to think how they would 'police' it anyway

I have always understood breast to be best, but how much better is it than formula? Is it like comparing 85% dark chocolate with 80% or with cooking chocolate?

What these researchers from Sheffield seem to be saying, in an backhand way, is that formula is a problem. Well if that is the case then stop advertising it in GP surgeries, on TV and in maternity wards and make the companies improve it until it isn't a problem. Stop pushing it onto new mums at every opportunity.

If it isn't a problem then give mums the information they need to make an informed choice rather than bribing them not to use it.

I hate all the propaganda surrounding breast feeding.

I have a friend who is always in the local paper banging on about breast feeding. When her baby was 2 weeks old I popped round with a present, where was she, in the garden having a fag

I have a friend who breast fed her baby, but hated every minute of it and read a book or watched the telly, she did it because she was made to feel she ought to. Real bonding then.

I have a friend who breast fed her baby and who was so knackered because her baby kept her awake all night and all day, she ended up resenting the baby and going back to work.

But I also have a friend who never breast fed. She didn't smoke, she loved feeding her baby his bottle, as he gazed into her eyes and hung on to her finger. She took a bottle of formula up to bed each night and her baby was fed, winded and changed within 20 minutes, so she didn't get exhausted and enjoyed being at home. Oh hang on, no that was me.......the bottle feeding pariah who would tell them where to shove their £200

Shell I hate it too I was unable to breastfeed (severe mastitis plus lack of milk - and mine were very big babies) and I felt very guilty with the first two - with Harry I never even tried, he was contented and has never had any health issues at all apart from mild asthma as a tot which he has totally grown out of. The eldest two are fit as fleas!

I have a FB friend who has a child of almost school age - still breastfeeding until recently! I like this person but to me breastfeeding at that age is more about the needs of the mother than those of the child

Frank actually I am surprised to hear that formula is still advertised, I thought that only follow-on milk was allowed to be advertised these days, I have not seen an advert for formula for newborns for many years - in fact I think there is very little advice for those who either cannot or will not breastfeed

Interestingly Kaz, Luke has no allergies, no asthma, no eczema. My nieces and nephew were all breast fed until they were 6 months old and all had asthma, and my niece has a nut allergy.

I remember one stupid woman at the mums and toddler group banging on and on to me about how I was depriving my child of the best start in life by not feeding my 6 month old. I had such a go at her - telling her how dare she preach to me when she had no idea of my situation or the circumstances around why I was or was not breast feeding my child and it was women like her that gave other mothers an inferiority complex and she should be ashamed of herself - which she was when my friend told her that as L was adopted I wasn't able to breast feed even if I had wanted to.

People really should think before they start banging on about things.

Whilst I don't know about S (although I am pretty sure that she wouldn't have been breast fed and would probably have been as high as a kite if she was ), L was on formula from day 1 - she was never breast fed. She is very healthy, no known allergies, asthma, eczema, etc.