Has anyone seen this Similac ad regarding mommy wars? Fortunately, I've never encountered conversations like this IRL, but we see this a lot online. Do you feel it sends a good message? Or is it a quick, entertaining watch?
I think it's a cute ad, and pretty much all of the lines in it, I've read on a message board or comments section before.
pomegranate / 3643 posts
Lol at dolphin assisted.
I do wish the nursing moms weren't using covers though!! But I don't really care. My baby just won't accept anything in the nipple vicinity, including me pulling a shirt up. So my boobs are out all the time.
And I wish I had mani pedis!! I actually know women who think that's what it is like to be a SAHM. The ironic thing is I could have done that when I was working since I actually had daycare. And now I don't. Moral of the story: I should've done them when I had the chance! (Which I'm sure is exactly what I will say when I go back to work, haha!)
coconut / 8854 posts
I was just going to post this!!! I loved this video! It brings in perspective that we all just want what's best for our baby!
honeydew / 7622 posts
That music, so bad. I'm not sure what to think of it.
ETA it reminds me of these videos that have been going around lately.
apricot / 347 posts
I think what really bothers me is that this is by similac, more than anything. They actively undermine breastfeeding by giving women samples that say "dont forget to pack it in your hospital bag", putting propaganda in peds offices and their activities in third world countries are unconscionable. So NO, similac, I will not laugh or smile as you make breastfeeding women out to be a bunch of judgemental dairy cows.
pineapple / 12802 posts
I laughed pretty hard when the stroller started to roll..... and then I teared when it was all "we're parents first" .
It was cute and funny, and the message was delivered. I thought. Unless you want to get extremely picky, which only online communities like to do.
GOLD / wonderful olive / 19030 posts
@mrsrugbee: Is it okay for Medela to do the same samples for say nipple cream or nursing pads without being "propaganda?" They are a business who caters to mothers, some of who choose to not nurse, I don't think there is anything wrong with giving samples out in the hospital or "propaganda" in pediatricians office as an alternative to breastfeeding, it is not for everyone.
I'm not aware of their 3rd world activities so I have no comment on that, however the other two points rub me the wrong way as a mom who couldn't nurse and chose to stop pumping and used Similac products.
bananas / 9899 posts
@mrsrugbee: Agreed. I don't like Similac as a company and this did nothing to change my opinion of them.
That said, I like the message of this commercial!
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
You want a piece of this?!?!
Hahaha this was funny! It made fun of everyone 
honeydew / 7091 posts
'Nipple Up Ladies' is my new catch phrase 
Um, now I really want one of those bassinet strollers - that baby was stinkin' adorable
pineapple / 12802 posts
@mrsrugbee: How are women in 3rd world countries going to know there are other options to feed their children? On the internet? Which they have no access to? I also think it's totally smart not only business wise, but in a caring sense, that they would tell mothers to pack it in the diaper bag. It says to me "Hey moms, you know what? we know birth and everything that can go along with it sometimes doesn't go as planned. In case things don't go the way you expect them to, we're here, in your diaper bag, just in case."
apricot / 347 posts
@LuLu Mom: it is when it ends up undermining the milk supply of women who WANT to breastfeed but don't know any better. My issue isn't with FF by choice. Many actions of formula companies are deliberately aimed at inhibiting women's milk supply so that they're FORCED to FF, which is not ok.
apricot / 347 posts
@.twist.: actually, what companiesl like Nestlé have been doing in the 3rd worlds is pretty evil. They put out adds a while back about the praises of FF and give out samples early on. The problem is, the people can't afford t going forward, mother's milk dries up and they end up watering down the formula leading to higher rates of infant malnutrition. Worse, sanitation is not the best, so babies are often given formula with unsterilised water which causes a lot of infections.
GOLD / wonderful olive / 19030 posts
@mrsrugbee: They are a business who offers an alternative, no one in my hospital forced formula down my child without my permission, even in the NICU. There may be some un-educated women out there, but honestly MOST pregnant women know what they want to do in regards to feeding before delivery, I think insinuating that formula companies are "deliberately aimed at inhibiting women's milk supply" is a little extreme. They offer an alternative, it's ultimately up to the mother to decide if they want to use it or not.
pineapple / 12802 posts
@mrsrugbee: ok, well, that isn't cool if it's true. Either way, your comment was instigating. Breastfeeding advocates, companies, all use "propaganda" to promote what they think is best. I can't go anywhere that sells baby stuff, or doctors offices without seeing breast is best shit plastered everywhere. It just adds to all the "wars".
pomegranate / 3565 posts
@mrsrugbee: I say thank you similac for giving me free samples at the hospital and pediatrician's office! Your free samples are not the reason I quit breastfeeding!
grapefruit / 4400 posts
@mrsrugbee: I didn't realize Similac/Abbott Labs were involved with any third-world health controversies. I was aware of what Nestle had done, and the Chinese formula/melamine, but couldn't find anything linking Similac.
