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would anyone really use a particular formula because of advertising?

17 replies

stitch · 23/08/2005 21:34

i used sma with ds1 because it is what the hospital gave him.
i know mom used similac for ds4 for same reason.
all formula's are the same. i know that i wouldnt choose a different one because of advertising if my child was growing steadily on the one i started on in the hospital.
consumers are not that stupid

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beansprout · 23/08/2005 21:36

We can debate it, but advertising clearly works or companies wouldn't spend the money they do on it.

I like to think I am above it as well, but I think it is all a bit more subtle than that!!

JoolsToo · 23/08/2005 21:37

I used SMA cos the hospital used it but dd was a rubbish feeder and then I tasted the stuff myself - yuk.

I used Cow & Gate for the boys - they lapped it up!

waterfalls · 23/08/2005 21:38

If you had to start bottle feeeding after a few weeks though, you would choose one you have seen advertised, who would pick one they have never heard of.

stitch · 23/08/2005 21:38

every formula i have ever tasted was yuk!
didnt have the guts to taste my own breastmilk. seemed like a disgusting idea.

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madmarchhare · 23/08/2005 21:38

The hospital gave me a choice of 3! Cant really say why I chose the one I did as no one I knew did. I dont doubt though that there was some subliminal reason, for this reason I would at least like to make a decision believing I had done so for the right reason IYSWIM.

beansprout · 23/08/2005 21:39

Equally, don't most of us start on Pampers or Huggies? Isn't a bit later when you realise that Sainsbury's own are ok too?!

poglepuss · 23/08/2005 21:41

Newbie here daring an opinion!

I agree, I wouldn't choose formula based on advertising - I would listen to friends for advice, since HV's are next to useless in my experience.

When i switched from BF to FF I started with SMA as it's what I saw the hospital giving mums. However, it was no good for my dd who became v constipated on it. So I did my own research and found a formula that suited her.

Adverts meant nothing to me. I'm well aware this is a massive money making industry, wrong though it seems.

beansprout · 23/08/2005 21:44

But isn't the point of the advertising to make you feel familiar with that particular brand? Then, when you are making that decision, you feel comfortable with the one that is familiar, and hey, if lots of people use it (which is the assumption about a big company running lots of expensive ads) then it must be ok, right?

nannyjo · 23/08/2005 21:46

my choice of formula was by reccomendation. if you are looking then you look at all of them on the shelf.

moozoboozobillynomates · 23/08/2005 21:47

I would buy on price rather than advertising, but that's becuase I am a cheap skate

JulieF · 23/08/2005 21:48

Yes, I chose Cow and Gate because it was awell known brand. I had been brainwashed by the idea that formula was just as good as breastfeeding.

expatinscotland · 23/08/2005 21:49

No. I chose Cow & Gate b/c they offered an organic formula.

Janh · 23/08/2005 21:49

JT, apart from DD1 who had soy I have no idea what brand mine had! How on earth do you remember?

stitch · 23/08/2005 21:52

but beansprout, all formula's in the uk HAVE to conform to certain standards, so they are all ok.
i certainly wouldnt feed my baby a particular formula unless recommended, and would only stick with it if baby was growing well on it.

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Freddiecat · 23/08/2005 22:21

Now I am going to sound like the crappest mother on earth here but yes I would.

Started breastfeeding DS but stopped for various reasons after 10 days. Gave him HIPP first because it was organic. At 4 months he was on SMA Gold for 2 weeks cos we went camping and wanted ready made stuff and that was all we could get. Then at 6 months we went over to Milumil because we saw an advert that said it contained more advanced proteins that were more similar to breast milk. After seeing that we compared the boxes of lots of formulas and went with the Milumil.

To now justify myself, DD is 13 months old and still almost exclusively breast fed.

nutcracker · 23/08/2005 22:27

No

I asked my midwife which one to buy and she said either Cow and Gate or Sma because they were the easiest to get hold off.

I have used most of them now as one was suitable for one but not for another, but i can honestly say that advertising of them wouldn't have swayed me either way.

hunkermunker · 23/08/2005 22:31

It's not just what advertising you see, it's the advertising your midwife and HV see. They're the ones you'll trust, right? They're the ones who are bombarded with it - have a look at the wheel they use to calculate your due date...the one my midwife used was sponsored by SMA...

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