Marketing That Annoys Me

A few weeks ago, I received a big envelope from Enfamil. I opened it up to see what it was all about. As soon as I open this oversized envelope, I get smacked with the ingredients of whole milk. I open the other side of the envelope and the ingredients to their Next Step Lipil is shown. In this envelope, there is also a check for $10 to use on this product.

I was annoyed when I finished reading all the information. If I haven't used formula at all, which I guess they wouldn't know, why would I use it now? I have contemplated mixing breast milk with formula because my supply is dwindling. I still have enough milk in the freezer to last me a bit and he'll be one soon. My plan is that once he turns one, I'll start mixing breast milk with regular whole milk.

The reason I'm annoyed is because this is not the first time I get formula shoved down my throat. I have three ready to serve bottles of formula plus one can to mix that I got from the hospital. Now, I have never been tempted to stop nursing and give Will formula. It's not like nursing him has been a piece of cake. He never really liked it. I actually had stopped nursing him for three weeks and gave him pumped milk. Slowly, I restarted nursing him. I've only successfully nursed him twice outdoors. He's very fidgety and gets distracted easily. With the nice weather going on, we've been out a lot on the weekends, which I've basically given him pumped milk. The only time of the day that he will nurse without any problems is first thing in the morning (and even that is beginning to change).

As you can see, nursing has not been a piece of cake for me. Maybe if my determination to nurse him had not completely been there or I had given up because of the hard time he's given me, I would have turned to those bottles of formula sitting in my closet. Listen, I don't have anything against formula. It's an alternative to breast milk and it has tons of vitamins and minerals. I just don't agree with it being shoved into my face and undermining nursing.

So guess what I received in the mail today? A sample of this toddler formula with checks to be used to buy this product. Do you know how freaking pissed I was when I saw this and still am? When I'm thinking of giving regular cow milk, I have to worry about it not being adequate enough for Will. First, you get formula in the hospital just in case you can't nurse. A year later, don't go out buying regular whole milk. There's not enough vitamins. Give your child formula.

What this makes me want to do is continue breastfeeding for another year instead of stopping on his birthday. Breast milk is better than cow's milk or formula. And guess what? It doesn't cost a thing! The can of formula costs around $24 for 24 oz of powder. With the amount of milk Will drinks, this can would last about 9 to 10 days. I would be spending about $75 a month on this! It's insane. Besides, Will takes vitamins. I'm sure he'll be fine with whole milk.