Sir, The National Childbirth Trust charity is not berating Jordan for bottle-feeding her baby (“Baby milk company is accused of breaching advertising ban”, August 7). Far from it. We fully support and respect her choice (as with any mother) on how she feeds her baby – whether she breast-feeds or bottle-feeds.

The NCT is concerned, however, with the underhand tactics that some bottle-milk manufacturers are using to continue advertising their products, especially since they are illegal. This is why we believe, along with Save the Children UK and Unicef, that if the current law were strengthened and loopholes closed by adopting the WHO code, this type of advertising would be stopped.

We believe that all parents have a right to receive reliable and impartial information, through a range of health and support services, on the different methods of feeding, and that it is free from the commercial pressures of advertising. Information should be clear, accurate and based on evidence only, so parents can make informed decisions on how they feed their baby. Advertising is neither impartial nor information – it is persuasion.

BELINDA PHIPPS, Chief Executive National Childbirth Trust

Sir, Under current legislation, first-stage baby milk is legally and widely promoted to midwives, health visitors and paediatricians. As very few receive adequate training in breast-feeding support, the majority are likely to assume that giving formula is both necessary and safe when breast milk supply seems low.

In fact, formula is the fourth best choice of supplement; second choice is mother’s own expressed milk, and the third is donated, heat-treated human milk. But until milk banks are given the same priority and funding as blood banks, the latter option will not be available for full-term babies.

ALISON BLENKINSOP, Aldershot

Sir, As an adoptive mother of the late 1960s I obviously had no alternative but to feed my sons with formula milk. They loved their bottles and experienced none of the infections or asthma mentioned by Liz Hawker (letter, August 9) and rarely needed the attentions of a doctor as they grew up. They thrived physically and mentally.

Emotional bonding was easily achieved by holding them close to the breast when feeding them, singing and “cooing” to them at the same time. A bonus was the bonding with their father, who shared in the bottle feeding. Our sons have become splendid adults.

Women who cannot breast-feed for one reason or another should not be made to feel guilty. Of course, “breast is best” but sometimes in life second best can be just as successful.

JANET RAYNER, Crawley Down, W Sussex

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