These boxes of free Similac keep arriving at my house. The company thinks we had a baby and wants to make sure we know that our lives would be better if we fed that baby their product instead of breast milk.
Shoving this product down the throats of families and their babies is shady. The months after a child is born are full of uncertainty and worry about so many issues, and the company is attempting to capitalize on that worry by basically getting mothers and their babies hooked on their product, which, by the way, costs a pretty penny.
This is the fourth package that has arrived. They’re really going for it with this campaign. It totally reminds me of a crack dealer, or the shady guy in middle school who said he’d give me a bag of marijuana for free, “But after that, I start charging you.”
This article appears in Jul 21-27, 2011.
I had received those too, however it was after I signed up at their site as being pregnant. I’m assuming someone you know may have been pregnant and suggested you to the company and they sent it to you. They don’t normally send stuff unless you have signed up for it. For some people those free samples and coupons can be very helpful.
My first kid had that stuff for a few days at the hospital then at home. Once my wifes breast milk came in, we donated the couple of cases we had left over. My second kid never touched the stuff. It would be nice if all mothers could breastfeed, but not all can so this stuff is needed for them.
You know, those are good points Buster. I guess I’m a bit biased – I used to help teach mothers how to breastfeed when I was a military medic, and part of our training came from the La Leche League. But it’s the sheer volume, case after case after case, that freaks me out.
Donating is good but I was appalled to find out that mothers who indicate they are nursing on surveys are marketed to much more aggressively than mothers who indicate they are using formula. I’m not sure why I was appalled since people who already use formula are a sure thing for formula manufacturers; nursing mothers are the new customers.
The US is one of the only countries that doesn’t follow the WHO Code on marketing of infant formula. FYI – I recently received the financial equivalent of the cases of formula in the form of “checks” which are coupons for $10 off the product. My baby is ten years old.
Jaime – don’t feel like the lone ranger. My baby was 24 the last time I received free fromula in the mail. It’s a great teaching tool. I invite teen moms to taste so they know what they are feeding their babies. Believe me, it makes it easier for me when promoting mother’s milk.
You had a weed dealer in middle school who understood market creation? Savvy!
I signed up, saying that I planned to breastfeed exclusively for a year.
I received 21 cans of powdered formula, one case of ready to feed and $450 in formula checks! They really wanted me to use formula!