Here are my comments on the bottle feeding article:

There doesn't seem to be specific reference to bottle feeding expressed breast milk, which I feel is an important point to make: bottle feeding does not equal formula feeding.

"if your partner is big-chested she may feel uncomfortable feeding in public"??? Are you havin' a laugh? Breastfeeding in public can be done discreetly with nobody noticing, whatever the size of a woman's breasts!

The article mentions that a disadvantage of breastfeeding is that you don't know if your baby is getting enough. I would suggest that if your baby is content, then it's a good sign that they are well-fed. You also don't address the issue of parents 'force feeding' their babies from a bottle. Bottle feeding parents can seem to have the goal of emptying the bottle, whether the baby wants it or not!

My understanding is that until 6 months babies should not be fed anything other than milk. If bottles are used, they'll be in use for more than just the first 6 months.

"Formula is modified cow’s milk so that it is as close as possible to mum’s milk." Breastfeeding is the normal way to feed human babies. Bottle feeding the mum's milk is the second best way. Feeding the baby another mum's milk is the third best way. Processed cow's milk comes in fourth.

It might also be worth mentioning that formula milk is not sterile, and this is another reason to follow the Food Standards Agency advice (rather than the manufacturers' on preparation.

Wow you wouldn't be a mum would you. Why not write to the info address on this site and talk to the people that run it? I don't think anyone is having a laugh about trying to breastfeed in public. My wife couldn't do it very easily. I like to think she is pretty intelligent but she found it hard as did the other "large" chested women in the group we met. If there is a magic course let this site know about it. None of the dads on this site breast feed we just go with what we see and what we are told.When my wife was crying because she felt useless I wasn't laughing. If you can help mums and dads great stuff-POST IT!!!

I would agree this definitely has the whiff of womanhood about it.

My partner went through absolute hell with breastfeeding and was then ostrasised and looked down upon by other mums when her milk dried up and she had to bottle feed our first.

I think the pro breast feeding lobby have far too strong an opinion and keep trying to force it down everybodys throats even though we have got the message that breast is best.

Time to put the rolling pin in the drawer and stop bashing us over the head dear.

As for the article i have just read it again, and dont think it needs a spiel about breast milk in bottles and (yuk) feeding them someone elses. I think the whole point is that the site is balanced and not pro one thing or the other.

Guys,

there is no problem with healthy debate, but lets try not to gang up on someone.

the articles are completley impartial, and try to give both sides of the coin and are written as we see it. As we say breast is best, however there is another side to the coin, and everything is not always as rosey as the pro breast feeding lobby like to make make out. This article was intended to give that flip side and to offer advice if someone does decide to go for formula instead of breast feeding, for whatever reason.

People should not feel like an outsider or a bad mum if they cant breast feed.

I am all for people contributing, and if they feel something is incorect or should be added please let me know by sending an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

I have changed the article to read "Formula is modified cow’s milk so that it is as close as possible to Breast milk."

My partner has large breasts and found breast feeding feeding really difficult. The assistance from breast feeding counsellors varies hugely. A good site and yes it is important to have both sides of a story. The reference to express milk is useful.

It is just good to have a site for dads. I reiterate DADS.There's always knitting monthly if people don't like it here.