Any thoughts on this phrase? Ive witnessed a midwife from the UK who was spanking instead of just tapping the back of an infant to burp him. And then when the infant cried she was literally shaking him on her arms. I found out later the midwife/nurse got fired. For this reason i guess? So im curious about this phrase, how true/common is it, origin and why would anyone handle super sensitive babies like that?

baby shaker? there's an app for that:

I believe it's a US-originated phrase, no doubt because of this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Woodward_case

"Shake me like a British nanny" was a quote also used in Family Guy (said by Stewie of course).

Would just like to point out that Louise Woodward was not a nanny, which in Britain at least means an appropriately qualified childcarer. She was an inexperienced, unqualified au pair. British standards of childcare are as good as anywhere else in the world, don't believe everything you hear on family guy.

I'm sorry, did you read a totally different post and then quote mine by mistake?

Which is why I get concerned about all the requests and adds here for a 'nanny' - which most often turns out to be for unqualified and inexperienced.. and as Louise was - cheap and exploited.

In Britain we say "Shake it like a Romanian nanny"

Your fears are well founded - it is a well known fact that uk nannies (only) are out to kill babies. Steer well clear. Pick a French one or some good looking portugese number, much better reputations.

I am becoming increasingly concerned with some of your posts Adrian. You also told me to go and drown myself recently.

Is there something you need to talk about?

Maybe, but then again, you are not famous for being a knowledgeable nation.

I read a thread with 3 posts and tapped the last one to make my contribution. What is there to get your knickers in twist about?!

To be fair, no-one actually CAN out shake a British nanny.
Must hark back to the colonial days when British babies were far and above the best and you could only hit them with a wooden spoon, and foreign babies, well just shake the living daylights out of it.

I believe the nanny would also shout "That'll learn ya!" whilst shaking vigorously.