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

Wow thanks so much for all the responses I hadn’t really thought about when she starts running around!

As someone who is that size. No, I wouldn't hire her.for all the reasons above.

BMI aside, it's more about what you've seen. If she seems to struggle to walk, get up and down easily, play with an active toddler for prolonged periods etc then that's the problem. Not the BMI or the weight itself. I wouldn't care what her BMI was but I would care that she was active enough to keep up with a small child. If she doesn't seem to have that level of fitness then I wouldn't hire her. But if she seems able to do those things I wouldn't care about her weight on a scale.

I had a runaway toddler and had to do couch to 5k to keep up with him. I can laugh about it now but he was a Houdini who could get out of reins and buggy harnesses. I had 10 months of having to travel in the back of the car to stop him climbing out of his restraints. We run together now and it’s lovely but there were times where I was genuinely terrified by him.

Obviously I have no idea how much she weighs but yes this would probably be about right.

I wouldn't.
Would she be able to react quickly enough in an emergency? Say a child about to fall or was choking, probably not

Also my children are absolutely feral, they don't stop from the moment they wake up, even I struggle to keep up sometimes

I know a nanny who is overweight. And she's brilliant plenty of energy.

This is so sad but there would seem to be real h&s issues with her being able to keep up with a toddler.It's a cruel world and I always remember as a child how I was bullied about my mother being obese.This thread opens up so many discussion points around the use of obesity drugs etc, it's very thought provoking.

No - a nanny needs to be active.

Jesus wept 🙄

As someone with a BMI of 40 I wouldn't hire her - it's far more effortful to pick up toys, bend over, get up off a chair or the floor etc than it should be. Let alone running round the park, after a scooter, learning to bike. I'd be great at crafts though but you do need a mix.

My friend is very weight. We are both nannies. She is absolutely wonderful at her job. She cooks healthy food. She walks every where and can easily chase after a toddler in a crisis. She is honestly one of the best nannies I know and you must hire the person who fits your family best and who you are the most confident and comfortable with. Perhaps a trial morning at the park see how she responds etc

We did. We regretted it. Had concerns but couldn't find anyone better. didn't last long.

Thanks this is a great idea

As a larger person myself, who would normally advocate for fairness, I’m inclined to agree with the other posters.

im sure she’s lovely and great with children, but maybe her answer is to work in a nursery where children are less able to run off or out of the room , and other staff about if they do.

if I was paying a nanny , I would want them actively playing and running around.

I also think the poster who said 17 -20 stone is way underestimating if you think her bmiis up to 60

however the weight itself is irrelevant, it’s more of a fitness/ physical aspect

Not in a million years. If she can't look after herself, then she won't be able to look after the children.

No I wouldn’t.
But you obviously can’t and won’t give the honest reason that she’s too far.
So you’ll lie and give a different narrative.

There’s a lot of claptrap these days about people asking others not to judge them, trying to criminalise it as an offence to judge them and that the world should acknowledge and accommodate their needs.
So everyone nods and says ok I won’t judge you, I didn’t even notice you were fat actually until you mentioned it…
But everyone still judges.
This thread, under the blanket of poster anonymity, proves the point perfectly 100%.

So many judgemental people here. Guess no one with a BMI over 40 should be allowed to have children since they are such a safeguarding risk and will have a heart attack or stroke while looking after their own children.

Look after your own kids @whompingwillo

My DH is morbidly obese, he's a lovely kind guy and a good dad. But he can't get up and down off the floor, had never run and played ball with the kids and when they were young he was so exhausted by them. I wouldn't employ someone who couldn't do those things.

I was a nanny and I am classed as morbidly obese (size 18), but I am easily able to get up and down off the floor and run around the park with a ball (not for too long lol).

But my main concern is that I have had to run after children who have pulled out of my hand and gone towards the road. If I hadn't caught them fast enough, it could have been tragic.

Personally, if she is struggling with basic things, then she just won't be active enough to provide enrichment and safety and it is likely she will prioritise activities where she can sit.

How do you know she isn't tackling her obesity? She may have signed up for Mounjaro injections, Slimming World or a VLCD plan. Her obesity might be related to treatment for a health issue.

I work in the NHS with some overweight care staff, and they are the most compassionate and loving people you could hope to meet. Their weight does not affect their ability to do their job, and most of them are actively trying to reduce weight and follow a healthy lifestyle.

Don't write off a potentially brilliant nanny because she's fat.

I wouldn't have a problem employing a nanny who was overweight but if I felt that the person wasn't fit and energetic enough to keep the child safe and do active things with them I wouldn't employ them because it wouldn't be in the child's best interests.

No I wouldn't. I'd feel bad that she ticked every other box and the only issue was her weight. But children's safety comes first. I'm with your husband on this one.