'It's a struggle': Mum's controversial nanny concern has parents divided

"Sounds harsh, but I wouldn't hire her."

A mum has sparked debate after questioning whether a nanny she thinks is“morbidly obese” is physically fit enough to care for her nine-month-old baby.

“She’s fab, great with kids, lovely. I have no concerns,” she begins not entirely truthfully in an advice-seeking post.

However, her husband has a different opinion. 

“My husband noticed that it is a struggle for her to get up and down off the floor. He is worried that if the baby was in danger, she may struggle."

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"Could her weight impact the job?"

The mum gave further context for her question.

“I would estimate her BMI is 50-60," she claimed, without any mention of her qualifications to make the guess.

"What would you do? Do you think that weight could impact a job like this?” 

She reasoned that many parents of the same size care for their own children, but still wondered whether it should be a concern when paying for a professional service.

Responses to her post were mixed, with some agreeing and others calling her out for body-shaming.

“Sounds harsh, but no I wouldn’t,”  one commenter admitted, while another agreed, saying, "That would be a flat no from me. As soon as your baby becomes a quick moving toddler she is going to struggle to keep up and this presents a safety problem."

The this person shared, “I know a nanny who is overweight. She's brilliant and has plenty of energy.” 

“I wouldn't care what her BMI was, but I would care that she was active enough to keep up with a small child,” a third reasoned. 

Others encouraged the mum to look beyond weight and assess ability instead, such as this person, who wrote:

"My friend is very overweight. We are both nannies. She is absolutely wonderful at her job. She cooks healthy food, walks everywhere, and can easily chase after a toddler in a crisis.

"She is honestly one of the best nannies I know… Perhaps a trial morning at the park to see how she responds?” 

Image: iStock

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"Childcare is about connection" 

Kidspot reached out to The Australian Nanny Association to ask whether weight is a relevant factor in determining a nanny’s suitability for a role.

A spokesperson responded: 

“The Australian Nanny Association does not believe this concern represents the norm in her requirements or concerns. Nannies of all shapes and sizes work across Australia, providing exceptional care to children every day.

"There are no fitness or body size requirements for nannies because childcare is about connection, responsibility, and professionalism—not appearance. 

"As an association, we do not discriminate based on body size and strongly oppose any bias suggesting that a person’s weight impacts their ability to care for children. Families should focus on a nanny’s skills, experience, professional references and ability to create a safe, nurturing environment rather than outdated and discriminatory stereotypes.” 

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Danni Rowlands, Head of Prevention at The Butterfly Foundation, offered guidance on what parents should remember when determining a childminder’s fitness level. 

"It's important to recognise that health exists in a variety of sizes, shapes and weights, and that someone’s abilities, capabilities and function are not to be assumed based on their weight or appearance.

“Commenting or making assessments on a person’s body size or weight is not appropriate or helpful, in life or in employment situations and can have long-lasting negative impacts on that individual.

"If a person isn’t a good ‘fit’ for your family, that’s ok, but it shouldn’t be based on how they look or how much they weigh."

For support with eating disorders or body image concerns, call Butterfly National Helpline on 1800 ED HOPE (1800 33 4673) or visit www.butterfly.org.au to chat online or email, 7 days a week, 8am-midnight (AEST/AEDT). 

Originally published as 'It's a struggle': Mum's controversial nanny concern has parents divided