to be annoyed my HV called my dd "Chunky"

[Glolly]

My dd is 2 weeks off her 1st birthday and I took her to the local monthly clinic to be weighed. Our usual HV wasnt there but the one that was said, before even weighing her, "Has she always been this chunky"!!!

She has the most fabulous chubby cheeks and weighs 23lbs so not exactly huge.

AIBU to think this woman was a cheeky mare!

It's a euphemism for 'fat', which sounds worse to most people.

She is a HV so that's sort of her job to notice these things.

I guess some people prefer different words to others; you describe your dd as having chubby cheeks and the HV described her as chunky. Some people would say bonny as an alternative. The word chunky doesn't bother me but I can understand your feelings.

Btw both my dds are gorgeous bundles of chubbiness so I do get various comments about their size. People always comment in some way about babies I guess.

Im pleased with someone calls my dd3 chunky I dont see the problem really

Yeah, i'd be a bit at that. Their job should be to check children's weight falls within the 'normal' peramiters - not make personal remarks! I don't think it's worth getting upset about tbh as she's not your regular hv, but yanbu

Yes I have a big fat roly-poly pudding of a toddler

It is preferable to a skinny and pale looking baby

I wouldn't worry about it TBH. Shes probably kicking herself for saying it without thinking.

When my DS went for his 6 wk check I always remember the GP saying "Hes a ...er...sturdy little chap isn't he?"

I thought it was quite funny as he was obviously trying to be as diplomatic as possible as I'm sure 6 wk post-natal mothers are prone to bursting into tears at less diplomatic statements

Oh my DS2 has been called much worse, he was chunky and cuddley and lovley and it was the HV job to keep an eye on him.

He is 19 months now and just practically perfect in everyway.

I think you need to get used to it, stangers can be much unkinder

MP what a lovely description.

dh has been known to call dd2 porkie (in an affectionate manner and in the privacy of our own home of course. ) - she is 6 months old.

YANBU
HVs know how sensitive parents are about weight, chunky is not a nice word and she should have known better. I really don't have much time for most HVs. They seem to be hugely under qualified to comment on anything.

ok will accept being unreasonable! Should have added it didnt really come across as if she was being rude or judgy. Just me being too sensitive.

I know how lucky I am really as both DS and DD could eat for Scotland and have had no issues with food.

I do love her cheeks by the way and her "chunky" little legs!!!!!

I have had 3 gorgeous chunky monkeys (well the eldest is very slim now but she was a chunky monkey, lol).

It doesn't bother me in the slightest, and i can't quite understand why it would bother you?? Treat it as a compliment

Love the "fabulous chubby cheeks" - sounds just like my dd's

My ds has never had an ounce of chub from the day he was born. He was one of the skinny ones. But he still weighed 23lbs at one year, so your dd is certainly not huge, Glolly.

Some babies are chubby in the cheeks, which often gives the illusion of weight.

All told, I think the HV should drop the 'chunky' comment from her repertoire in future.

dd was chunky - still is to a degree - i much prefer it to the skinny little thing ds is.

my midwife told me once i was well covered.

it was when i had terrible morning sickness early on and was worried about the baby.

she said the baby will take all it needs from you and you are well covered so you will be fine

Hiya. The HV told my sister that her DD was chunky too - but niece is 5 years old and in age 6-7 clothes. The HV put my niece on a healthy diet plan - she does tend to eat junk food all the time.

Don't take offece, it's their job to make comments like that, although your DD doesn't sound overweight.

I would take chunky as a complement for a baby.We call babies "baffy" if they are cuddly and look like they have elasticbands round thier wrists (iyswim).It's how babies should look.Of course if someone refferedto me as chunky I would floor them

23lb is chunky?

sh*t dd2 was 32lb+ at 1year old

actually i did storm out of HV clinic when they wanted to put her on a diet as she was off the weight charts. i made them check her height, ooo surprise surprise she was also off the height charts as well.

is now 5, tall and slim, and on the 98th percentil line for height/weight.

yabu.

Well, I would consider chunky or chubby as a compliment to a baby- though obviously not to an adult or an adolescent. To me it would translate as 'looking like a baby is supposed to'.

I agree it is a compliment. dd was a lovely chunky baby, I think a bit of fat looks better on a baby! I've had skinny ones too, and the chunky ones were especially cuddly.

Totally agree now should have taken it in the context it was meant. As I said looking back she didnt say it in a horrible way.

So hands up I was BU!