Is it always bad to advertise for baby bottles? Does it always break the WHO International Code of Marketing Breast milk Substitutes? Would it be unethical of a blog to advertise for baby bottles if no imagery was used? What about if that site was a beastfeeding site and the ad was meant solely for pumping moms? What if it was just for a one-day-only baby bottle giveaway?
These are a few of the questions going through my mind as I write this post. Breastfeeding Moms Unite! is about supporting and being accessible to all breastfeeding moms. That includes pumping moms. And pumping moms need to put their breast milk in something don’t they? It’s not like if a mom who pumps her milk sees a baby bottle that she’s going to think “I should really switch to formula.” Don’t pumping moms deserve to see and learn about their baby bottle choices so they can make an informed decision? Let me back up here and tell you how this train of thought got started.
A representative from Pure Glass Baby Bottle contacted me about a giveaway. Today, January 18th, the first 2000 people to register at their site between 12-1 PM EST will receive one free 8 oz glass baby bottle, complete with nipple, cap and ring. Of course they wanted my help to get the word out. Of course the first thing that crossed my mind was “no way.” But then I thought about the pumping moms I know. So I looked at their site.
They have a nice site. They don’t show any photos of babies drinking from bottles and they emphasize the purity of glass and the environment. (If I had ever pumped my milk I would have used glass). They also emphasize that breast milk is best. Of course, this is what we hear from formula companies too so it’s not like I was convinced of a sole loyalty to the breastfeeding consumer. I also wondered if there was a catch to registering at their site to receive one of these free bottles so I asked the representative and this is what she said:
“After moms register on our site they are then sent the glass baby bottle to the address they choose to provide. No additional materials or information are sent unless they choose to “opt in” for additional promotions and information from O-I. To answer your second question, O-I is not currently affiliated with any formula companies, and I am not aware of any coupons for breast milk substitutes that will be provided.”
If you went on a breastfeeding site and saw an ad for bottles would you think, “Ah, those are for pumping moms” or would you just think “Oh, lookie, she sold out.” Would you look at them any different than if you saw that same ad on another non-breastfeeding site? What if there was a disclaimer attached: For pumping moms. It’s not like formula feeding moms read breastfeeding blogs anyway, do they? If they do, come out, come out wherever you are! So my thinking is that pumping moms need to be marketed to too right? And if we can agree that pumping moms are a rather determined bunch of women who want to ensure their babies get the absolute best (no formula shall touch the lips of my baby!) then wouldn’t it be safe to assume they’d want the very best kind of bottle to put their precious breast milk in?
But what about bottle imagery? What about the Blog Her ads that so many mom bloggers opted out of displaying on their sites because the very sight of a baby bottle conjures up the belief that the image will in turn cause moms to feel good about formula feeding?
Before Annie from PhDinParenting challenged BlogHer ads to allow bloggers to opt out of displaying ads for bottles on their sites she said:
I do understand that bottles are sometimes used to feed breast milk. As a former pumping mom myself, I did allow a bottle ad on my blog in the past that specifically mentioned using the bottle for breast milk and that didn’t point to any specific super powers of the bottle. I know that in theory it is a violation of the Code, but personally I didn’t feel that it crossed the line. Others may disagree, but given all the extremely unethical and deceptive marketing practices by manufacturers of breast milk substitutes, I felt this one was acceptable.
I feel like there has to be a grey area somewhere. I’ve told many of my readers that I support the Code and that I will never advertise breast milk substitutes or baby bottle gear. If a bottle company approached me and offered to pay me to advertise their merchandise on my site I wouldn’t do it. I don’t want to be affiliated with the sale of breast milk substitutes or gear. But is offering up some free glass baby bottles to the pumping moms that read my site that are only available for one hour on one day, without any bottle imagery, without marketing this post as a giveaway, and with all of this questioning of the practice to begin with still wrong?
I’m really interested in what you have to say. I hope you won’t throw me under the bus, but if you feel the need to, let me know.
For advice on pumping and feeding the breastfed baby from a bottle see this page on Kellymom.
By the way, I am not receiving compensation of any kind to write this post or display this giveaway. I decided to do it because it was good fodder for a Monday Musing post and I really wanted to generate a discussion on this since there hasn’t been one since the Blog Her ads situation and I’m trying to come at this from a different angle.
******
Update: I now believe that the above mentioned company does break the WHO Code. Their “nice site” is full of misleading statements about infant feeding. You can read more about this in the comment section below. Breastfeeding moms now have to make the choice between two causes: protecting the WHO Code or protecting the environment.
The Giveaway is now over. The bottles are all gone.
Related posts:
- Monday Musings: Were You Breastfed?
- Monday Musings: The Root Of The Mommy Breastfeeding Wars
- Monday Musings: How Hospitals Contribute to Lower Breastfeeding Rates
- Monday Musings: How Strict Are You About What You Put In Your Body When Breastfeeding?
- Monday Musings: Would You Nurse Another Woman’s Baby?
