exercise with toddlers

auncangco1

Hi there,
Any parents out there have suggestions on how to exercise with little ones around? My husband is away for work a minimum of three days each week and it makes it difficult to find "me" time when I'm responsible for our kids (age 16 months and 3). I don't have a jogging stroller. I don't have a gym membership.

What's working for you?

Thanks.

gel91

Curious to see replies too!

Lacey_Cakes

Hey! I have the same problem with my 9 month old. I usually work out when shes sleeping or i make sure shes fed and changed and let her play with her toys while i do workout videos. Sure she climbs on me and tries to crawl through me but i like to think thats her way of making my workouts more difficult and effective lol

Flab2fitfi

If the weather is nice take them to the park. I burn most of my exercise calories walking plus its a cheap day out and hopefully will also tire them out.

mrsartis1

Hi there,
Any parents out there have suggestions on how to exercise with little ones around? My husband is away for work a minimum of three days each week and it makes it difficult to find "me" time when I'm responsible for our kids (age 16 months and 3). I don't have a jogging stroller. I don't have a gym membership.

What's working for you?

Thanks.

HI there, I do have a toddler of my own and does stroller walking somewhere around the neighborhood atleast 30 mins. I have a copy of 30DS, zumba and other stuff so when my LO naps, I work on it. sometimes he does not take naps so I just play it and we both do it together, yeah he does bother me every now and then but hey some minutes is better than 0 right?

mestop1

Best bet would be to get a jogging stroller. You can probably find a cheap one at a garge sale or second hand store.

Otherwise, snack time and nap time work.

Best of luck.

msudaisy28

Are they on the same nap schedule? I only have one but I used to workout when she was napping. I would do an exercise video in my basement. Also, I walk a lot so on the nights when I was home alone with her I would take a "walk" in my driveway after she had gone to bed while holding the monitor. I probably looked crazy to my neighbors just pacing back and forth up and down my driveway, but it worked for me!

catbyrd

i have that issue when my grandkids are over. They aren't quite as young since they are 5 1/2 and 2 1/2. I have a couple of exercise tapes at hope for walking and what not, so I put it on the easier ones and they exercise with me. Especially my 2 1/2 year old granddaughter. If there are weghts involved, I pick her up and modify the exercise. That way I get to workout and everyone has a blast. Besides, she's much heavier then the weights

Angeleyes_simone

You can do it while they are taking their nap or have them "workout" with you. My two year old son likes to jump around and do pushups with me when i workout and its super cute

jessicajoybanta87

Hi. I have 4 all 6 and under. Do it when they go to bed or get up before they do or at nap time. I have heard people say "have them exercise with you" but I would probably end up accidently kicking one in the face.

kayl3igh88

Dance! Kids dancing games on the wii/xbox. Youtube 'the wiggles' & get up and dance with the kids. Fun music on the stereo.

jcgutierrez

I have three babies, 4,3, and 7 month old. I lost 54 pounds before getting pregnant with my smallest just by doing zumba dvds at home. I would do them at night after the boys( my older two) had gone to sleep. I usually am going to sleep at 12 midnight but it is all worth it!

bulkbrah89

Is it possible to exercise with toddlers? yes, yes it is. The human baby is naturally dumbbell shaped and can be easily maneuvered to perform curls,overhead press,bench and even rowing movements, obviously as your strength increases more babies will be needed, but a baby is a perfect tool for a fitness novice.

RunnerElizabeth

I excercise when my kid is asleep. I'm also enrolled in a parent participation ballet class with my 3 yearold. And I have some yoga and ballet dvds for children we do together.

k8blujay2

Do you have a regular stroller? You can at least walk with a regular stroller. And you can usually find jogging strollers fairly cheap on Craigslist. that's where I got mine.

Otherwise, exercise videos, strength routines I find online. Go to the gym when I don't have to watch the kiddo.

badtastebetty

Kids loved to be picked up and tossed around, they could make excellent devices for a fun strength training routine!! Also, take them to the park - play like a kid.

Boogage

I try to exercise when my 12 month old is having a daytime nap. My 3 year old mostly understands that Mummy needs half hour to work out to 30DS or something similar (which I play on the computer) and usually she'll sit and watch the telly or play. Now I've been doing it for a while I hear less of 'I need the toilet', 'I need a drink', 'turn the tv over I don't want to watch this' as she's learn't that she can occupy herself for just that little while and I exercise in the front room so I'm still with her.

I do sometimes exercise when the baby is up but obviously he doesn't understand that I'm lying on the floor and don't want to play with him and he can make it very challenging lol

Sarahmeridith

my kids (2 and 3) love when I zumba and doing jumping jacks, they will even "exercise" with me.

auncangco1

Is it possible to exercise with toddlers? yes, yes it is. The human baby is naturally dumbbell shaped and can be easily maneuvered to perform curls,overhead press,bench and even rowing movements, obviously as your strength increases more babies will be needed, but a baby is a perfect tool for a fitness novice.

:laugh: Ha! This made me laugh. There will be no additional babies for me!

I should probably clarify. I'm a working mom with a full time job so i get home from pickup up the kids around 5:30-6. They don't go to bed until 9. There are no evening naps. I may have to suck it up and do a video after they go to sleep or before they get up. Sidenote: I am absolutely NOT a morning person and the thought of waking up any earlier makes my eyes twitchy! My preferred method of exercise is running or going to a boxing class, but neither of those is in option right now. Thanks for the tips guys. I will definitely try the walks in the regular stroller and the dancing games. At least they'd get a kick out of it. I'm not sure how kindly they'd take to me bench pressing them, but it's worth a shot

auncangco1

P.S. I decided to do a google search and came up with this! I thought some of you might like to use it too.

http://goworkoutmom.com/2007/10/playtime-workout-for-moms-and-toddlers/

concordancia

Swing your kid like a kettleball. Lift them up, over your head, then down between your legs.

