Moms in Sweden who choose to formula feed their babies instead of breastfeeding them may feel like social outcasts pretty soon, because the country is considering banning babies' images from all baby formula ads.
No more adorable blue-eyed babies on formula cans, no more formula ads in magazines because they'll only be able to be published in medical journals, and going one step further than the ads -- Sweden also may ban giving out formula samples and selling formula at a discounted price.
And as for the containers of formula that do make it into parents' hands? Yeah, there will supposedly be a warning label saying they should not give formula to their baby without the recommendation from a professional. (Wow. It's almost like they think feeding a baby formula is some sort of crime.)
Ok, so I get the whole "breast is the best" thing and I'm sure the lovely folks over in Sweden have the health and well being of their babies in mind -- but going so far as to not even put a picture of a baby on a can of formula to get the point across? (Really?!?)
For the sake of moms around the globe who are either unable to breastfeed or simply choose not to (because it's THEIR decision and nobody else's) -- this just seems so outrageous and unnecessary.
Sadly, it seems like as time goes on, moms who don't breastfeed are "frowned upon," if not flat-out scolded, more often than not. I can still remember the lactation consultant pacing back and forth outside my hospital room after I had my son like some sort of Nazi. And yes, I did breastfeed him at first, but I wound up switching to formula a few weeks after his birth, and guess what? He's perfectly fine. Couldn't be better.
I don't care where in the world you live, a mother should never be made to feel like she's doing something wrong because of how she chooses to nourish her child. And honestly, banning a baby's image from a formula ad or package isn't going to deter moms from making sure their child gets fed. If they want to promote breastfeeding and get more moms on board with it, they're really going about it the wrong way. Making moms feel like bad parents if they don't feed their babies the way the government wants them to isn't going to accomplish a damn thing.
What do you think of babies being banned from these ads?
Image via nerissa's ring/Flickr
This Hot Dad Wants to Do Your Ironing
This Hot Dad Wants to Cook You Dinner
This Hot Dad Cooks AND Does the Dishes
Kanye West is Gay?! 
Comments 64
The only reason this is such an outrage, such a horror over here is because by and large formula feeding is the cultural norm, and people don't want to have it's inadequacies constantly public so that they don't feel bad.
Here's the thing- there's no need to feel bad if you don't have a choice, because clearly you are doing the best that you can. And that's all that anyone asks.
If you make an inferiour health choice for WHATEVER reason ( and I'm sure I'm about to hear a TON) you better be real comfortable with it. Which means that having it pointed out that, *gasp* it's not the best health choice wont faze you. Because if it DOES bother you that much, perhaps you need to reconsider the choice you are making.
It's extremely important for the health of future children that this sort of think that Sweden is doing is put out there. So why can't we get behind it? Because we carry around a lot of mom guilt? So... we should not ensure the best choices for the FUTURE because we would 'feel bad'? That doesn't sound like a good enough reason to me.
I don't think this will help their cause.
I don't see how removing a baby's picture from formula ads or by saying that formula shouldn't be given without recommendation from a professional is seen as "shaming". I breastfed and formula fed both of my children. The first because I had to go back to work and couldn't respond to a pump and the second because of some bad advice from our old pediatrician. I never once felt "ashamed" and neither should any other mom. But, formula is just that -- a scientifically produced "formula" of different ingredients that are designed to mimic (but cannot totally replicate) the benefits and nutritional value of breastmilk. Breastmilk IS what is best, and if you feel like anyone telling you that formula is not as good for your baby as breastmilk is shaming you then the issue is with you.