set follow-fork-mode child into the console has no effect. A workaround for this is to create a .gdbinit file that contains
set follow-fork-mode child in the project root folder. In the Eclipse gdb preferences, ensure that this is referenced by the setting for "GDB command file". Note: A more flexible option (as it should ask at each fork) is:
set follow-fork-mode ask. I have not tried this out in Eclipse though, and unfortunately not all gdb command line instructions work in Eclipse. 