Tags: advertising, bottles, breast milk, breast milk substitutes, formula, Monday Musings, The Who Code
Oh my yes! I am a breastfeeding mom and info on good bottles was key. I resent that bottles are not part of the code – what, so now I have to go to formula-friendly sites, or companies directly, to get info I need for breastmilk storage/delivery? Come on! I’d rather get bottle info from sites that are interested in breastfeeding and supportive of it. If I want the info, there’s no reason not to share promos – especially free or cheap products, if they are good quality and compatible with breastfeeding. As long as the lead-in (on the bf-friendly site) is something that makes it clear it’s aimed at EBM, and as long as the company doing the giveaway isn’t promoting formula as part of it. I agree the latter would be really icky, but the reality is my LO spends 9-10 hours in day care five days a week, and that means bottles. Bottles full of lovely liquid gold, but nonetheless, bottles. (He is learning to use cups now, but only sort of getting the hang of them; and he started day care at 9 weeks – definitely bottle territory.)
I think that to treat bottles as though they are only formula-delivery mechanisms, IN THE DEVELOPED WORLD (where pumping is more common, I would guess), is a mistake. They’re a key component of being able to breast feed your baby if you’re a WOHM. I think bottles as symbols of baby feeding are a bad idea; but bottles as a product can be useful and necessary, even for breastfed babies.
(That said, a giveaway of glass bottles is useless to me – daycare, which will take cloth diapers and lots of other things, can’t take on glass bottles because of the risk of shattering, however remote. It’s one of the rules they have to follow.)
I run BlogHer ads on my site, and opted out of those displaying bottles or artificial nipples. I did so because I felt like, at minimum, it was confusing the issue. I breastfeed and I am a breastfeeding advocate, and having ads for bottles on my site (even from a pump manufacturer) seemed sort of confusing.
Having said that, I definitely think this is a grey area. For instance, I’ve heard of people going after Medela for code violations, and I have a hard time justifying that. I’m sure that Medela isn’t perfect, but I’ve used their pumps and bottles when my premature daughter was in the NICU and thank God for them. The ideal is that mothers and babies are able to be together and nurse freely, but life isn’t ideal and separations or problems arise. I don’t think we should stigmatize anyone for that, and I think that it’s important to recognize the great lengths that moms go to in order to provide breast milk to their babies. I have no issues with your actions here.
Amber´s last blog ..Updated Canadian Maternity Leave Guide
I agree with Laura. MANY women now-a-days have to go back to work and picking a good bottle is a must in order to feed you baby. Maybe if the add was directly beside an add for a good breastpump then it would seem less harmless. I remmeber standing in the store next to my hubby looking at the 30 different kinds wondering which one to buy. It helps if we see advertiements especially if we know we can support a company because it doesn’t partner with formula companies.
Of course pumping moms need to see bottles! Isn’t there a way bottle manufacturers could design ads to show that the bottle was full of breastmilk? I’m sure it’s hard to make some romanticized ad of a mom pumping, but that’s what they pay the big creative talent for, right?
My sister just had a baby and will have to go back to work soon. Thank goodness she is planning on EP’ing – but that means she has to research bottles. I know nothing about them (and I’m her usual source of all.things.breastfeeding.attachment.parenting.etc. – ha!). I would hope that there are some manufacturers out there that specifically cater to pumping moms and aren’t ashamed to shout it out to the world.
Thank you for the link – I’ll order one for my sister now!
Dionna´s last blog ..What Does Breastmilk Taste Like, Part 5
And WOW! The free bottles are already all gone
Dionna´s last blog ..What Does Breastmilk Taste Like, Part 5
I think moms that pump need bottle information! I am quite obsessive when it comes to learning, and trying to find the best bottle for my son was no different. I knew I would “have” to go back to work, and I knew he would need a bottle.
I’d read so much about nipple confusion in the breast feeding books that it was a serious concern of mine. What if he likes the bottle better because it flows faster? What if he refuses to take the bottle because it’s too different? What if he uses the bottle but forgets how to feed from me? What if I can’t produce enough milk for him? (ok, that’s sort of another issue, but so many bottles were 10oz+ & I saw how much formula babies ate so I was concerned!) How much does he really need? How often should I pump? When should I pump? How much should I expect to get? When and how should I cut back?
There really does need to be a resource for moms that have to pump, for whatever reason. A REAL comparison of bottles vs boobs. Real advice on how much a baby will eat (I know, they’re all different…but just how different). And the best ways to store your milk.
To answer my own questions:
1. My husband swore that our son got mad at the bottle because it didn’t flow as fast as I did
2. He really didn’t like the bottle. Still doesn’t. Went on strike a few times. But he did learn to use it. And he didn’t starve (even on strike!)
3. I waited until he was 1 month old to let him near a bottle, and even then I refused to give it to him. He finally figured out the bottle, but he still does better on the breast.
4. I’m very fortunate because I get to go see my son on lunch most days. So he often “snacks” until he’s really able to eat. Because of this I have a LOT of stored milk. So much that I’m donating to a milk bank (around 400oz!). So the supply wasn’t really an issue
5. I read somewhere that a good rule of thumb was 1oz/hour that you’re away. That’s been very true for me. But I know some formula babies that go through 3 (or more) 8oz bottles in a work day!
6. I pump 2x a work day
7. Still not sure about this, but I get 7-8oz in the morning and 4-6oz in the afternoon (depends on how well he ate at lunch)
8. Still looking for the answer for this!
Ellyn´s last blog ..Pocket Diapers for Sale
Ellyn, sounds like you are doing great with pumping. Yes, formula-fed babies eat a lot more. Their milk doesn’t have the nutrients that breastmilk has – it’s basically “empty” and they need more of it in one feeding.
