Hellobee Boards

First of all, I thought the ad was hilarious! And my LO is currently EBF - as long as things keep going well!

My 2 cents on the breast is best campaigning - I think we all have a selection bias as parents who reach out and are independent and thoughtful about our choices, and have the resources, knowledge and time to do the research. I think the BF campaigns are not aimed at people like us. I have done prenatal care for a lot of underserved women and some teens, and there were plenty of women who had no idea you could pump to keep feeding your baby BM when you went back to work, or that breastfeeding was even something that you do past the first week. There was a lot of under-education in that population (and misguided pushy relatives!) and I think the BF campaigns are more to educate and encourage trying BF first in these populations. Just by having a conversation with some of those ladies I was able to help them BF for longer just by opening their eyes to the possibility!

@MenagerieMama: I'd go out on a limb that my practice, and overall area I live in is very high median income, and educated. They are seriously laying on the guilt with the BF. Nothing at all has been mentioned about formula, no pamphlets nothing. It's all breastfeeding and Cord blood banking! I've done my research, and who knows what I'll end up doing, but it would be nice to hear my practice's opinions on which formula etc, as opposed to "You are breastfeeding right?" That dialogue let me know up front what was up. And that's reflective of several DMV practices I looked at.

@dc yoga bee: I'd tell them it's none of their business.

Does anyone else see anything ironic about a lot of the posts on this thread?

I combo fed, exclusively breastfed, and exclusively formula over the course of a year. I babywore, I used a stroller, I carried a carseat, I had a giant cloth diaper stash that got some use, and I think I've bought and used about a million disposables. You don't have to be all one thing or another. I'm a mom. Period.

I really liked the ad. I don't care if it's from a formula company. The message is about how we are all in this fellowship of parenthood and it shouldn't be a culture war about our choices. Let's focus on that instead of picking it apart because it's (gasp) from a formula company that you may or may not like.

@blackbird: Damn internet.

I thought it was darling, makes fun of everything equally and ends on a positive note and reminds us that what really matters is we love our kids.

@prettylizy: I agree! I think it also is a good reminder that we maybe care so much about these topics sometimes (not that we are actively "mommy war participants") because we care deeply about other kiddos too. And that in the grand scheme of things, these issues are not what is most important.

@jedeve: well done!

Those mamas were some slow runners though. Good thing the papas came from behind.

@Maysprout: i was thinking the same! why are the women so slow?!

@Maysprout: oh totally im sure there are dads out there. But I think the judging is mostly a mommy thing. I don't picture dads in the garage chatting away about their wives breastfeeding and arguing over the benefits of BF vs FF. I'm sure somewhere it happens... But the sanctimommy stuff is much much more obvious. Though,, usually on Internet! I love when dads are very involved with decisions. My hunny shares his opinions but knows I look into things a lot more, so he trusts my lead usually.

@honeybear: lol I didn't even think about that. Was there even any children on the playground!? Yoga in the playground. I mean I guess the walking for excerise I see it as a safe place.

Honestly, I found the ad kind of cheesy. I understand what they were trying to do, but I've seen better acting at high school musicals. And it makes me suspicious that it is produced by a formula company.

There are obviously great reasons why some parents choose formula. It's an important product that has saved the lives of babies in many circumstances. However, I think formula companies should stay out of the mommy wars. I understand they are motivated to make a profit, but I wish they would just stay out of the BF vs formula debate and focus on differentiating their products from other formula makers. Corporate advertising shouldn't be the driving factor behind a mom's decision about how to feed her baby.

Note: I am generally skeptical of advertising. It's not limited to formula companies!

@ElbieKay: I don't think moms are choosing how to feed their baby based on ads on TV. That's pretty... Far fetched. I don't even see those ads often. I think it's usually based on if they want to breastfeed they try that. If they want to FF then they may do their own research to pick the brand they like best, or who their pediatrician recommends. Moms especially first time moms research everything from food to what spoons to use to feed babies for crying out loud. I don't know who would see an ad for similac and choose them based only on that and not their own findings. They have samples at the dr often and it's easier to try those first before buying a bunch yourself.

The commercial doesn't even advertise for similac so it's kind of irrelevant.

@2PeasinaPod: that commercial always gets me. I just ... have something in my eye.

I come on here to comment that this made me tear up and get the pleasure of reading the exact mommy war statements the commercial is trying to avoid.

To anyone who says formula companies use propaganda, I honestly wish I had been given MORE formula information and LESS breast is best and if you don't do it you're lazy and don't care about your baby propaganda while I was pregnant. Maybe if I had my child wouldn't have starved for the first week and wouldn't have had to be rehospitalized because I just can't produce milk- a fact I knew might be an issue but lactation consultant after lactation consultant scoffed at when I reached out. I still, six months later, with a happy healthy and beautiful baby, have guilt that I can't do what's "best" for her. I experience real life judgement every time I buy formula and the back of the can tells me it's inferior to breast milk. I get looks at Costco every other time I buy it. I had a friend stop talking to me because I formula feed- she knows why and still avoids me at all costs. So I may be oversensitive to all this and I recognize that, but I really wish people would lay off similac.

@2PeasinaPod: stahhhhp. I am sitting in my office crying.

@cookiemomster: Sorry you had to deal with that. Don't beat yourself up.

@TemperanceBrennan: @.twist.: @jedeve: @avivoca: I'm not even going to hide it. I cried again when I just watched it!

@cookiemomster: I'm sorry you had to deal with all of that

@cookiemomster: Sending you some love too! My first lost a pound during her first month because I was so scared of formula. She is now 2 and thriving and doing so well, but it still haunts me to know I was starving her I probably spent a whole week crying because I was 'poisoning' her with formula. Now I can't sing its praises enough and wish people would stop making it out to be such a bad thing - it's an incredible gift we have that helps save babies lives