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WOMEN'S & CHILDREN'S | Family Maternity Center | Pregnancy Resource Center | Pregnancy Library | Exercise | Baby: Your new exercise partner
Baby: Your new exercise partner
If you wait until you have a free hour before you get your workout in, you may be waiting a long time. If you haven't already figured it out, life is easier with a newborn when you learn, within reason, to continue with life as usual and simply bring baby along.
How to apply this philosophy to exercising with baby:
- Look for postpartum mom-baby exercise classes. Some postpartum classes are specifically designed to have baby with you. Not that baby works out, too. Rather, movements and activities take into account a newborn's presence, lying on a blanket or cradled in a carrier, next to you while you stretch and tone. And you'll get no raised eyebrows if you stop to nurse, change a diaper, or play peek-a-boo.
- Put that stroller to work. Walking is an ideal postpartum form of exercise, and you can do it just as easily while pushing a stroller. Be sure your stroller's push bar is high enough for you to maintain a straight back and a healthy stride while pushing (extenders are available for some models). Pair-up with another new mom for regular walks.
- Take short walks with a front-pack. A sling or front-pack with neck support allows you to take baby on walks as well.
- Put that baby-jogger to work. Three-wheeled strollers designed for jogging work great on paved paths, and most babies seem to find the whole experience tolerable, if not pleasurable. These strollers also work well, at a walking pace, on relatively smooth unpaved paths.
- Skiing. There are sleds designed specifically for taking baby along on cross-country ski outings. Don't attempt it unless you are a skilled skier, you dress baby very warmly (remember, she's not getting a workout like you are), and you're flexible enough to turn back if conditions, or baby's mood, goes sour.
More options at 6 months
As baby grows, you'll have even more options for exercising together - but not before then.
- Cycling. It's unsafe (and illegal, in some states) for baby to ride in a bicycle seat or trailer without wearing a helmet. Don't put a helmet on baby until she has enough neck strength to handle it (about 6 months).
- Hiking. Were you fortunate enough to receive a baby backpack as a shower gift? Many babies enjoy the rhythmic motion and changing scenery of hiking on your back. Again, you need to wait until baby can hold his head up before carrying him in a backpack. You don't need all the bells and whistles, but better-quality backpacks have more storage for necessities and are more comfortable for baby and parent.
- Swimming. Baby-and-me swim classes can be a fun change of pace for baby and her mom or dad. The YMCA allows babies as young as 6 months to take part. These classes are paced to baby's interest level, however, and won't give you much of a workout.
Date last reviewed: October 2002.
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