Sorry if this offends anyone but...... 'plump' nannies?

This is bonkers. I've been a size 24, I'm now a size 16, hoping to get to a size 12 in the next six months and I'm still every bit as lazy as I ever was. It's about the person, not the body size - who'd have thought...?

(Good job I'm not a nanny).

One of our best nannies was overweight. I didn't find it a problem at all and our much older 3 children were wise enough not to mention it. I am actually more interested in the way someone talks to my under 5s, when I had under 5s so the fact she was very clever was much more important than the running around stuff which they do naturally anyway and at nursery school did lots of active things. She took them to swimming and a gym group too.

Yes some people who are too heavy have trouble running around but usually it's not such a problem children are at risk. Lots of over weight people cook very good food for the children in their care. They arep robably also packing in the chocolate biscuits in the evenings etc like most of us who've put on weight from time to time but I never noticed a correlation between larger nannies and bad cooking/food.

A young size 10 nanny may be more unhealthy than a larger woman. Being thin doesn't always rule out a lifestyle of eating junkfood and enjoying sitting on one's bottom, praticularly in younger women.

Oh no, I was not saying that. I am not even sure what a size 18 looks like tbh but I am sure it would not stop me employing someone. I was just pointing out that just because the average size was 16, does not mean 18 is not that fat. It might well be.

alex8 - did you actually read my post? I am a size 16, or just under. And I exercise, too. Point I am making is that if you are a size 16 or more, unless you are solid muscle, chances are that ( like me) you can do with shifting a few pounds or two and that your health would benefit as a result. And no, I think Elizabeth H is nothing to aspire to. Jeez.

Dumblesdor - I agree most of us could lose few pounds, but size 18 is really not that big - as in so big you'd be afraid to employ someone surely?

Sunnyjim are you a bloke looking for a young au pair to have an affair with or what

Message withdrawn

That should read "fat".

Just responding rather pedantically to the last post, not read the whole thread or commenting on anything else therein.

Just because size 16 is the average size, that does not mean that size 18 is not fa, I'm afraid. Maybe the average woman in this country is overweight?

Is size 18 "fat" then?

I thought size 16 is the average women's size now. Size 18 is really not that large!!

I sympathise with sunnyjim - childcare is an emotional and stressful thing and we come on here for support and advice.

For what it is worth; if the nanny makes your child happy and relaxed hire her. They don't have to be olympic athletes; a firm 'come here fred' can do the job if a child races off!

The lady who looks after my baby is probably a size 20 plus and is fab. The only nannies I have heard bad things about (dodgy boyfriends, always sick etc) are by coincidence, skinny young things.

take care x

willow2 marilyn monroe was a size 16 wasn't she? No sure if that was US or UK sizes. But you probably agree with that no talent Elizabeth Hurley that you would rather die than be that big. Fitness is not just about weight. Many rugby players are classifed as obese using the BMI. I am personally fitter some of my skinnier friends who never exercise and I eat a much better diet. I'm sure you would think I am the one who gives my child a massive bar of chocolate every time they then leave school rather than my size 10 neighbour. Some people are not very good at looking below the surface.

I don't think sunnyjim was very sensitive with what she said but i can understand her concerns if this woman is unhealthy. having a 22 month old dd myself i know that they take some keeping up with.
The best way to deal with the whole situation is DON'T HIRE HER

mojo,have you not checked my profile for a photo?!!!

I am writing this as someone who has just struggled to get a pair of size 14 jeans on... and who may well pass out shortly through inability to breathe... but come on girls. A size 16 may well be the British average, but all that means is that the average British woman needs to shift a few pounds or more. As a nation, we are getting bigger, but this can hardly be described as a good thing.

I'm not suggesting we all strive to become a size 0 or that only skinny women are attractive. Tbh, I think lips, tits and hips work pretty darn well on the sexy front. But there's no getting away from the fact that I am overweight and could do with losing a stone or so. And that will apply, I should imagine, to most women who are a size 16 or over - average or not.

smeeinit post a photo of you & I'll let you know, if you're that concerned with what I think !

'I'm talking fat really, size 18+' thanks for defining fat! A size 16 is the UK average. I am a 16/18 and have never been described as fat (well to my face anyway!). I am still as lasy as when i was a size 10 though!

I think her weight is neither here nor there, but if she has difficulty getting off the floor that is a problem. The sugar bowl is also a bit odd. I can't remember the last time I came across a sugar bowl.

SunnyJim, I've just read your long post, and it sounds like she may not be the nanny for you. TBH, if you employ her, I think you'll regret it. From how you've described her, the inactivity etc. I'd have concerns too, frankly.

Talk about walking into a 'ganging up on'....

I've only read half the thread so far, and what has struck me, is that SunnyJim is just concerned that the Nanny is able to keep up with her children adequately.

This can't be a real thread can it? Please someone tell me its a joke. Am sitting reading this a in my comfortable size 20 maternity jeans thinking the world has gone bonkers or is it prg hormones?

If not a joke I think you have been slated enough (but not saying I agree or not) and that TBH I would have thought with your hang ups about food/nutrition and appearances are more likely to cause problems for your DS in the future.

But whatever you do, I do hope you don't employ her one way or another as the poor girl has got a long way to make a good impression now.

As a full time sahm for many years till recently, I've had dealings with a number of other people's nannies over the years.

I don't think the fat ones are any less motivated/well informed than the skinny ones!

In fact the best nanny I ever came across - helped me with games etc at M&T group - was enormous.

Might be a problem for an older child who needs someone more active to keep up.

It might even help your son to enjoy sitting still doing crafts etc. That's an important part of his development, too.