Give them airplane rides over your head.

Lay on your back back with knees bent. Have a toddler stand near your feet. Grab the toddler's hands and pull your knees into your chest until you can place your feet on the toddler's hips. Lift your feet in the air, helping the toddler balance with your hands.

Lay on your side and get a kid to sit on your leg, sidestradle, holding onto your hand. Lift your legs.

Kids usually love these activities and will wait their turn with relative patience.

Play tag with your kids.

Dance with your kids.

Fitness blender has an exercise video for kids that is a couple of games. It kicked my *kitten*.

MistressAella

As crazy as it sounds, I got a great workout in taking the kids to the park! Make sure it's not crowded I did inverted rows on the bar the kids swing on. Step ups on one of the platforms. Lunges of course. I even used my kids to do bench presses. (turning them half way each time of course, their torsos weighed more, lol) To work out at home.... I totally cheat and get up early to squeeze it in.... or if I have to do it later in the day I let them watch My Little Pony while I train. LoL.

k8blujay2

Is it possible to exercise with toddlers? yes, yes it is. The human baby is naturally dumbbell shaped and can be easily maneuvered to perform curls,overhead press,bench and even rowing movements, obviously as your strength increases more babies will be needed, but a baby is a perfect tool for a fitness novice.

:laugh: Ha! This made me laugh. There will be no additional babies for me!

I should probably clarify. I'm a working mom with a full time job so i get home from pickup up the kids around 5:30-6. They don't go to bed until 9. There are no evening naps. I may have to suck it up and do a video after they go to sleep or before they get up. Sidenote: I am absolutely NOT a morning person and the thought of waking up any earlier makes my eyes twitchy! My preferred method of exercise is running or going to a boxing class, but neither of those is in option right now. Thanks for the tips guys. I will definitely try the walks in the regular stroller and the dancing games. At least they'd get a kick out of it. I'm not sure how kindly they'd take to me bench pressing them, but it's worth a shot

In the case of work outside of home moms... I just do it during my lunch break. I will either extend my work day by 30 minutes to go to a zumba class or I will make my way to a park or rec center and do something there for about 30 minutes.

Akimajuktuq

Body weight strength training. Also, there are lots of exercises where the toddlers can be used as gym equipment; they love it because they get your attention and get to "help" and be tossed around.

Edit: It's awesome that some people gave you some specific ways to include your children in your exercise. Exercise should be the same as "play"; ie you move your body and have fun. Kids are naturals for that. Dancing with my child is a major joy in my life. I also take her out into the wilderness which is good exercise and instills great values and appreciation for life (and death).

Phoenixchichima

you can work out with toddlers, even pets, but really you'll find that weights are easier as they dont squirm as much and sometimes the toddlers dont weigh the same so you have different weights on each arm. Squats arent too bad, or lunges, but bench presses & barbell lifts are tough.

briski_2005

i dance with my son (21 months) and go for walks. also, i do insanity so i wait to do that after he goes to bed. makes it easier for everyone.

Phoenixchichima

however they are the "epitome" of resistance training! particularly in the "terrible twos"

bethlaf

wagon jogging stroller, any stroller- bike trailer...

my 3yo twingles like to jog in place with me they think its fun, same with lifting handweights, they think they are so big and strong..
as for tot , make sure you make it a game, theres a video on youtube, baby weight training, might not still be there, dunno, but haveing tot on when doing leg lifts, etc. stretching with the baby

neandermagnon

Is it possible to exercise with toddlers? yes, yes it is. The human baby is naturally dumbbell shaped and can be easily maneuvered to perform curls,overhead press,bench and even rowing movements, obviously as your strength increases more babies will be needed, but a baby is a perfect tool for a fitness novice.

as your strength increases, the baby gets bigger.

my kids love being dumbbells and/or barbells. the oldest will even say she's a barbell and her little sister is a dumbbell. However they're not really heavy enough for a proper workout. My husband makes a good barbell for calf raises though and practicing fireman carries, and it's a goal of mine to do ATG squats using him as a barbell.


On a more serious note... OP you could wait until they're in bed and exercise then. I'm quite fortunate in that I can get other people to watch them e.g. when I do weights (I time my workouts when other people are able to do this), because there's no way I'm risking them being anywhere near me when I'm doing weight lifting. If they're in the house I lock myself in my room so they don't walk in e.g. when I'm just about to fail on a squat or something and have to dump the barbell. (that's when someone else will be in the house keeping an eye, I'd never do that if I'm the only one with them)

Regards cardio - aerobics videos they can try to join in but they tend to get under my feet and I don't want to risk stepping on them or knocking them over. Treadmill - won't use that when they're around either.

Taking the kids to the beach to run around is a good option in the winter, but it's impossible to exercise outdoors where I live (almost tropical, 100% humidity at times)

OnionMomma

Best bet would be to get a jogging stroller. You can probably find a cheap one at a garge sale or second hand store.

Otherwise, snack time and nap time work.

Best of luck.

^^this, try CL as well. This time of year, there will probably be a few listed in your area for sale.

I bought a bike trailer and it doubled as a jogging stroller for time I couldn't get to the gym with our son.

Lunarokra

Workout videos and it inspires her (14mth old) to sit on mom's tummy when it's crunching time lol Adds some weight, I dance and I do squats holding her.