Ellyn –
Hehe. Oh and how babies do differ. My jaw hit the floor when someone finally told me the one ounce per hour rule you mention…DS averages two ounces per hour. AND nurses heavily in the morning and 2-3 times at night (but when he isn’t sick or teething, those are all evening feeds and then he sleeps through, so he DOES get most of his feeding during the day). Of course, the fact he’s sleeping thru and the fact I’m away from him for 9-10 hours doubtless contributes, but I still find the difference funny. My eaty little boy is definitely an individual.
I figure I’ll cut back when I’m pumping dramatically more than he’s eating. I’d wait to cut back if I could donate, because then it would be useful – but the milk banks won’t take my donations (I take claratin daily for bad allergies, which they won’t accept – I asked).
I’m actually surprised by all this support but so happy nobody is throwing me under the bus. What I’m getting so far is that pumping moms want information on the bottles they use, which I think it absolutely fair especially when it can be done ethically. I like what you say @Dionna about needing positive bottle imagery depicting pumping moms feeding their babies breast milk. Bottle companies take note!
@Naomi – I like your idea about placing the ad next to one for a breast pump. Ad and product placement is so important. Any of the marketing mamas who read my blog would agree I’m sure.
@Amber – I have never opted in the have the BlogHer ads, mostly because I like the freedom to be able to sell ad space to companies who might want it or who I would like to represent. I think it was a huge victory and reflected wonderfully on BlogHer for changing the way the ads ran so bloggers who want to fully support the Code can. I appreciate that you can see the grey area here and don’t have any problems with anything I’ve said. Your input means a lot. Thank you!
@Ellyn – You truly are doing quite the amazing job. @Laura – you too. I think a big part of why I wanted to address this issue of advertising is because I am personally in awe of and have so much respect for moms like you who are so determined and committed to pumping. Were the maternity leave policies different in Canada, I would like to think I’d have done the same thing, but really I have no way of knowing. I wonder if the irritation and inconvenience would have done me in? This would have been five years ago, four years before I started this blog and about two or three years before I got really passionate about breastfeeding. I take off my hat to you!
I nursed my son, and will be nursing my new little one when she’s born in May. I absolutely want bottle info. I’m unemployed and hope to be doing natural breastfeeding most of the time, but having extra on hand in case I’m at the store, or in case hubby and I need a date night works out best for us. My son will be two when new baby is born, and if I pump, I can spike his regular milk a little too. And yes, it’s selfish, but I also pump so I can drink an adult beverage sometimes too. I realize that my feelings on this kind of stuff isn’t the absolute ideal. But if women are pressured to do it all perfectly, then it’s going to cut down on the number of women willing to even try. So advertising and promoting the in between, pumping to feed, or even supplementing with formula so long as breastmilk is always the preference, then it makes breastfeeding in general more obtainable for more women. Studies show that ANY amount of breastmilk is better. So I think it’s silly to leave out the women who can’t exclusively do breast to baby 100% of the time, for whatever reasons they choose.
As far as advertising for it on a blog, I think that’s entirely up to you. With a blog that specifically promotes breastfeeding, my preference is just to have your explanation along with the advertisement. Just basically, hey, for those of you that pump . . . That’s all. I personally don’t even think that it’s necessary to go all in depth into making sure the company has a preference of breastmilk over formula. Anyone looking for bottles has already made the decision. If you can’t handle seeing a formula ad on the bottle page, then I don’t know what to tell you. So long as the formula ad isn’t on the site or blog that is specific to promoting breastfeeding, then it doesn’t bother me. And truthfully, I also wouldn’t mind seeing information on formula, though probably not ads, on a blog like this, just because I had some problems, and I know others who have too, and had to supplement with formula. It’s not ideal, but being able to make a good decision based on the circumstances you are faced with is the best. Better for a mom to have to use a supplemental can of formula for a little while than to give up all together. It’s not an all or nothing issue.
Danielle Miller´s last blog ..Stock Up Deal of the Week
I think it would be great to have information about bottles for babies. I had to return to work when my DD was around 9 months for one day a week and was pumping milk for that day. But as she was always breastfed, it took a lot of persuasion for her to take the bottle and I must have tried a million different types until I found that was breast-like enough that she would grudgingly accept it if nothing else was on offer.
And even if you aren’t pumping, an older baby will often find a bottle of cool water quite soothing when they are teething.
Zoey @ Good Goog´s last blog ..We Are Family
I am a major breastfeeding advocate. I don’t believe in formula ever if at all possible (has never been needed here) and that all formula companies should be shut down in favor of human milk banks for low supply moms and those who just don’t, for whatever reason, want to nurse their babies. That said, I see absolutely nothing wrong with your advertisement of this promotion. Your reasons are so valid that they shouldn’t need to be so concerned. A bottle is not a breast milk substitute, it’s a breast substitute and until our parental leave system in the US is fixed, there will be a critical need for moms to pump and have bottles to put it in. Even if it gets fixed, there are reasons for bottles (I had surgery at 4 months postpartum and my baby wasn’t going to be starved for those 6 hours, lol! and while she hated the bottles–or my pumped milk, who knows–she still had a food option that way) and they are exclusive of formula. You can put formula in a lact-aid, but I bet if there was a giveaway for those, you wouldn’t hesitate to advertise it. Pumping moms deserve the support just as much. This is not an entirely pumping-friendly country and not everyone has the option to be a SAHM, particularly single moms (who have to feed their babies and pay for their homes!).
