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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

TO TAKE DS TO MCDONALDS OFTEN?

125 replies

BLUESEAPARADISE · 10/02/2018 10:44

AIBU to take my son to McDonalds often?

DS is 9 and has a wide range of health issues and also autism ( he is developmentally 9-18 months) and only eats a handful of things ( Custard, Chicken fillets from the butchers, chicken nuggets ( not from McDonald's) , Completely plain burger buns from McDonald's and walkers salt and vinegar crisps) That is his full diet... we have a dietitian.
( before has gone for days without eating because his " safe" food wasn't available as we were trying to encourage him to try new things )

For a while he has been refusing food and as a result we are all extremely worried as he has lost a lot of weight and we are at the point may have to take him into hospital and there is talk of a possibly feeding tube ( which he won't keep in / cope with well at all)

However today He has shown some interest in eating some burger buns .. AIBU to take him to McDonald's and just buy him a few burger buns to simply try and get him to put weight on and eat something?Sad I feel awful as I know he doesn't have the best diet and burger buns are far from the best but I really don't want him to loose any more weight( he hasn't had anything to eat since Thursday morning) and end up in hospital but I feel bad giving him just a plate of buns!

Please help .. I want to do what's best for him but feel absolutely awful which ever way I do it SadSad

OP posts:
LemonScentedStickyBat · 10/02/2018 10:45

Of course it’s ok. Just do what you need to do

BalloonDinosaur · 10/02/2018 10:46

Firstly, stop beating yourself up about this. You're doing everything you can for your boy.
Secondly, burger buns are better than nothing, if he'll eat them, go for it.

Thanks
IsItSummerYet2018 · 10/02/2018 10:47

Go for it. Something is better than nothing. If it was me and my DS I would without a doubt x hope all goes well

NoWittyNamesAvailable · 10/02/2018 10:48

If thats all he will eat then absoloutely take him. Eating plain burger buns is better than eating nothing at all.

PurpleDaisies · 10/02/2018 10:48

You can buy burger buns from supermarkets (probably much more cheaply).

As the previous poster says, do what you need to do. Hsbc you had any help with tackling the eating issues? It’s really hard. Flowers

Ladyofc42 · 10/02/2018 10:49

100% bring him xxx

Aeroflotgirl · 10/02/2018 10:49

My dd has Asd and I totally get it. Do what you need to do to get food into your ds

HolidayHelpPlease · 10/02/2018 10:49

Do you what you need to do. You are doing an incredible job being such a strong advocate for your son Flowers

LaurieMarlow · 10/02/2018 10:49

If it's going to avoid a trip to hospital yes, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

Nousernameforme · 10/02/2018 10:49

The rules around healthy eating don't count in this case. I have one who is asd and food is very limited as well at one point we we spent a fortune in frankie and bennies as their margheritta pizza and cereal was all he would eat. Get the calories in whatever way you can

Ted27 · 10/02/2018 10:49

I'd take him. A bun is better than nothing at this point.

Very difficult situation to manage, don't be so hard on yourself

RickOShay · 10/02/2018 10:49

Yes!! You are doing the best you can, definitely go.

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 10/02/2018 10:49

My eldest has cystic fibrosis. When he hadn't been eating, sometimes for a fortnight, I gave him whatever he wanted. You're just preventing him from starving at this point.

BeeFarseer · 10/02/2018 10:50

Of course you shouldn't feel bad!

My DS has autism, not as severely as your son, but he had a very restricted diet when he was younger. We ate at McDonalds a lot because it was his safe food.

You're not doing anything wrong AT ALL. You're feeding your child what he's able to eat. Anyone who thinks that's a bad thing doesn't deserve a minute of your time.

birdlover1977 · 10/02/2018 10:50

I would absolutely take him. Good Luck.

CrochetBelle · 10/02/2018 10:51

Jeez YANBU at all. The lad needs to eat, as his parent you are providing something to eat.
My eldest was having issues gaining weight so we regularly went through the drive-thru at McDs just to grab a milkshake Wink

Does he have to eat the buns AT McDonalds or could you contact them to see about buying a load of them in bulk to have at home when the fancy to eat takes him?

Willswife · 10/02/2018 10:53

Do it as often as you need to & don't feel guilty for doing so.

If your son would eat them at home, I'm sure if you explain your situation to the manager they may well let you take some home to have in the freezer.

Queuejumper · 10/02/2018 10:54

Do what you have to do. MaccyDs isn't the work of the devil anyway.

biffyboom · 10/02/2018 10:55

Take him everyday if you want!
It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, he needs to eat. You have a dietician, who cares what anyone else thinks.
You could always go to different branches of McDonald's if you feel the need to Smile

JoandMax · 10/02/2018 10:57

Absolutely give them to him and do not feel bad at all! Anything is better than nothing and ending up in hospital.

My youngest had a feeding tube for a few years and although NT he has numerous issues with foods and textures. He has his list of things he’ll eat and that’s that. He has McDonalds at least once a week, it’s stress free and he enjoys it

PrincessHairyMclary · 10/02/2018 10:58

You could also try emailing McDs sometimes these big companies provide children /people with autism with large supplies of their safe object/ food then you might be able to have them at home.

mumonashoestring · 10/02/2018 10:59

Don't let anyone make you feel bad about it, you're providing him with what he needs. As previous posters have said, the 'normal' rules don't apply.

God, DS is neurotypical (as far as we know) and I feed him whatever he'll eat when he has a cold and his appetite goes wonky; I'd buy him as many burger buns as he wanted if I were in your position.

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 10/02/2018 11:00

Although, won't it get expensive?

Onlyjoinedforthisthread · 10/02/2018 11:00

We try not to give ours junk food and give them a good diet, haven't taken them to McDonald's (but they've been with a friend). But we are incredibly lucky and in your shoes I'd be at McDonald's so much the staff would know my name, you do what is best by your child and if anyone judges you then shove a happy meal up their backside!

WorraLiberty · 10/02/2018 11:00

YANBU OP. You do what you need to do for your child.

But surely your question is "AIBU to feed my child plain burger buns?" in which case the answer is obviously YANBU.

I guess what I'm saying is, this has nothing to do with McDonald's itself as their burger buns won't be any less/more healthy than any other.

Don't get too hung up on the 'fast food' aspect here.

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