There is a warning on my cartons of soy milk (every brand I can ever
remember purchasing) and I've seen it on bottles of liquid coffee creamer
too: "Not to be used as infant formula." Well upon closer inspection of the
creamer currently in my frig, which is CoffeeMate creamer by Nestle (aaaak!!
I didn't even realize!!), I am surprised to not see that warning, especially
since they missed a great advertising opportunity "Not to be used as infant
formula, but you *can* try the Comfort Proteins and ARA & DHA in our Good
Start Supreme. visit VeryBestBaby.com...." But I know I have seen it on
other brands of liquid coffee creamer, just can't remember which ones. At
Christmas my Silk Nog (dairyless, eggless eggnog-flavored soy drink) even
says "not to be used as infant formula (or infant nog)"
That warning has bothered me for so long and I am considering writing to the
companies who manufacture these products with those warnings. Am I being
overly sensitive here for 1) the implication that some one would feed coffee
creamer to their baby? (okay, soy milk, yes I can see that possibility, but
coffee creamer?!) 2)the implication that infant formula is the normal way to
feed a baby?
Any suggestions from some of the more eloquent, articulate LNers as to a
different way to word that warning? How about "soy milk/coffee creamer is
not a suitable replacment for breastmilk" ?
I'd really rather see "Babies should consume *only* breastmilk for the first
at least 6 months, and soy milk maybe introduced after (suggestions for
appropriate time?) in addition to other complementary foods whenever baby
displays readiness, with cont'd breastfeeding for at least 2 years and
beyond. And cow's milk is for baby cows." Too many words, huh? (So far both
of my older sons were the only ones in their classes drinking breastmilk,
soymilk, and cow's milk... their dad is a big cow-milk man...sigh)
I am truly in the mood to for letter writing. I just wrote a letter (snail
mail and email) to Target corporation, because of this on the box of Target
brand "nursing pads" I just purchased: "When you absolutely have to stay
dry. Avoid embarrassing leaks with these absorbent pads..." and "Wash the
nipple area with clean water before each feeding." I asked what is so
embarrassing about leaking breastmilk? It shouldn't make other people
uncomfortable to see that a woman's body is functioning to feed her child.
It's just doing its job.... and correcting them about the need to wash
nipples before feeding. Especially with "clean" water. I know it's better
than telling women to strip away natural oils by washing with soap....and I
know some women do not have access to clean water, but I doubt those woman
are at Target buying nursing pads, and they might be the same ones mixing
powdered formula with water that is unhealthy in some way.
Like the woman I saw in the bathroom at the zoo last week, pouring a random,
unmeasured scoop of powdered formula into a bottle and filling the bottle
with a random, unmeasured amount of water from the sink faucet, shaking to
mix, and giving it to her baby (to hold himself while he was in the
stroller, instead of holding him for the feeding... I very politely and
respectfully gave her an impromptu inservice on the importance of properly
mixing formula (while holding and nursing my own newborn).
Feeling feisty today,
Vicki Hayes RN IBCLC, Lake Stevens WA, not embarrassed to be leaking all
over the place at this very moment as Lachlan is trying to get my attention
to nurse....
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