We support moms who continue or start an exercise routine once their babies are on board, but fitness influencer Krissy Cela (@krissycela) is facing accusations of putting her baby at risk during one of her workouts.
The entrepreneur and co-founder and creative director of the companies @oneractive and @evolveyou often posts workout videos from her home gym, but one recent post caught Redditors’ eye because of the special guest appearance in the video:
Cera posted a story showcasing her mid-squat sesh while her infant sat perched on the floor directly underneath the bar.
As many Redditors pointed out, even experienced lifters can have accidents happen, so having a baby anywhere near a loaded weight bar — especially a free bar not connected to a Smith machine — is a risk many don’t see worth taking.
“Lmao I’ve f***ed up re-racking much less weight than that and had the bar end up sideways or on the ground,” wrote one Redditor. “Why anyone would willingly have 100+ lbs over their child’s head for no good reason is beyond me.”
As a mom who loves weightlifting, I can attest that I would never willingly squat with my baby or child anywhere near me, simply because accidents can happen. Kids can grab weights, climb up equipment (or your leg), or you can get careless and forget to secure the weights.
That being said, the picture may have been staged, or just a split second before her partner or another caregiver whisked the baby away.
However, the fact that the baby is directly on the floor underneath the squat bar and appears too young to really move independently caused the most concern.
As a fitness app owner, the mom of one is very devoted to leading an active lifestyle and worked out throughout her entire pregnancy.
Regardless of her passion and dedication to fitness, many people called her out for not prioritizing her child’s safety over her workout.
“I wouldn’t allow my child IN the weight room, let alone directly under a loaded unracked barbell. This is negligent!” wrote one Redditor.
Others implied that the influencer has childcare, so the photo was also an unnecessary risk.
“I don’t really understand why she presents herself as someone who’s constantly struggling to juggle Arlo and working out, especially when she has a nanny and her MIL helping with the baby,” the original poster wrote. “There is really no need to take risks with your child just to make a point.”
Cera has not responded to the backlash, but does appear to be proud of her post-baby body.
The new mom has also addressed the amount of mom shaming she has received and shared that she has struggled with postpartum depression, so working out is an important part of her overall health and wellness.
“Having my first baby was a blessing but equally led to a lot of post partum depression, anxiety and pressure,” she admitted in an Instagram post, adding:
“Being a mum and a founder has not been easy tbh maternity leave wasn’t an option and let’s not get into how much judgment I’ve faced, btw who even normalised mum shaming? Are we not bored of that’s yet?”
“I’m choosing to block the noise, focus on growing this beautiful business and continue to make product that make women feel STRONG.”
