How do I approach the subject of an overweight mindee?

[TheBreastmilksOnMe]

And do I?

I have a 20mths old girl I care for 3 days a week (same age as my DS) and I have concerns about her weight. She is very heavy, solid, and although the same height as my Ds, weighs much more than him and doesn't fit into the same age clothes.

Her mother and father are on the large side, mother moreso so I expect it's only natural that she may have weight problems too.

How do I go about this? I feel as though I should say something, tactfully, but I don't know how, or even if I should. I feel it's unfair on the little girl and it is easier to sort it out sooner rather than later.

Seems a reasonable concern to me, if you have several children the same age and height and one is really much bigger, then chances are that they are overweight, and that's not a good thing. The OP was only posting for advice after all. Some tubby babies grow out of it once they start becoming active (my dd), and some don't, sadly even really quite young children can be obese. It's much easier to adjust lifestyle slightly when children are very small, no diet required apart from a healthier balance. However it's a very emotive area, and I think you'd have to have a very good relationship to broach it. People get upset enough when the school nurses do their weighing and measuring thing, and they are trained health professionals.

If the parents are overweight then I'm sure they know they are, and they probably know their child is too. I think that if you tackle this subject odds on they will find another CM.

If you give the child exercise and a healthy diet then you are very much helping her and I'm not sure you can achieve any more than this tbh

it is a fact that most parents are overweight and don't take enough exercise, and most kids also don't have enough exercise, but unfortunately pointing this out to people when they already know is not likely to change these behaviours.

I think a lot of these replies are jumping the gun. The OP asked what to do, she didn't say she was going to tackle, lecture or preach. Personally, as the client of a CM, I'd be interested to hear any comments she had on the health of my DC. She's a childcare professional and as such has valuable experience and an objective viewpoint. If I disagree then fine, but the matter has at least been addressed. The issue has been raised and I can seek advice from my HV if I wish. No need for offense.

The op is assuming first of all that the child is an unhealthy weight and will remain so and secondly that the parents are leading and involving her in an unhealthy lifestyle.
She has no insight at all in to these two situations other than that the child is a different size from her own child.

There is a great difference between advocating for a child when you know unsafe or undesirable activity is going on and in issuing directives when all you know is nothing but all you assume is legion!

I am relieved to see the op is keeping her own counsel - long may that last!