<<There are two pre-conditions for bottle-feeding; formula has to be
both easily accessible and socially acceptable.  It seems to me that
giving free formula fulfils both those criteria.>>

Pamela, I agree with this.  But the fact is, formula feeding (for now) is the 
only accepted way to feed a baby in some social groups.  Using Sam’s analogy 
in her comment about peer pressure, many teen moms would no sooner feed 
their babies at their breast than many middle-class moms would give their 
babies a bottle of soda at a play group.  True, this ideology may be 
perpetuated by free formula handouts, so it should only be done with great 
prudence and much education.  But this free handout buys some babies a few 
days of adequate nutrition at the end of the month.  I knew parents who put 
diluted milk, diluted formula, or even reconstituted coffee creamer in the 
baby’s bottle to make do until payday.  


Not only does it buy some nutrition for babies, it buys them some expert 
healthcare.  In this discussion, someone else said:
<<Free formula cannot replace the sort of supportive,  caring and
educational help with parenting the inadequate and the clueless need,
anyway...if someone is really giving their baby fizzy pop (UK word
for US soda) in a bottle, then they need a lot more than free
formula.>>
The organization for which I used to work was a charitable one, and moms’ 
participation was optional.  Some moms I visited had mental or physical 
challenges, most had social challenges of varying severities, most also lived in 
poverty.  Many saw a home visiting nurse as an intrusion and also a threat to 
them being allowed to keep their children.  So, free baby items kept us coming 
back and bought us some credibility with the very wary moms, so that we 
could provide the caring and educational help they needed.  Gifts of diapers or 
clothing are the most appropriate, but when infant safety was an issue, 
formula is a necessary alternative.

Julie Conaway, RN, BSN, IBCLC
Rolla, MO USA

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome