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

Type 2 diabetes is not limited to fat people! Also neither are back or knee problems. Someone reliable is needed and fat people are reliable. In fact the fat people I work with are the most reliable and the thin people are less so.

Or needing a knee replacement op and time off, problems with obesity induced diabetes, shortness of breath and all the other health problems that come with letting yourself get to that state.

No. Not least of all the portion sizes and quantity of food she is likely to choose for your child. Her inability to physically keep up and I would want my child exercised every day outside and being active.

Could - which means they work with those issues just as thin people work with those issues.

I wouldn’t. Also I imagine it’s quite difficult for a morbidly obese person to mobilise and they tire easily, that could lead to them initiating much less physical activities/ play, not only not keeping up with.

A nanny needs to be physically able to play and care for kids and keep them safe. Absolutely agreed.

Any candidate who has a disability which does not allow this should be discounted.

OP, reading your question, and your assumptions, you’d already made up your mind? was it necessary for you to guesstimate this candidate had a BMI of 50-60, for you to get your point across? Was it your intention to open the door here some hideous assumptions and fat-prejudices?
So far, based on your assumptions and comments, this person has been accused of gluttony, not able to look after herself, showing bad examples to children for literally existing etc etc etc

Its not nice or necessary.

What does this mean?
I wouldn't employ anyone for a job that they weren't physically able to do properly but I don't understand what you mean by sending a message.

I wouldn’t. With a BMI that high she must have other health issues. That could then lead to time off, sick pay.

Absolutely. But it would be more difficult for them I think.

The way some posters are acting, you'd think this woman was a cast member on My 600lb life

17 stone is large but it's not so abnormally large that she shouldn't be able to walk and move and keep up with a child, ffs.

I wasn't being funny I was being scientifically correct

Not limited but it's factual that the chance of those issues will be massively increased.

This thread has just been a hate thread about obese people, have a word with yourselfs.

That's the main purpose of MN.

And when a thin person suffers with these it doesn't?

100%, disguised as "concern for the child". I put on a fair bit of weight due to medication and it's really depressing to see how badly people viewed me back then.

BMI of 50 to 60 is 17 stone plus a few more stones unless you are exceptionally short!

Big difference between 50 and 60 BMI too.

Ask her questions about whether she feels that she is able to chase the children.
Whether she could make healthy food choices for your children and how she feels about outdoor playgrounds and walks to the park.

If you did hire her, you would be wise to give exact recipes for snacks and light meals for your children and request that she eats similarly healthy meals when eating with them. No soft drinks etc.
You would also be sensible to request that Nanny takes at least an hours walk in the park with the children every morning.

Presumably your prospective Nanny comes with a qualification and good references. If you trust that information and if your questioning goes well, I would give her a three month trial.

Not massively but diabetes doesn't impact on the ability to care for a child nor does back or knee problems. I have a back problem from a nerve injury I work with kids all day and I still do my job. Should I not do my job?

I would hire her

Nope

I know, but 17 stone is hardly at the size where you can't walk or bend, which is what everyone on here seems to be suggesting. I know lots of people of that kind of size, they all work full-time (many in physical roles eg. carers) and don't seem to collapse every time they tie their shoes.

The majority of the hyperbole on here is just disgust for obesity disguised as compassion.

I wouldn’t, I’d hope that the activities would be active as dc gets older and if she’s struggling to get on and off the floor I would worry about that.

They are just saying why the nanny could be unsuitable. Most people wouldn’t employ a nanny that smokes either.

It's easy to dismiss her purely based on size but assuming she has plenty of previous experience, I would potentially hire her (especially if she was the best of the available candidates). I would want to very carefully check her experience and references, including a frank telephone call to previous employers to tactfully sus out if there were any issues. She will know her limitations and will likely be even more mindful than usual to ensure the baby never gets into a situation where athleticism is required to rescue them from danger! Agree with a previous poster that a trial morning is a great idea.