Would you hire a morbidly obese Nanny?

[whompingwillo]

I would like to hire someone we’ve met for my 9 month old baby. She’s fab, great with kids, lovely, I have no concerns.

I would estimate her BMI is 50-60 and my husband noticed that it is a struggle for her to get up and down off the floor and he is worried that if baby was in danger she may struggle.

So what would you do? Do you think that weight could impact a job like this? I’m sure people of this weight have their own children and are safe to look after them?

YABU - morbid obesity could impact her ability to do this job

YANBU - she’ll be fine

OK, you have probably been here longer than me, I haven't noticed that many threads about obesity....though I did just start one myself, about an actual court case involving obesity.

Of course back and knee issues will impact caring for a child 🥴

It's ways different to be a parent and be a nanny.

There was one this morning about a fat husband. I'd say there's normally 2-3 a week where people goad or post about how awful their fat relative is.

Why is this unlikely to you?

But you said she hadn't consented to it. I doubt hardly anyone consents to posts about them. But it's anonymous so very unlikely anyone would know who it's about

It's still incredibly unpleasant.

But surely a morbidly obese person can't be as quick and nimble as someone of a healthy weight. If this nanny struggled to get up off the floor then she's not likely going to be quick and mobile.

It's not being judgemental. It's questioning if someone would be capable of doing a job. If someone struggles to get up off the floor for whatever reason then they aren't suitable for a nanny role to a toddler

You could get help to understand what's going on for you here.

Disgust is a very strong word to use, so I agree with you.

Any unpleasant comments about gluttony just report.

The majority of comments have politely pointed out that to have a morbidly obese person to provide child care is not a good idea. It is a fact that they will have reduced energy levels and be prone to sickness due to all the strain on their joints etc.

5'3" is 1.6 metres. A BMI of 50 at that height corresponds to 128kg (501.61.6) which is 20 stone (128 * 2.2 = 280lbs). BMI 60 would therefore be 24 stone. 🙏

@biscuitsandbooks

But according to this thread, one of the "issues" is that they can't get up off the floor - surely overweight teachers do that every single day?
Maybe some obese teachers can get up off the floor easily but this nanny struggled. It's really not relevant what other people can or can't do. It's relevant the person applying for the job can or can't do.

I bet if it was a skinny person who struggled to get up off the floor (like many do) nobody would be making snide comments.

It's not a fact at all, it's an assumption. Lots of skinny people are unfit, or have joint issues, or take lots of sick days.

No it's actually 48, so not that far off 50. No one is saying that health problems are not an issue, i'm lucky i'm 45 in a few days and don't have any health issues because of my weight. My Dr agrees my diet is healthy and i'm unlucky that even on a calorie controlled diet I can't shift any weight, it's probably due to hormones she says, I walk around 5miles a day too.
Just because you are morbidly obese that doesn't mean you will get health problems and it doesn't mean you can't do your job properly which many people on this thread including you are saying. Especially since so many people are no overweight and obese, it's just an excuse to slag off fat people.

A roughly equivalent question would be: Would you employ a nanny who is in a wheelchair? Because if something were to require rapid physical intervention, the ability of the two would probably be roughly similar. For a small baby this might not be a huge problem, but for a toddler you probably want someone who can leap across the kitchen pretty quickly.

Being morbidly obese at the BMI 50 level is a disability, and sadly, not all disabilities are compatible with every job.

OP stated that her husband noticed that the nanny struggled to get up and down off the floor.
So, this isn’t “nasty” “trolls” speculating about the nanny. This is a fact.

I absolutely would not hire her to look after my child

Yep, the poor child having a capable fat person in their care. Maybe people think you can catch the fat, or that you'll be force feeding them junk all day every day. Who knows. It's sickening that fat people are so hated especially on here.

Hope your kid never turns out to be a massive fatty op

We had an au pair who was 25 kg overweight. No problem. She managed swimming, cycling, running and playing on the floor without any problems.
She cooked excellently. We chose her because she could speak Scandinavian with the children.

Extreme overweight would be a no thanks.
It will be a challenge with active children.

One of the best nursery workers my daughter ever had who became a nanny was morbidly obese. She had lipodema and was disproportionately heavy on the bottom half but it never stopped her being able to look after the kids or having to run around after them. She was up and down on the floor like everyone else and the kids loved her.

you give the best person the job not the best body.

You could have always paid for child care like other parents if your mum was such a horrible person she's forced her fatness and sweet tooth on your child?

Does PND stop you paying for childcare?

Your YANBU and YABU should be switched around.