Fussy child

[PercyPigTheSecond]

My friends child is 6. She has asked me to look after him after school one afternoon per week, that's fine. However, he's treated as a little prince at home and as a consequence is very fussy. He refuses to eat anything other than sandwiches, even then they have to have crusts cut off and be white bread

My children have a couple of things they don't like/preferences but on the whole they eat what they are given and we tend to have something hot for dinner, which friends son refuses to eat. So rather than make him go hungry I made him a sandwich.

Aibu to think it's important for children to have varied food and not be too indulged/fussy? He has no Sen, just very precious (and more than happy to bark out orders about what he will/won't eat )

Just because you're minding him for free doesn't mean you get to interfere in what he eats or be judgemental about his parents.

If you don't want to mind him fair enough - just put an end to it.

If you're happy to continue then just give him a sandwich - it's a non-issue. If your children ask why he's having a sandwich just tell them his mum lets him - and they have to have dinner.

At my DS's paid for childcare he sometimes won't eat the dinner and they just give him some toast instead - fine by me - I appreciate them giving him something to keep him going. I just feed him again when we get home in the evening.

I have one (middle) child who was extremely fussy at this age but now largely outgrown it, my other two aren't at all fussy. All raised the same. My middle child would simply not eat certain foods. I'm sure there was a point that I could have starved her in to eating, but as this would have been child cruelty, I did not consider it. My friend's middle child was the same and the Drs advice was give him what he will eat (chicken nuggets, smiley faces and sweet corn) every night. Don't make an issue out of it. He will be fine and he will out grow it. He did. YABU to be so judgmental. I don't judge other parents because I am not them and have never been in their shoes. I think it's highly unlikely they made him fussy because they treat him like he is precious. That is just your take on it, because by chance, your children aren't fussy and you smuggly feel that is down to your good parenting. One day something will come along and burst your bubble and you will realise that children can actually just be different and it isn't always down to good and bad parenting.

Op you are not wrong to question his fussiness

You could drop some hints to the mum about his eating and hopefully she will tell her child to eat what he's given in someone else's home!

Given how late he will be home, it's unreasonable to deliberately serve food you know he won't like, without offering a simple alternative (like toast). I think this would be unacceptable in a paid or unpaid setting.

His eating habits are not something that can be addressed by playing hardball over food one afternoon a week. My son has been fussy for 13 years and being served no-choice school dinners for nine of those years has made no difference whatsoever.

OP, you've had a good illustration of lots of points of view here. I think ultimately it's not your battle to fight but since presumably the kids parents are friends ask them how you can help him eat a more varied diet. You could for example offer a spoonful to snuff, lick or try at each meal.

Also but his parents a copy of Bread and Jam for Frances. Great book about a fussy eating badger.
amzn.to/1XGCkg0

Also you sound very kind!