Force feeding toddler

[Scoobapro]

I’m trying to keep this brief as it’s potentially outing.

But….I’m in a group chat with some other mums. We met at a group class when our kids were babies and they are now 2 years old.

She has mentioned how stressed she gets at dinner time and how she forces her son sit and eat everything on his plate before he gets down because she’s spent time cooking it.

Today she said every time he spat a piece of food out she physically shoved it back in his mouth until he ate everything. I’m shocked that she’s admitted to doing that and find that extremely invasive and unnecessary.

Am I unreasonable for considering this to be invasive and a bit cruel? I know it’s frustrating when they don’t eat, but that’s 2 year olds. Surely force feeding them isn’t right?

The reason I’m asking AIBU is the responses in the chat so far are quite supportive of this behaviour and I am shocked by that.

Thank you for the replies.
I will report it with the screen shot of the messages. I have never been in this position before so I wanted to check I’m not over reacting, hence the thread.
Some of the comments here are slightly harsh, I am concerned with trying to do the right thing. Yes, I do feel like I can’t approach her directly but that’s not to say I’m going to sit back and do nothing about it.
I will report it and follow the helpful advice given by most of you.
I understand this is triggering and a sensitive topic so I do appreciate the advice given and I’m sorry to those who have experienced this first hand.
It’s really sad and quite shocking

I do accept that it’s everyone’s responsibility to safeguard children and flag abuse when there is evidence of it.
The guilt has passed becuase this thread is pretty much unanimous in agreeing that reporting is the right thing to do.
Thank you again and I will do exactly that.

I think of my DD who is the same age and I’m lucky if we get a few good mouthfuls at dinner time but I let her be, I wouldn’t dream of making her sit there or put anything in her mouth. It’s just very sad but hopefully this helps a bit.

Yes, I do feel like I can’t approach her directly but that’s not to say I’m going to sit back and do nothing about it

This is cowardly, sorry. And it’s part of the problem; people politely nodding along to abuse so the parents think it’s fine and then maybe more people on the chat will also think it’s not so bad as everyone is agreeing/no one is actively saying “this isn’t ok”.

I wonder if you will continue to make small talk with this person on the chat knowing what she does to her child.

This is wrong and upsetting. I just want to give that baby a cuddle.