I agree with you posting this giveaway. In way too many words,
Thank you, Melodie – though really it’s just my stubbornness, and a bit of luck. Right this minute pumping seems easier than feeding from the tap, but that’s because DS got startled while nursing sleepily earlier and bit me. Ow. I’ll get over that (no significant damage done) but it was sure a shock to me.
Watching these comments, I am beginning to realize why I felt so strongly about this (and so positively). We live in a culture where the drive to promote breastfeeding has also tried to demote formula-feeding (probably good), but has unfortunately extended that to demote formula-feeding parents (more problematic, especially given the difficulties in getting donor milk – other than on a parent-to-parent basis – for healthy babies). Worse, we’ve extended it to everybody with a bottle. I remember being appalled, months ago, to read one over-the-top (my opinion) lactivist (her word) say she “felt sick” every time she saw someone feeding an infant with a bottle. Without having ANY idea what was in the bottle or why.
That could be my husband, feeding my son my EBM. It could be my coworker’s day care provider, giving her girl the one bottle of formula she unhappily gives per day because she responds poorly to the pump and hasn’t found a better solution. It could be another coworker’s daughter giving her daughter the formula she MUST have because she has galactosemia and can’t have her mother’s breast milk. It could be a dedicated formula feeder whose child receives only formula. You can’t know.
Bottles. Aren’t. Evil. They’re a tool for delivering a liquid food – any liquid food – to a baby. It isn’t fair or right to marginalize people for using bottles, and that’s exactly what saying “no bottles in breastfeeding spaces” does – says bottle-feeding is a lesser thing than breast-feeding. Even if it’s EBM. Even if it’s donor milk, desperately acquired to supplement a low supply, or provide where the mother can’t due to medical issues that require lactation-unfriendly medications.
Not to mention, on a more practical level, it removes an entire category of useful information so that, if we want it at all, if we think for a moment about it existing, we have to go hang out at neutral or pro-formula sites to find it. WHA? How…interesting. And how wrong, IMO.
Of course, as you’ve pointed out, this is a really confusing issue. As a working & pumping mother, bottles were an absolute necessity for me, and a very real part of my breastfeeding. However, advertising bottles, like Amber said, at best usually confuses the issue. HOWEVER – there *might* be a way to do it so it’s clear you’re marketing to pumping mothers only, and that would be to show the bottles hooked up to a pump, or to at least show a pump in the picture. If it sends the message that the bottles are geared toward breast pumping mothers, that seems to be the only fair way around the issue.
I think it is definitely okay! I solely breast-fed, I never gave a bottle to either girls but I do pump so I can add breast milk to their cereals. I also give them milk in a cup so at dinner they can have a drink like us. I would love to store my breast milk in a great glass bottle.
@Danielle – Even though this is just a tiny bit of what you posted I wanted to respond to your saying you pump so you can have an adult drink once in awhile. Now everyone’s comfort levels are different and what works for me and others won’t always work for others, it depends on the age of your nursling too, but I don’t generally worry too much if I have a drink or two when nursing. I like that you are pumping and not giving formula at these times. I guess I just felt the need to address this not solely to you but other moms who might be reading this. You can drink responsible and nurse at the same time. I wrote a post about it here: http://www.breastfeedingmomsun.....stfeeding/
Reading your comment over again (and @Zoeys) is making me realize more specifically that moms need information about bottles and formula – not just glitzy advertising. Does anyone write reviews on formula? I suppose there are blogs out there that do. That might be a good place to actually learn about it rather than just being drawn in by ads.
@Heather – I love your views as a staunch breastfeeding advocate. What you said reminds me of my best friend’s reaction when I shared all the thoughts I was having. She was like “You’re overthinking this!”
@Laura – You’re right to point out that we never know the story behind the bottle. It’s hard to get over those initial gut reactions to things we’re so passionate about though. I know I have to tell myself not to judge others when I see someone doing something I wouldn’t necessarily support for myself.
@TFB – Thank you for chiming in. I had hoped you would. If ever down the road I had a chance to advertise bottles on this site it would have to be done pretty much exactly the way you are saying. It would have to be damn obvious I wasn’t on the fence on the issue between formula and breast milk. But even if I did it that way, wouldn’t that still be breaking the Code? I’m not sure. There’s that fine line. I should go round up Jake Aryeh Marcus to speak up about this too.
@Andrea – I know they are making glass bottles a lot more often now what with the BPA scare. I bet you could find a good one out there somewhere if you’d really like to get your hands on one. Probably a natural health store or natural baby shop?
Melodie´s last blog ..Monday Musings: Is It Okay To Advertise Baby Bottles To Pumping Moms?
Personally, I prefer to opt out of bottle ads altogether. Although I waffled over a few that specifically mentioned breastmilk in the past, I’d prefer to avoid them altogether.
