Yep, Disney has joined forces with Similac, to put together pediatric kits to be sent out to OB/GYN offices across america. These kits will of course contain samples of infant formula and baby bottles and coupons and some sort of Disney promotional paraphernalia. Over 2 million of these kits are heading out to mothers leaving the hospital with their new babies.When I read this article I just about had a conniption. I"m not a Disney fan at the best of times, but now that they've joined forces with Similac, I've just discovered a new company to boycott!!!
..... Similac's latest conniving plan to interfere with breastfeeding mothers. I'm so mad.
I strongly suggest that we start a writing campaign to Disney. Unfortunately, after 30 minutes of searching, this is the ONLY way I've been able to discover to contact them in any way: https://register.go.com/disney/corporate/corporatecitizenship/index
In their 2010 Corporate Citizenship Report, on the topic of "Human Rights" Disney says:
In implementing our human rights commitments, we will focus on the following four areas.
- Policy Statement:
Our policy statement is a first step in articulating our commitment. Our priority over the next year is to communicate this policy more widely within the Company and further engage our employees in upholding and implementing it.
- Assessment:
We are enhancing our assessment of potential human rights impacts in targeted areas including our workplace practices, labor conditions in the supply chains making Disney-branded products and our role in promoting the well-being of children. Over the next year, we will refine our assessment process to ensure we are continuing to focus on the areas of greatest importance to our business.
- Implementation:
We seek to identify ways in which we can adopt best practices and new approaches that enable us to enhance human rights considerations.
- Reporting:
We will continue to share our progress in our biennial citizenship report.
I think that we can agree that jumping into bed with Similac pretty much goes
against their "role in promoting the well-being of children".
I think that "Jenn's World" gives a great run down of all that's wrong with this whole mess.
Disney and Similac Team Up to Undermine Breastfeeding for Moms
Reading this, I am absolutely horrified. First of all, the so called “Pediatric Kits” are nothing more than items designed to undermine breastfeeding. These kits are given out with coupons and formula and bottles so that mothers have them within ready access. If something is difficult with breastfeeding and the mom does not have the help they need to breastfeed, these “kits” come in handy. The middle of the night desperation is exactly what the formula companies are banking on.
The partnership idea is particularly gross to me because these companies add something else to the kit – something that is appealing to an even wider group. Breastfeeding mothers who would otherwise refuse the kit, may take it because of cereal, clothing, or Disney coupons or samples (things that have nothing to do with breastfeeding). Once that kit is in the house, the undermining of breastfeeding happens.
Finally, it is clear that this is all revenue driven because the release discusses the money that they are making! These kits are not about helping out new moms, they are about selling a product. The only way to sell formula is if people are not breastfeeding. A way to stop people from breastfeeding is to market formula in sneaky and underhanded ways like giving out “pediatric kits” in hospitals full of formula and coupons to Disney.

This makes me shudder. So many moms I know give up so quick and are only aided by the free samples shipped directly to their homes, I recieved several free samples and gave them to moms in my area who chose not to breast feed for a multitude of reason...I don't agree but it isn't my choice so I will help them save a little desperately needed money buy giving them for free what was sent to me free! But this just makes it worse!
ReplyDeleteI'm so tired of Formula being freely advertised as the best food for infants. Formula should be kept aside for orphans or other situations that truly call for formula. I'm glad it exists for the babies that need it, but it should not be the first thing people think of when thinking of feeding a baby.
It is sad that Disney would so blatenly ignore all the evidence that states breast milk to be the best milk for human babies! I am so greatful that I grew up around women who only breastfed...If you didn't breastfeed then there must have been some HUGE reason not to.
Sorry this post seems so erratically written! I'm just incensed by the pure money marketing with no real care for the true best interests for children. Heart breaking and so maddening!
Thanx for commenting Joyful- rant away!!! You're in good company on this topic ;>P
ReplyDeleteDisney would have done a lot better to team up with Madella or another quality pump company to offer breast pads, coupons for nursing tops and a manual pump. Or maybe pair up with a diaper company (preferably cloth). Those would be much better things to put into a 'pediatric kit' in my oppinion.
ReplyDeleteGuess I should let my child starve, then. After all, I'll be a horrible, lazy mother if I don't breastfeed, though if I do I'll kill my child due to the medication that will pass through my milk.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I support all women that breastfeed, in public and private, but don't demonize those of us that can't and can use some support, as well!
Anonymous, I don't know why you're angry with this article or why you think that it demonizes mother who choose to formula feed- this article has nothing to do with making choices in feeding methods, and doesn't in any way, shape or form "Demonize" mothers who feed their babies formula. This article is based on the confirmed fact that handing out formula samples to new mothers seriously jeopardizes breastfeeding. The End. I suggest that you look deep inside and try to figure out why you are lashing out at a complete stranger on the internet for stating something that is a well studied and confirmed fact.
