7 Ways to Work Out When You Have a Toddler
Becoming a mom is like a blessing from heaven. The entire world changes for a woman. The transition from pregnancy to motherhood is a difficult journey. A mother can suffer from mood swings and depression, commonly known as postpartum depression. This condition can worsen if the new mother has gained much weight. The reducing charm of a woman’s beauty can be a real cause of her lack of confidence. At this point, asking the mothers to take out time for a workout can be daunting. The mere thought of leaving their new-born alone can be a guilt trip for the mothers. So how can a mother focus on herself and try to shed some extra kilos gained during the pregnancy?
All moms are busy with their infants during the day, but if they manage their time well, they may end up enjoying a wonderful exercise. Some very efficient exercises may be performed with the infant, suitable for both the mother and the toddler.
These exercises can be done at home within minutes without any need for weights. If you’re a mother, you may simply practice this activity with your kid, which will help you both bond even more deeply. Generally, these exercises should only be done 5-6 weeks after delivering a baby with a doctor’s prescription. But if you had a cesarean, you probably need to be more cautious and contact your doctor for the exercises.
The main agenda behind this workout should be fun while bonding with your kid. This exercise will help you get into shape and allow you to spend quality time with your little one. These exercises must be performed with extreme caution and enthusiasm. A workout is only beneficial if performed vigorously. If you don’t workout for long, you won’t get desired results. No matter how long you work out, the result will be nil if you do not put up your best effort.
Tips before starting workout with toddlers
- You should only do these exercises if your baby is 3-4 months old. Your baby must be capable of holding his head on his own for these exercises.
- While doing these exercises, you will exert a lot of pressure on your back, so to protect it, you must roll your shoulders and draw your navel towards your spine.
If you are really in no mood to hit the gym and leave your toddler at home, below mentioned are the seven engaging exercises that moms can do with their babies without using any equipment.
Exercises that moms can do with babies
1) Baby dancing – If you want to improve your body balance and coordination with good cardio, baby dancing is the best. Put on some music, support your baby’s head with your hand and start it slowly. You can change the intensity of the music to keep your heart rate elevated.
2) Baby curl-ups – This exercise is good for your core muscles and strengthening your lower back. Lie on the floor with your face up, your knees bent, and your feet flat. Place your baby on your tummy near the pubic bone. Hold your baby with the help of your fingers around their torso. Contract your abs and lift your head, neck, and shoulder blades. Exhale the air while curling up. Initially, 15-20 reps can be really effective.
3) Reverse baby curl – Lie on your back, place your baby on your shin and bring your knees towards your chest. Contract your abs and lift your shoulders and head at the same time. Keep playing with your baby while doing the lifts to engage them. 15-20 reps of this exercise are enough, but you can do one more set if you are not a beginner.
4) Baby overhead press – This exercise is good for your upper and middle back. Grab your baby in front of your chest and sit cross-legged with your elbows bent. Extend your arms in the upward direction and lock your elbows. Then take your baby back to the starting position. This will strengthen your triceps, shoulders, biceps, and back.
5) Baby bench press – Lie on your back and knees bent, hold your baby from his torso. Hold your baby firmly and extend your arms, pause for a second and then bring your baby close to your chest. 2-3 sets of 10-12 reps each can do the job.
6) Baby plies – Plies are good for shaping up the quadriceps, hamstrings, and butts. For doing this exercise, place your baby in the front carrier while supporting his head. Spread your legs farther than your hip, and position your feet outside. Press your body downwards by bending your knees, take a pause and push your body upwards. Hold your baby firmly in your hands.
7) Walking lunges- Straighten up your back, keep your head straight. Take a long step, bend your knee at an angle of 90 degrees, get back to your position and repeat with the other leg. This exercise is good for your quadriceps, buttocks, and calves. Make sure to hold your baby nicely as they may get injured in this exercise.
All the exercises are designed to provide a good time slot for you and your baby. You can download any workout application on your mobile to time yourself. Initially, you can start for a shorter duration and then increase your exercise time.
Apart from these exercises, you can play some activities with your partner. At any point in time, if you feel depressed or demotivated, just remember that you are a mom and you are doing a great job. Take care of yourself, eat a healthy diet and stay happy. Even if your kid does not support you while doing the exercises mentioned above, you can simply crawl along with your kids. You can do the planks while imitating your baby. Doing planks is an effective workout that directly affects your abdominal muscles and strengthens your arms. For doing this with your kid, keep your back straight while you move forward. Repeat this for another minute.
This will undoubtedly assist you in having a wonderful time with your child while working out. The gym will never be this much fun again. So, instead of wasting time, why not hit the floor?