I’m not going to “throw you under the bus”, but I would be uncomfortable posting the giveaway that you did. I find the wording on the button to be deceiving. It says “start your baby on the safest baby bottle available”, implying that babies need to start on a bottle. There is no mention of breast milk or breastfeeding on the button anywhere, nor do I see any mention of it on the main page of their website (I didn’t go searching around).
Beyond BPA-free, I think there are other significant concerns when choosing a bottle as a breastfeeding mom. The nipple size/shape is critical. While glass certainly is BPA free, the fat from breastmilk tends to stick to glass more than it sticks to plastic and that can be a concern. Compatibility with a pump is also a consideration if you don’t want to do double the washing (my daughter drank from the same bottle I pumped the milk into).
Personally, I think of advertising formula or bottles like advertising a c-section or birth interventions. Sure, they are necessary in some cases and a convenient choice for mothers in some instances and moms should do their research if they think they might need them. But I do not think they should be advertised. Period.
Annie @ PhD in Parenting´s last blog ..The Big Fight
I am an avid breastfeeding advocate who in three years has pumped maybe three bottles because my son never liked drinking from a bottle. Actually, my milk changes its flavor when its pumped, and that’s why he doesn’t like pumped milk. I am lucky, I was always able to nurse him on demand because I work from home.
I proudly signed up for complying with the WHO code after Annie brought up the whole issue months ago. And I opted out of having BlogHer Ads of bottles on my blog. But I have the same mixed feelings like you. Just recently I was invited to an event where some new bottles were going to be introduced, and I didn’t know how to react, so I didn’t reply.
There are so many moms out there who pump, aren’t we doing them a disservice by not making bottle information available on our sites? I would feel bad if they had to look at formula sites to find the information they seek — I’d rather have them get the information from me.
Moms who pump obviously need bottles, so I like the idea of designing bottles that show that there is breast milk in the bottle. If I had pumped breast milk and were giving a bottle to my child in public, I would want everyone around me to know that there is my breast milk, and not yucky formula, in there
I have immense admiration for any mom who is pumping to make sure that her child is getting breast milk, especially all the working moms who show such dedication to breastfeeding.
It sounds like many moms are seeking and want information about bottles. Maybe one way around this is to still not advertise bottles but to write informative articles about bottles.
My 2 cents
Dagmar
Dagmar Bleasdale´s last blog ..Not Me! Monday — Poor Salty
Amber (+others):
With regards to Medela, have you seen the latest? http://hoydenabouttown.com/201.....offensive/
I was willing to cut them some slack, but I think they are taking things a bit too far. It is making me ill.
Tough one. I think bottle feeding has it’s place and advertising can be OK, but it has to walk a very thin line. An image of a mother pumping for instance, bothers me less. Directly stating the bottles are for pumping breastmilk. But once formula is mentioned or suggested, it makes me feel no. Sadly, the image of the bottle is so ingrained as equaling formula that seeing one makes many automatically think of formula. I wish pumping breastmilk was the first thought, but it’s not. That’s why a fine line has to be walked.
I don’t think we should toss the baby out with the bathwater, or the pumpers out with the tons of unethical formula advertising.
I don’t think it was wrong of you to advertise the bottles for a giveaway. Those sure went quick, too!
When I pumped with my first daughter, I had no idea what bottles to use. Some are better than others.
It’s sad that bottles are always associated with formula, but that’s the way it is.
Maybe one day there will be tons of ads with bottles directed at pumping moms. I think it will take a long time before we see a bottle and think breastmilk though.
Darcel´s last blog ..A New Direction
Very interesting conversation here. I also opted out of the BlogHer ads to be compliant with the WHO code. I am also a working mom who pumped what felt like a million times at work over the first year of both my children’s lives.
I researched bottles. I read articles on Kellymom.com on how to introduce bottles. I learned about the different types of nipples and which ones were more “natural” like the breast for infants.
I agree information on baby bottles should be available to breastfeeding moms, however, I don’t believe we have a “right” to see advertising on it. As a professional marketer, I’m the first to tell you that people should NOT make decisions on what type of products to buy simply based off of an ad. Should we be learning about bottles? Yes. Should we demand to be exposed to different ads of bottles to help us learn about them. No.
I would be *more* okay with it if you couched it in the whole pumping mom perspective. That said, rather than promoting a give away for a baby bottle, I’d love to see you write a post talking about pumping and bottle feeding and then list out the different types of bottles that you’ve researched are most popular with pumping moms (and why).
That would be most excellent and a good read!
Missy
Missy @ The Marketing Mama´s last blog ..slowing it down a bit…
I do not think it should be an issue. I nursed all 4 of my kids (even one I adopted). I have taught breasfeeding support for years. And yes I pumped and used bottles, And yes I even gave my kids formula occasionally.
I think we have to stop making moms feel guilty.
And we need good discussions about which bottles work best for breastfed babies. Not all bottles are made equal for nursing babies. We did to help moms find good quality bottles with wide mouth slow flow nipples for their breasfed babies.
I don’t think that advertising bottles with the pretense they are for pumping moms is a bad thing at all, I do think we need to be assuming the best of people and not the worse.
However, since you have a great blog here that is well read by many who comment and many who just happen to find it. I would add a link to some correct information about pumping like the information found on the kelly mom site. Many moms see things like the comment above where the babies are eating multiple 8oz bottles a day and feel they aren’t doing it right when they can only pump 3-4oz per pumping session. But that is untrue, breastfeed babies need to be fed differently from formula babies and should never be fed more than 5oz at a time with a better bottle size being 3oz.
