to think that giving a 5.5 month old McDonalds is verging on abuse?

[Partyfops]

So a friend of mine has just posted on FB about their not yet 6 month old baby eating her first McDonalds!! FFS!!!!

This is utterly vile right???

[WillowPeach]

Read the post above. I’m qualified in terms of social worker qualified yes. And I also said that I wouldn’t necessarily call that abuse. However, it would be recorded as a negative occurrence

[reallyreallynow]

And @WillowPeach discouraged for older children....you do know they sell
Happy meals you know aimed at and marketed for children........ don't think social workers hang out outside to write a negative comment!

[WillowPeach]

It’s not ridiculous at all. I do this day in day out. And parents are reminded day in and day out to bring healthy snacks - they wouldn’t be judged for a treat every once in a while. But a regular occurrence would be seen as negative and be recorded on the parenting capacity evaluation sheet.

[WillowPeach]

Sigh, yes I’m aware of that. I said if it were a regular occurrence meaning they brought one say 3 times per week to the contact centre then that would be an issue that is addressed.

[Flowerpot2005]

Wow, who needs enemies when you've friends like this. I'd be furious if a so called friend was interacting with me on social media & then slated my parenting elsewhere.

[Caprisunorange]

You seem to be quite rapidly changing your stance from your first post willow

[Magicmonster]

My daughter used to be under a dietician for oral aversion and when she was 8 months chicken nuggets was one of the things they recommended! Recommended I precook them and carry them round as snacks! They also recommended pancakes with Nutella and peanut butter. I largely ignored the advice and she eats totally normally and healthily 6 months on. But chicken nuggets can be that bad if dietitians are recommending them as suitable for weaning!

[Thesnobbymiddleclassone]

@Caprisunorange I don't live in a rough area but we do have the odd rough one like everywhere.

[EwItsAHooman]

I work in a contact centre that assesses parenting capacity of parents whose children have been removed. I can absolutely say that this would be strongly discouraged for older children, let alone a baby and would merit a negative comment underneath the category of ‘basic care’.

Sure, Jan...

[BrightonGallery7]

A “negative occurrence”? Oh dear.

[WillowPeach]

Sorry Capri, in what way?

I’ve reread the first post I’m not sure what’s changing? I never said it was abuse, I said that a lot of things at the lower level can be considered abuse - I was making a point of people immediately jumping to something as extreme as FGM. Then I said that it would go under basic care on the parenting evaluation form. I never said it was abuse??

[Thesnobbymiddleclassone]

As for saying I hate seeing them in there when they're eating the crap from there then yes!! There is no need for a 5 month old to be eating that. Yes take them along with older children but they don't need to eat it!

[WillowPeach]

What do you mean oh dear? Some of these parents are desperate to get their children returned, so yes if they were feeding them crap every time they had contact it would absolutely be considered negative. It wouldn’t be grounds to keep them removed I’m sure, however it could be a contributory factor eg parent couldn’t do this, this and this.

[BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou]

Today for dinner We have had breaded chicken breast, with chips and baked beans. DS wont eat baked beans but he had ketchup and then some fruit afterwards. This was a Saturday night treat. Should social services be informed because basically we just had a grown up version of nuggets and chips......

[BrightonGallery7]

What a ridiculous euphemism for poor parenting. Clearer?

[sproutsplease]

As I mentioned previously I was a child protection social worker and am currently a CASA as it happens. A week of feeding your DC Macdonalds would be an issue because of the lack of variety in the diet, you would want to check parents understood the basics of nutrition and could manage to provide a range of meals.
A one off contact often used to happen in a MacDonalds and it was never seen as negative, there are only so many options to meet and chat in the dry, fairly cheaply. I have met teenagers there in the past for a quick catch up as part of my work.
I have also taken my DC there, as pp said it isnt helpful to demonise any particular type of food. There are plenty of high fat, high salt foods to be food in posh eateries as well. Social workers are just normal people and their DC eat their too.

[BrightonGallery7]

Call a spade a spade.

[BrightonGallery7]

there

[VerbeenaBeeks]

Da fuq

Appearance of parent? That's me fucked then, I usually look like some bag lady who's been dragged through a hedge backwards
Occasional McDonalds for children in general is not cause for concern,good grief.
I personally used to pack my bag of tricks taking out the kids with those Organix rice cakes or packets of raisins.
Presumably I'd pass. Hopefully. Although raisins are probably thought of as tooth rotters.
"Ah, won't you have some cake? It has cocaine in it! No wait..... raisins."

[WillowPeach]

Sorry buggerall but you’re being dramatic. I’ve never said this. It’s about looking at the whole picture of a family and the parenting. So if parents were neglectful in say basic hygiene, lack of stimulation, emotional warmth, didn’t take them for health treatment then all elements would be taken into account. Kids with poor diets in loving and healthy environments are obviously a separate thing entirely and no, social services should not and would not be involved.

[WillowPeach]

@verbeen

It doesn’t mean attractiveness or level of effort. It’s about if say they’re under the influence of drugs, etc. Whether they’re looking like they’re not taking care of themselves (common for those with poor self esteem and mental health).

[reallyreallynow]

@WillowPeach so how is your high drama post relative to this situation?

You're talking about consistent abuse include lack of nutrition....

But you said that's its discouraged to feed even older children McDonald's, No one is interested in children having the odd fast food!

[WillowPeach]

@sproutsplease

Couldn’t agree more. If it’s a one off occurrence then (once weekly) of course it wouldn’t be an issue (we all deserve a treat!) but if it was constant, multiple times per week then it’s not great is it.

Plus, I feel like people are forgetting the age. A 5 month old baby has no business eating McDonald’s.

[VerbeenaBeeks]

It's one picture uploaded to Facebook. Probably uploaded for comedic affect.
Kid probably gummed one chip, sucked a bit of breadcrumbs off the nugget and promptly flung the rest out of the highchair and onto the floor.
As a one off when out and they thought it would make a funny photo moment.
Then probably got raging guilt at feeding themselves McDs and, went straight home and steamed some broccoli to make up for it.

[WillowPeach]

@reallyreallynow

I’ve said multiple times that a one off treat occurrence is absolutely fine.

I also said that people said things like “well it’s not FGM is it”. No it’s not, but it doesn’t mean it’s ok. And there are a lot of little factors much lower end of the scale that is cause for concern. The odd treat? Fine. Multiple times per week? Junk food at 5 months? Not ok.