ReplyDeleteHere's where I'm angry:
ReplyDeleteI"f something is difficult with breastfeeding and the mom does not have the help they need to breastfeed, these “kits” come in handy. The middle of the night desperation is exactly what the formula companies are banking on."
I'm reading in a bit of dismissiveness here for very real situations where women need these kits and the formula. If something is "difficult" is a rather light way to mention some major medical conditions that DO exist. It is not giving any sympathy for those that go through those situations at all.
And NOT handing out formula to new mothers that need help seriously jeopardizes the health of these mothers and children. You are sacrificing one for the other. That's not cool. These kits shouldn't be handed to every mother coming in, but at least have them there if some of us ask for them. Nothing wrong with that.
Disney is the same company that sends free pediatric kits for children with hearing aides and allows breastfeeding in public at all their parks. They're not as evil as they're made out to be.
"The middle of the night desperation is exactly what the formula companies are banking on."
ReplyDeleteEXACTLY. If mom is exhausted and overwhelmed with being a new mother and breastfeeding is not going smoothly, formula companies are thrilled to jump in with a free sample of their product. The reason? because they know that that first bottle starts the slippery slope to full time formula feeding. Hence the reason that these kits need to NOT be given out to mothers who are breastfeeding. WHAT these mothers need is real proper support to establish a good breastfeeding relationship. turning to a bottle when breastfeeding is "difficult' is NOT the answer and will only make breastfeeding even more difficult. Instead of free princess dolls and mickey mouse baby bottles, Disney should donate money to hospitals to hire IBCLCs to support breastfeeding mothers. THAT would help.
Anonymous, unless the mother lives in a very small town without a store or is *really* poor, she's going to be able to get formula. Go to your local Walmart and I bet they have at least a couple hundred cans in stock. It isn't a scarce resource. Heck from what I you could go to WIC and they'll give you formula before your baby is born if you know ahead of time you won't be able to breastfeed.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Dani! Disney sot. Dear Anonymous - you are arguing with someone who already agrees with you. No one is talking about banning formula, just not sending samples to every new mother - as you said:
ReplyDelete"These kits shouldn't be handed to every mother coming in, but at least have them there if some of us ask for them. Nothing wrong with that."
Furthermore, if a mother has been offered breastfeeding support and truly cannot or does not want to brestfeed, then by all means, after trying the 2nd, 3rd and 4th choices on the WHO recommended infant feeing guide - turn to formula.
Formula companies jeopardize family success at breastfeeding by being readily available instead of community support. There's no money in breastfeeding! It's free!
The press release that Jen linked to is no longer there. I read it when it was still up, so know that her quote from it is accurate. However, I'm wondering why it was taken down. I'm hoping that they decided to cancel the partnership (although I'm not optimistic that is the case).
ReplyDeleteI breast fed my second child for the longest amount of time (4 months) but it was easy with her until she decided to reject me...I am a small woman and my breasts are not very large I did not have the funds to buy a suitable pump and after 3 weeks of hand expressing milk to give her(obviously not doing it right) I bruised my breasts and could barely even touch them. I had no choice but to go to the "free" formula I had been stocking up or formula that family had given me(all the same kind) after my breasts healed I was dried up and didn't have enough research to start breastfeeding again and I was terrified so we just kept her on the formula. I have watched disney movies my whole life and my children will do the same. I don't think boycotting them is a decision to take lightly just because of this incident but I do think that they could have partnered with another company something that had to do with helping women with breastfeeding instead of with formula companies. As a breastfeeding and formula feeding Mom I have been on both sides of the fence. I don't agree with how some lactavists act towards formula feeding mothers and I have felt attacked but at the same time I understand which is best for my babies and I also understand how much stress I myself can handle...a happy mom makes a happy baby.
ReplyDeleteI don't think anyone means to make light of serious problems, medical issues or other conditions that make breastfeeding very difficult or impossible. I dedicate many volunteer hours every week helping mothers in a variety of difficult situations. The problem is that a sample of formula is not the solution. If the mother needs to supplement or exclusively formula-feed, for whatever reason, the sample she gets in the hospital isn't going to get her very far. If she can't afford to purchase formula, then she needs to be linked up to a program to help with that,and she needs to be talking to medical professionals who can help her determine the best formula for her baby, or who may be able to help her arrange for donated human milk. And if it is a problem that can be resolved so that she can continue breastfeeding, well, giving formula won't resolve it. In fact, giving a bottle of formula is likely to make things worse, for many breastfeeding challenges. The point is that decisions about feeding a baby should be made based on factual information about possible medical issues, known risks and benefits, etc., and not be influenced by advertising, which is what formula samples are.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, there's almost always an alternative to formula. The 'rejection' you were experiencing was likely a growth spurt and/or a normal part of baby exploring who they are.
ReplyDeleteWhere your support ended, so did your breastfeeding journey. I know, I've been there before.
@Annie- I just realized myself that the original press release has been removed. I question WHY? What are they hiding, or changing?
ReplyDelete