So I would really encourage you to add a link to any site that has true and accurate pumping information to go along with the bottle give away.
Harmony´s last blog ..Natural Parenting
It really makes me sad to see so many people against bottles. My first son was born prematurely, and he didn’t know how to suck. He had to be fed with a syringe for the first few weeks. In order to avoid issues with my supply, the lactation consultant at the hospital encouraged me to pump. On the way home, we had to stop at the store and get a pump, storage bags and bottles since that was the only way I was going to be able to give him breast milk.
The first time we took him out, we had to feed him with a bottle. It was my milk in there, but it was still a bottle. I was struggling with PPD and feeling like a failure of a mother because I couldn’t nurse my baby and had to pump. Some lady came over and gave me a lecture about how terrible it was I wasn’t breastfeeding him.
Eventually, he ended up latching on when he was around 6 weeks old. The bottles enabled me to EBF, and he was a happy nurser until he weaned himself at 14 months.
Bottles aren’t bad. In some cases, they’re the only way a baby can get breast milk. As a pumping mom, I really felt like I was all alone. It needs to be remembered that any way of delivering breast milk to a child is still okay.
Harmony, the comment above about babies drinking several 8oz bottles in a day is talking about formula-fed babies who need larger bottles. You are right that the word needs to get out more that breastfed babies only need 2-4 oz (depending on how old they are) at one time. I know someone who had another parent from her baby’s daycare threaten to call CPS on her for starving her baby because she only dropped off two 3 oz bottles for the day.
I’m in Canada, but went back to work when my daughter was 6 months, and I pumped until she was 16 months. So… yes we used bottles. I don’t think they’re evil (my daughter was more opinionated on the matter!).
Do I think they need to be advertised though? On a site for breastfeeding mothers? No. As someone who had to research what bottles to use for my child, I didn’t need directed advertising – it was easy enough to do the research. I guess I never really considered an advertisement as “information”. I’m also pretty suspicious about the claims that one bottle is better than another…
Do I think you should have advertised it? That’s your call and I don’t think I would criticize you for it – but I also don’t think that pumping moms really “need” that information…
This is always a hot button topic… and I just wish people could separate marketing vs. information. The CODE is about marketing.
There is nothing in the Code against having information about breastmilk storage times or a comparison of glass vs BPA free bottles for breastmilk storage. Where everything gets murky is when things are MARKETED – the purpose of marketing is different than information. The bottom line for marketing is to sell more of their product. There is nothing wrong with that but the agenda is different and the message can be tweaked ever so slightly. The CODE does not say that bottles are evil. It addresses the research that marketing breatmilk substitutes is not unbiased information.
Wow! Thanks for the huge response ladies!
@phdinparenting – I got so fixated on the fact that the picture ad didn’t show a bottle that I paid only minimal attention to the ad’s wording, but you’re right. “Start your baby on the safest bottle” does imply that a baby should be given a bottle before or instead of breastfeeding. And no, that’s not cool. Also, I appreciate you informing me and everyone else about the difference between plastic and glass bottles. Never having used bottles myself I am rather uninformed on some of these important facts.
I want to respond to @Marketing Mama next. Thank you for sharing your valuable insight on this issue. I knew you’d know a thing or two about it.
Your suggestion to write a post on this issue is stellar. I guess I came up with this idea myself earlier in response to someone else’s comment above, but it was in response to wanting to learn information about formula. Bottles or any other product for that matter would be no different I guess. This is why blogs, mommy blogs specifically, are such an important part of the marketing media, because we do offer information rather than just ads. Thank you for reminding me of this. Now for that post you suggested….
@Dagmar – YOU have a great idea! I wonder who’ll snag it first? Although I see how it could create a new kind of hierarchy between moms. “I pump and you don’t, see I have a sticker!” I’m sure a number of ff moms would be wanting to get their hands on the bottles the other moms were using, although I suppose since the teats are different depending on whether a baby drinks formula or breast milk as @Harmony and @Naomi point out, they could do something with that.
@Harmony – Thank you for the suggestion about linking to kellymom. I do link to accurate information quite often. I suppose I didn’t this time because I didn’t think I was really advertising in this post. I was more just trying to get a discussion going about the issue at hand. But because of your suggestion I will add a link at the end of this post. It certainly is getting some attention so that would be a good idea.
Thank you!
As a pumping mom, I am really torn on bottle info. I’m very pro-breastfeeding. I wouldn’t allow formula ads on my website (when I still did ads), but I think that bottle info is a little different. Yes, bottle are associated with formula, but they are also the only way that many working women can continue breastfeeding. When I was buying bottles, I was somewhat frustrated with the lack of info about bottles for pumping/breastfeeding moms. Lots of people told me to just buy the slow flow nipple.
