Send your breastfeeding photos to me at info (at) mommytoo (dot) com.
Class and Bottlefeeding
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Since I've been talking a lot about bottlefeeding this week I thought I'd feature a few photos of bottlefeeding in 1930s. This is a meeting of the Mothers' Club in Arvin camp for migrant workers, a Farm Security Administration (FSA) camp. The discussion this evening centers on the possibility of buying kerosene oil in large quantities and distributing it cooperatively in camp, to cut costs. Kerosene is used both for cooking and for lighting purposes.
Just judging by how poor the mother with the baby is, she probably had no other choice but to bottlefeed since more than likely she worked.
Then again, this mother looks at least middle class and she's a bottlefeeder, too. Go figure.
Labels: bottlefeeding, breastfeeding history
posted by Jennifer James @ 9:00 AM,
, links to this post
The Convenience Factor: Ready Made Formula
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Since I've become a mom I've noticed that most products geared toward us have some sort of convenience factor built it; something that will save us time, money, or energy or even all three. This is good on some levels and then just annoying on others like that hands-free bottle. Yesterday I received an email press release from Similac that I found quite interesting. (I'm on media lists so it's not unusual for me to receive tons of emails from companies). Similac's latest infant formula products are Similac(R) Advance(R) and Similac(R) Isomil(R) Advance(R) -- in new 8-fluid-ounce Ready To Feed bottles that require no mixing, measuring or preparation. All moms have to do now is apply the nipple. So, in other words moms can just grab a bottle and go like grabbing a bottle of water or juice. Formula is now ready-made.
I have no problem with mothers who bottlefeed, really I don't, because everyone is an adult and can make their own choices. And I also know that in this fast-paced world we live in we all have to manage our time well. I just don't like when companies assume mothers need to skimp on time especially when it comes to their babies.
A few other observations: In my opinion by creating these ready-made bottles, they're trying to make formula just an "convenient" as ready-made breast milk. Plus, what's in that stuff anyway? I know I wouldn't give that to my baby, but that's just me.
Labels: bottlefeeding, just because
posted by Jennifer James @ 7:37 AM,
, links to this post
A Double Dose of Bottlefeeding Rants
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Over the weekend I was shopping at Wal-Mart and was surprised to run into a book I recommend all of the time on MommyToo.com. It's called Your Pregnancy Quick Guide: Women of Color. Although I recommend it I've never actually read it (which is dumb of me) so I picked it up and started reading. Here's the verdict: I absolutely hated their stance on infant feeding. Even though the authors were quick to say breastfeeding is the best way to feed one's baby and listed all its benefits, they were also just as quick to lay out the advantages of bottlefeeding like:- most women of color bottlefeed, so don't feel guilty if you don't breastfeed
- bottlefeeding is easy to learn and never causes discomfort
- formula takes longer to digest so you don't have to feed your baby as often (like feeding your baby is such a chore)
- breastfeeding ties you to your baby
- bottlefeeding will not harm your baby and
- they hyped up the DHA and ARA that's (artificially) found in formula
Also, found this new invention on the Net today. Why do some mothers want to be as far away from their babies as possible and why do new inventions keep fostering the distance? Here is yet another reason why I think breastfeeding is best -- mom just can't detach her breast and say, "Here, darling, go over there and eat." Unbelievable.
This device is called the Podee Baby Bottle--Handsfree Feeding System. This is one of the craziest things I've seen all year. Labels: bottlefeeding
posted by Jennifer James @ 8:46 AM,
, links to this post
