Is this the start of a new series on the benefits of breastfeeding? That would be awesome, Keef! There’s such a stigma, so odd when it’s the most natural, safe, cheap, healthful way to feed a baby.
Huh? Have you got a source for that figure? I *seriously* doubt it’s correct. Formula’s expensive, but I don’t think it’s $1500 a year worth of expensive (especially when you consider that many mothers work during the first year and that means breastfeeding also comes with some expenses – breast pump, milk storage bags).
Dr. Sarah, check out this cool Baby Cost Calculator, it has a modest estimate for formula ($105/mo vs. the $130-150 I’ve seen elsewhere). That’s $1260 for the low priced formula alone. No bottles, sterilizers, etc. If you do the math for a breast pump, with all the trimmings, and nursing bra, pillow, etc. it gives a total of just under $500 (which seems about right in my experience). http://www.babycenter.com/baby-cost-calculator And that doesn’t include the alleged improved health/fewer doc visits/fewer long term health issues of breastfed babies!
I appreciate your effort to draw attention to the stigma on public breastfeeding but I don’t think that your approach is helpful. A price tag of $1500 implies that a woman’s time not breastfeeding is worthless when in fact many women might have to quit jobs, take unpaid leave, stop their community work or their care of relatives in order to be the exclusive meal for a baby. Yes, breastfeeding a baby is important but the real costs are too high for many women so it is definitely not worth it for many. This is an issue which government needs to address by providing real job protection, maternity leave, elderly care and breastfeeding support. Your comments single out mothers as those responsible and in control of saving this money and the baby as entitled to this so-called savings for her college fund. If America were serious about the welfare of its next generation than the whole concept of a college fund would be redundant anyways.
I’ve never understood why so many mothers are encouraged to bottle feed rather than breast feed their children.
What to they think those bumps on their chest are really for?
How do I get permission to repost this cartoon and translate into Chinese for La Leche League China’s upcoming cartoon contest for breastfeeding advocacy?
Uh, Suzanne…I don’t get that from the cartoon AT ALL. He isn’t devaluing a woman’s time breastfeeding their child AT ALL. I see that you attached all of that but I think you’re in the minority…
We don’t spend 105 a month on formula. We spend around 80 max and that’s for the similac spit up which is more expensive. I am all for breastfeeding, but the propaganda makes
FF moms feel horrible, like they’re feeding their children mashed up chicken nuggets. I wish I would have been able to bf, but I lost my supply and was not able to continue. It would be nice to have support from other moms instead of being made to feel like a failure.
And my child has been formula fed since 8 weeks old and we have not had one health problem to date. No extra visits ext. It’s rude to insinuate that because I was unable to breastfeed and have to formula feed, my child will have health problems. The bf propaganda is poison. I agree bf is the best option, but studies have shown it doesn’t guarantee improved health.
Suzanne and Sara, that’s quite a bit to fit into a one-panel comic. I’m sure that when he wrote it, Keef was saying, “But what about Sara’s situation?”. Perhaps it’s coming in the follow-up.
Is that just the cost of formula for a year? Or does it include the reduction in doctors visits/medicine, too?
Your lactating breast zone sign is genius.
I assume you know about Nestle’s relevant abuses in Africa?…
Is this the start of a new series on the benefits of breastfeeding? That would be awesome, Keef! There’s such a stigma, so odd when it’s the most natural, safe, cheap, healthful way to feed a baby.
It’s totally weird. But ain’t that America? A man with tits in public is perfectly fine, but a woman..
I did a series of breast-feeding cartoons for the Knight Life in December. Check ’em out here:
http://www.knightlifecomic.com/2010/12/06/miracle-of-breastfeeding/
THANKS! Love those!
Huh? Have you got a source for that figure? I *seriously* doubt it’s correct. Formula’s expensive, but I don’t think it’s $1500 a year worth of expensive (especially when you consider that many mothers work during the first year and that means breastfeeding also comes with some expenses – breast pump, milk storage bags).
Dr. Sarah, check out this cool Baby Cost Calculator, it has a modest estimate for formula ($105/mo vs. the $130-150 I’ve seen elsewhere). That’s $1260 for the low priced formula alone. No bottles, sterilizers, etc. If you do the math for a breast pump, with all the trimmings, and nursing bra, pillow, etc. it gives a total of just under $500 (which seems about right in my experience). http://www.babycenter.com/baby-cost-calculator And that doesn’t include the alleged improved health/fewer doc visits/fewer long term health issues of breastfed babies!
@ Sarah..
The Surgeon General for one:
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/breastfeeding/factsheet.html
Just do a google search and you’ll find dozens of sources.
I appreciate your effort to draw attention to the stigma on public breastfeeding but I don’t think that your approach is helpful. A price tag of $1500 implies that a woman’s time not breastfeeding is worthless when in fact many women might have to quit jobs, take unpaid leave, stop their community work or their care of relatives in order to be the exclusive meal for a baby. Yes, breastfeeding a baby is important but the real costs are too high for many women so it is definitely not worth it for many. This is an issue which government needs to address by providing real job protection, maternity leave, elderly care and breastfeeding support. Your comments single out mothers as those responsible and in control of saving this money and the baby as entitled to this so-called savings for her college fund. If America were serious about the welfare of its next generation than the whole concept of a college fund would be redundant anyways.
I’ve never understood why so many mothers are encouraged to bottle feed rather than breast feed their children.
What to they think those bumps on their chest are really for?
How do I get permission to repost this cartoon and translate into Chinese for La Leche League China’s upcoming cartoon contest for breastfeeding advocacy?
Ivy,
email me with more details at keef@kchronicles.com!
Uh, Suzanne…I don’t get that from the cartoon AT ALL. He isn’t devaluing a woman’s time breastfeeding their child AT ALL. I see that you attached all of that but I think you’re in the minority…
We don’t spend 105 a month on formula. We spend around 80 max and that’s for the similac spit up which is more expensive. I am all for breastfeeding, but the propaganda makes
FF moms feel horrible, like they’re feeding their children mashed up chicken nuggets. I wish I would have been able to bf, but I lost my supply and was not able to continue. It would be nice to have support from other moms instead of being made to feel like a failure.
And my child has been formula fed since 8 weeks old and we have not had one health problem to date. No extra visits ext. It’s rude to insinuate that because I was unable to breastfeed and have to formula feed, my child will have health problems. The bf propaganda is poison. I agree bf is the best option, but studies have shown it doesn’t guarantee improved health.
Suzanne and Sara, that’s quite a bit to fit into a one-panel comic. I’m sure that when he wrote it, Keef was saying, “But what about Sara’s situation?”. Perhaps it’s coming in the follow-up.