Maybe some babies a bottle is a bottle is a bottle, but we ended up going through several brands before we found one that allowed B to switch between bottle and breast easily. We tried Dr. Brown’s, Bornfree, Evenflo, and Breastflow. The problem with all of these is that the marketing all says “just like the breast” which isn’t true for any of them. Since I was relying on company advertsing and word of mouth, it was a long process. The result was that the trial and error almost cost us our breastfeeding relationship. We ended up going with the breastflow because it was the best combo of latch and flow, but primarily we picked it because it looks different. People don’t assume that it has formula because it looks more like a boob. I assume some people use it for formula, but it wouldn’t make sense for that use in my mind.
I don’t think the answer is that breastfeeding sites should advocate or even endorse bottles, but the reality is that sometimes the lack of information about breastfeeding friendly bottle (either for pumping/storage needs or for daycare feeding needs) is very much needed. When breastfeeding advocates are hesitant to provide it because it promotes formula, it leaves a hole that may in fact cause some moms to give up on breastfeeding altogether.
Would I be more likely to buy bottles from a company that doesn’t just do lipservice to supporting breastfeeding? Yes. Would I be weary of a breastfeeding website that was full of bottle advertisement? Yes. Surely there has to be some middle ground. Maybe limiting such giveaways/ads/reviews to a section clearly dedicated to pumping moms.
@MaryM – Thank you for spelling out what the Code is really all about. Based on your comment I would have to say that I probably didn’t break the Code in placing that ad because I talked a lot about what I was doing in the post and questioned the whole idea of advertising bottles in the first place. Other than saying I would have used glass bottles if I had ever pumped (which I’m not sure if I would now based on @phdinparenting’s info about glass) I didn’t glorify bottles in any way (I don’t think) and placing the ad at the bottom of the post so it was the last thing you saw and wasn’t what drew you in to reading the post. So I think I’m safe here. What does everyone else think?
I just went to the Glass bottle website that started this topic and I find their choice of words to really illustrate why advertising their free bottle giveaway is MARKETING and why it violates the CODE.
They call “Glass – the natural choice” They state: “START your baby on the safest baby bottle available.” They don’t use the term breastmilk anywhere on their home page – instead they use “baby milk” They use this phrase: “It is the healthiest choice you can make for feeding your baby.”
There are power in words and this is a classic example of why the Code addresses marketing!
@G – I think @Missy – MarketingMama has the best idea. Providing information about bottles in a post. But then maybe having a link on the front page of one’s site to always be able to direct readers to that information. That way it kind of acts like advertising but not in the traditional sense.
I think the only way a blogger can truly be a supporter of the WHO Code is to endorse only products made by companies that comply with the WHO Code. I don’t see a gray area here. There is nothing anti-bottle about the Code and one can support both pumping mothers and the Code. There are Code compliant companies selling the products that pumping moms need.
I freely admit the Code translates into English words used in uncustomary ways to U.S. English speakers. The term “idealize” is awkward in this context. But the Code has been around a while and people who are experts in its interpretation (like Marsha Walker of NABA) are available. Recall when Medela decided it no longer cared to be Code compliant. http://www.sustainablemotherin.....-violator/ And see the Hoyden About Town post Annie links to above for the latest. I think some above are suggesting that a blogger can still support the Code even if promoting the products of a Code violating company. I don’t see how that is possible. Is the bottle Melodie pitched marketed in a way that is Code compliant or not?
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@MaryM – Wow! You’re right. I suppose it also depends on who’s looking at those ads as to how they can be interpreted. As a breastfeeding mom who knows that breast is best and as an environmentalist too, I saw Glass – The Natural Choice as simply pertaining to the glass itself, not the bottle that was made of glass that they suggest is the “healthiest choice” or the best way to START feeding your baby. Ah, the power of marketing. Even when you think you aren’t a victim you’re tricked!
@JAM – Thanks for your input. While I don’t feel I was “pitching” the company, instead using them as an example, but yes, also running the link to the giveaway within the hour timeframe it was that they were giving away the free bottles, I’m going to post a little exta something in the post to let readers know I don’t support this company because of their marketing practices even though I do support pumping moms and the use of environmentally friendly equipment in doing so. For this one, I guess you have to pick your causes too. What is more important to mothers? Protecting the WHO Code or the environment?
Make decisions based on advertising alone? No. Ask questions based on it, be exposed to it, see the discussions it generates? Yes. If you’ve done the research and want the product, have an equal chance at the free giveaway – yes.
Granted, apparently glass bottles aren’t ideal. I dropped any research on them after learning I couldn’t send them to daycare, so I didn’t know that. My bad.
But I question what’s being read into this site. Oh my gosh the things attributed! But when I follow the link I see:
“Glass: The natural choice” (okay, if you’re comparing GLASS to BREAST then I agree, it’s not as natural, but I think the subtext of ‘for a bottle’ is clear and obvious – people know that human body parts are more natural than manufactured objects)
“Start your baby on the safest baby bottle available – FREE!” – I read that as “when you start your baby on a bottle, start on the safest one available” – others seem to have read it as suggesting you start with a bottle, not breastfeeding. I really just don’t see that as the intent; I didn’t read it that way and still can’t, even when I try. They just don’t say it.
“Healthy. Natural. 100% recyclable.” Here I think they may cross a line slightly, if only because healthy/natural seems a stretch – healthier and more natural than plastic, maybe, but….
In this case, I really think that the people who are reading that into it are imposing something that comes from their views rather than what “most people” would get out of it. Or maybe I’m not like “most people”. Either way, I still don’t see it as a problem, and it definitely generated some useful discussion.
