Child who just doesn't eat

[Offtothedogs]

There is a child in my extended family, coming up to 3yo, who doesn't eat. She literally has no interest in food; she just drinks a particular brand of infant formula (not for her age; I think it's for 12-18 months) and is still breastfed at night I think. She was never weaned onto solids; her mother (father not involved) said she was doing baby led weaning but in reality just never offered her food. The grandparents are really concerned and have tried to spark an interest in food, but without the mother's support (and possibly flat-out opposition earlier on) it hasn't worked.

Just how big a concern is this? I don't know at what point to stick my beak in, if at all; mother is not receptive to advice and it's not clear whether she's being defensive or just thinks it will resolve itself in time. Maybe it will for all I know! I don't think there's been any contact with HVs for a long time.
Does anyone have any experience of this, and do you think it's something I should try and get involved in? If so, how? Or is it really fine and none of my business?

Oh wow I have no advice as a first time mum as I started all of this at 6 months old and we do everything and try every food so dc has a positive approach and experience with food but this is concerning.

I feel this is quite neglectful. The child's needs are not being met. Unless there's a medical reason for the child not to be on solids, why on earth would a 3 yr old not be offered food? Laziness, the unknown?! This should have been picked up by a HV ( if they were aware). The child may be undernourished, not develop the skills to feed herself, the muscles in the mouth to develop etc.
I would give a HV a call and express your concerns or equally do an anonymous referral to SS.

I find difficult to believe that a 3 year old doesn’t eat any food at all, does she look malnourished or too small for her age?
I don’t understand the statement “she says she was doing baby led weaning but in reality she was not being offered food”. How do you know if you don’t live with them. How do the grandparents even know if they don’t live with her? Unless she has said she has never given her food herself, you and the grandparents don’t probably know the whole picture.

this happened to my friends child, he wouldn't eat anything other than milk until 5-6 and the HV told my friend to starve him from milk so he would eat food, long story short she didn't and he is totally fine - in fact he's 15 and was not underweight as a young child.