I don't consider their ads or placing samples in hospitals as propaganda... isn't it just marketing?
pomegranate / 3314 posts
@mrsrugbee: honestly, with my first I WISH I would have jumped down from my breast feeding high horse to supplement my baby rather than helplessly looking on as she screamed from hunger and lost a significant amount of weight, but I had been told by so many people that formula is terrible and supplementing would destroy my supply. My next is due in April and I plan on taking a more measured approach. If my baby needs formula I will take it and be grateful it is available to me.
grapefruit / 4291 posts
Personally I believe 90% of the "mommy wars" exist solely on the Internet and in marketing. It might just be my experience but I've never witnessed or been a victim of such a thing on real life...
grapefruit / 4400 posts
@blackbird: @Mrs. Jump Rope: http://www.sendrevengeglitter.com/ & http://shipyourenemiesglitter.com/
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
@HabesBabe: a big explosion of glitter is what this video needed. Mommy wars culminating in a big sparkly poof!!!! Yessss
pear / 1998 posts
I feel like I am hyper-sensitive to commercials that seem to exclude fathers so I was happy when I saw the dad group.
But, I wish instead of "welcome to the sisterhood of motherhood" it would have said, "welcome to the fellowship of parenthood" or something like that.
I thought it was a funny/cute commercial.
pear / 1531 posts
I love this ad. It made me tear up!
I am not bothered by the fact that it is from a formula company. At my hospital, the breastfeeding initiative was so strong that my LO lost way too much weight at the beginning. I almost think it was malpractice by the LCs and pedis. His billirubin levels soared. I could have saved him a lot of misery in the beginning if I had just overrode everyone and gave him formula. It's almost as if the pendulum has swung too far in the other direction, at least in some areas and hospitals. Also, when I started working, my son would have starved to death without formula since I had such a dramatic decrease in supply. I am thankful for similac!
pineapple / 12053 posts
Ha. The stroller rolling away bit was a bit much but I appreciate what they're trying to say!
honeydew / 7916 posts
As someone who was told by our doula that formula feeding would kill our baby, I'm fine with Similac. Alimentum is the only formula that works with his allergies so thank goodness we have that option.
And I loved this video so much I had to show DH for the laughs.
grapefruit / 4800 posts
It made me uncomfortable. Seemed like a lot of mean stereotypes that I don't see IRL but made all moms look bitchy.
grapefruit / 4770 posts
Super funny. "Nipple up ladies!"
My OBGYN and hospital are pushing breastfeeding down my throat. I went to the ER last weekend, and the first thing they asked was, "you do plan to breastfeed right?" Huh, I'm five months in the ER! They have the formula will kill you mentality. I don't know how I'm alive today, having grown up exclusively FF by my mom's choice.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
I think the message is spot on, that we all have our "thing" when it comes to parenting but our primal instincts are all the same.
Regarding formula companies, yes, I do agree that it is an issue in the developing world in terms of their marketing strategies.
grapefruit / 4291 posts
@spaniellove: was your doula an arsehole per chance? Nobody needs to be told that!
pineapple / 12526 posts
@dc yoga bee: Im not gonna lie.... Id be finding a new OB and hospital. No matter what you plan to do, no mother needs to be pressured like that. That kind of stuff happened to me and it caused no end of grief.
I thought the ad was funny. Ive seen plenty of that shit in real life and on the internet... of course, I was a military wife so that culture is like a microcosm of every background and belief pushed together and told to play nice. Spoiler: They dont.
pomegranate / 3706 posts
Apparently where I live must be an exception- I have never ever been pressured to breastfeed, or formula feed, by any medical professionals nor any hospital. I've never seen any kind of "breast is best" pamphlets or signage, and formula was available to me if I asked for it, in the hospital and at my pediatrician's office. The only pressure I've ever gotten is from strangers to cover up when NIP, and from my family who wanted me to switch to FF because they were sure that it would help my baby STTN. I think the main battle about it truthfully seems to be mostly online.
pear / 1531 posts
@erinpye: it's likely very regional. In nyc, many hospitals literally keep formula under lock and key like narcotics because Bloomberg made a huge push for breastfeeding a few years back.
persimmon / 1233 posts
@raintreebee: I remember wanting to punch Bloomberg in the face when that campaign was running! Thanks, I've just spent several stressful, ultimately unsuccessful weeks trying to BF and now I get to see a condescending, misleading chart on the subway about all the ways I'm ruining his health because of formula. Argh.
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