So often bottles are NOT brought up in discussion forums, either ads or other things. But the ads matter too, when they might let a mama get things she needs while saving some money. Again, my bad on not realizing glass was not ideal, but I do think ads containing deals do serve a purpose for consumers (and not just for the companies driving them).
I am glad I don’t do any advertising or anything but personal babbling on my journal. I’d feel like I had to read and understand these things…and the language on the site linked for the WHO code makes my tired eyes droop shut (even now that I’m not reading it on a mobile phone screen), so honestly, I’m working off the understanding I can pick up from what people say about it.
It’s great that you share the bottle info with nursing moms. Like you said, how do you get the milk to them after you pump it out? Nothing wrong with supporting a free giveaway that helps many a moms!
Once again I agree with Laura on how the statements about the bottle were read. I felt it was compared to other bottles,NOT human breasts. It’s not at all saying start your baby on formula or even start your baby on pumped milk by any means. That wouldn’t make sense.
@Laura @Naomi – What sold me on the Code breaking was the fact that while I agree with you and stated that it probably depends on who’s reading these ads as to how they will be interpreted, that there was no mention of breast being best on the homepage. They said it in their email to me and on the “Our Treasures” page, but the most important place it should have been was on the front page. That and the ad for their giveaway said Start your baby on the safest baby bottle available. Even saying “use” instead of “start” would have been better.
wowser, talk about generating discussion!!!
I’m supportive of accurate information regarding bottles being relayed, though I’m not sure the bottle companies should be the ones to do it.
Who should? Well, I trust you!!!
I also wanted to add to the fray:
some mommas you see with bottles and babies have adopted those babies.
Adoptive nursing IS possible and so great–but not always successful, feasible, or supported. My doc looked at me like I wanted to chop off my head when I asked her for domperidone to initiate lactation for my adopted son! Lol! Anyways, some of those bottle feeding mommas have adopted kiddos who need bottles.
Judge her not.
♥
(you know I’m 2000% committed to breastfeeding, and love your blog 2000 IUs, right? Good.)
Yes, pumping moms need to put their milk in “something”; but no that shouldn’t be a bottle. Of all the choices for feeding a baby its the worst as far as interfering with breastfeeding, and its also the least safe. Even bottles containing breast milk may be a risk for ear infections from the pressure they cause (even the bottles that claim they do not). They are bad for mouth (palate) and tooth development. There is really nothing good to be said for bottles -its just that we are used to them. Even the WHO doesn’t recommend bottles, and I believe the AAP used to list them as the “second best choice” for feeding babies (and no, breasts weren’t the first)
Admittedly bottles used for breastmilk are far less likely to be exposed to any kind of really nasty microbes from the milk -but people do touch them and I’m sure everyone is aware of what can be found on people’s hands. Particularly in a daycare situation where the caregivers are handling multiple infants, multiple diapers, and formula. Its virtually impossible to keep all the reside off a bottle nipple, and the residue allows microbes to hide and even survive boiling.
Its time to bring back cup feeding, specifically feeding cups. A feeding cup made of an inert material (glass, some metals) would be entirely cleanable, non-leaching, etc. Cup and spoon feeding do not cause late nipple confusion or early nipple confusion. Cup and spoons do not cause pressure in the ear canal. Yes there can be a bit more spillage with these methods, particularly while learning them but once you get the knack I didn’t have any problem with spills.
Out with bottles, in with cups!
@mystic eye cda – Thanks for your helpful comment! Cups are indeed a great alternative. Although time consuming, I would think if they were the sole method of feeding. I am not sure if many moms would use them except in emergency situations. What about the possibility of choking? I guess one would get used to how much to put on the spoon at a time though. Anyway, I appreciate the alternative response. Always good to have info on all sides.
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Interesting thoughts here.
I am actually here to comment on your call to formula feeding moms. Come out come out whereever you are. Yes, some of us have been unfortunately “forced” to switch for lack of better terminology.
I personally have been breastfeeding my 7 month old son. Well, I was anyways until a few days ago that is. We found out that it is quite likely that he has a dairy allergy and is getting the dairy transferred through my breastmilk. It is effecting him so bad that he is now on his way to see a pediatric gastroenterologist at a children’s hospital near us. Dairy was/is a significant portion of my diet and therefore he was having major issues on top of the already present G.E.R.D he had, the little guy is quite miserable. Thrusting, screaming, not drinking, you name it, up all night long screaming in pain with no relief. I went on a dairy free diet for 10 days in order to begin experimenting with his issues. Well, with no good conclusions we opted to switch him to Nutramigen so that we could rule out all other food allergies. I’ve been pumping in hopes that maybe it will be short lived, however, I can already tell that my body is beginning to slow down the supply. Plus, there is no way I could continue a dairy free diet for as many months as he would perhaps continue to nurse. I love nursing my son and understand how my milk is certainly better, however, It wouldn’t be healthy for me to be on such a limited diet and therefore ultimately be unhealthy for him too.
So there you have it. I may still continue to be a breastfeeding mom once the doctors can come to certain conclusions. I may not if the dairy truly is the problem.
Either way, I completely agree breastfeeding is best, but perhaps we should all be a little more open minded to the fact that everyone’s situation is VERY different.
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