Exercising with Your Baby
Author: Angela Heidt
As new mothers, we often find that we don’t have a lot of time to spend getting back into shape. With the caring of our new bundle of joy and other household responsibilities, there just isn’t enough time in the day to get away. So why not combine your exercise, with your baby?
The concept of exercising along with your baby is not a new one, but it certainly has become much more popular in the recent years. There are many classes available that allow you to bring your tot so you can not only benefit from the exercise but you can also bond with your baby. Here are a few ideas:
Stroller-cise
Walking, speed walking, and jogging are all great ways to get into shape, and they are also all things that you can do with a stroller. Get your baby a comfy jogging stroller with rubber wheels so they don’t bounce around too much, and head out on your favorite route around town. If you would rather have some guidance, you can check out your local community calendar to see if there are any groups you can join, or you can even recruit a few friends and make your own group.
Baby & Mom Yoga
Not only is yoga excellent for balancing your mind and spirit, it also tones all those muscles that have gone lax over your pregnancy. Baby and mom yoga classes generally mean you can bring your baby and have them with you when you exercise, and perhaps incorporate them into the routine where possible. The best part is that no one blinks an eye if you have to breastfeed in the middle of class.
Swimming
Most babies just love water, so try to introduce them to the pool as early as possible, and get signed up for some swimming lessons. While this mostly benefits the baby, it does get you moving and is an excellent way to bond. Bring your spouse as well and you can trade off to swim some laps while he takes over.
There are many other types of exercise that you can do with your baby such as bike riding, hiking, or mall walking. All you need is the right frame of mind and the correct equipment and you are on your way to being the fittest mom on the block.
