exercise with toddlers

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  • katy_trail
    katy_trail Posts: 1,992 Member
    running stairs throughout the day
  • EmilyEmpowered
    EmilyEmpowered Posts: 650 Member
    I have a four year old and a 3 year old, and I work out WITH my kids. Teaches them good habits, they LOVE it, wears them out, and its "US" time instead of "ME" time. Plus its kinda funny sometimes to see them do the exercises :) Also, my 3 year old looooovvveeessss yoga, and sometimes I am impressed by how much of it she can actually do (I always help her and dont let her do anything too hard, I am a beginner myself anyway so we arent doing any crazy poses in this house lol)
  • happymom2013
    happymom2013 Posts: 39
    Blast some music and dance with your babies!! It gets them tired and you can put them down for a nap and start your video workouts. You might be tired too at that point so use it to relax. Lol :smile:
  • ashharris424
    ashharris424 Posts: 68 Member
    http://fit4mom.com/

    ^ Formerly known as Stroller Strides. They specialize in helping moms find time to get in shape while having children around. Like some of the others said, I would try to find a double jogging stroller second hand. They're usually around $80. If you live in a warmer climate, it's about to be swimming weather. You could put both kids in floats and swim them around the pool in them.
  • fit4lifeUcan2
    fit4lifeUcan2 Posts: 1,458 Member
    when my kids were very little they loved it when I turned up the music and we would dance around the house. We laughed, giggled, tickled, jumped on furniture.. (not me just the kids) and had a blast. I got them to help me clean the house without realizing they were cleaning plus I got my exercise in for the day. Worked up a good sweat in the process. House got clean so it was a win win.

    edit to add that now as teenagers I have no problem getting them to clean the house or their room. I turn on the stereo and we all rock out while we clean. Never get an argument out of my kids. Just turn on their favorite music and get moving. Don't think they ever out grow fun.
  • GiddyupTim
    GiddyupTim Posts: 2,819 Member
    I stayed home with my two boys when they were little. The only thing I go do was wait until I picked my wife up at her work at the end of the day, and then I would get out of the car. She worked about five miles from our house. I would run home, and get there about half an hour after she did.
    That was all I could do, and it was pretty good.
    I know that does not help you much, OP. I guess my point is: Sometimes you get what you get, and you have to make do with what you can, even if it is not ideal.
    I know at the time you don't see it. But you will be surprised how fast this stage in life passes.
  • jessmart83
    jessmart83 Posts: 283 Member
    My 5 year old loves to workout with me you could try Fitness Blender Kids Workout - 25 Minute Fun Workout for Kids at Home
    http://www.fitnessblender.com/v/exercise-detail/Fitness-Blender-Kids-Workout-25-Minute-Fun-Workout-for-Kids-at-Home/er/
    she has a lot of fun with that one :)
  • MrsBozz1
    MrsBozz1 Posts: 248 Member
    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 :wink:

    I understand this, NOT a morning person!!!! (So it is killing me that my beautiful 7month old baby girl has decided that she like to get up at 5am :sad: :yawn: ) anyway Lol I also have a 6yr old, that I homeschooling and a 4 yr old. I try to do a video (Jillain Michael's on You tube) while my daughter is napping, the older boys play or watch movie but a lot of the time I do it after everyone is in bed. Not easy but I am worth it! I know you are tired after they finally go to bed (I feel ya! ) but you are worth it, fight for you! I hope you can find a time that works good for you and your little ones! As they grow it WILL get easier! I wish you the very best! Good luck! :flowerforyou:
  • MinMin97
    MinMin97 Posts: 2,674 Member
    Strangely, gardening is a great way to get exercise with toddlers. They really keep you busy in a garden, and, it is a great learning experience for them. They find it to be gloriously fun. Once I let go of my perfectionist tendencies, and just let the results be imperfect, I realized I was getting a good workout in!
  • amann1976
    amann1976 Posts: 742 Member
    i do tricep extensions using my nieces and nephews and they love it :laugh:
  • rachelklewis3
    rachelklewis3 Posts: 69 Member
    Story of my life! I have a 3 year old, a 10 month old AND I babysit my 5 month old niece. I do not have a jogging stroller or a gym membership either. What has been working for me so far is trying to get up an hour before they do to do a dvd of sorts. On days that doesn't happen- I will do a work out video (usually yoga or dancing) with my 3 y/o- she calls it applesizing and actually likes it! Sometimes I have to pause it here and there but I keep going. I've even had to finish a few times with the baby in my arms! Another thing we do is take walks after dinner. With the baby in the baby carrier (I have a Baby Hawk which has good back support and is for babies 15 lbs. +) I burn more calories! Try to fit it in anyway you can- like squats during nap time. You can do it!
  • cjhamh
    cjhamh Posts: 31 Member
    I find short videos work. I have a 4 and 2 year old and if I have to work out with them around 30DS or a dancing video seems to work the best. They both get involved and have fun plus 30DS is really short. Sometimes they are good and I can do two levels at once and sometimes it is hard just to fit one in, but every minute counts.

    When it is nice out I go for lots of walks. I walk to the park and then run around with them there. Burns lots of calories and everyone is having a good time.
  • Shes1CraftyMama
    Shes1CraftyMama Posts: 152 Member
    My kiddos nap so I workout then or when they go to bed at night. I have good sleepers, but sometimes this doesn't work (like right now). I do a video at home when I can't get out and run. So, right now I am about to put them in front of a new video (hate tv but ah well) and then I will go in the other room and do my vid! There are fantastic ones just on youtube! Good luck!

    I do this often so they know when mommy is working out they go do something else. =) Sometimes they join in, but that can get distracting lol! =)
  • Jesea
    Jesea Posts: 376 Member
    I do Just Dance with my 3year old, run with my 8 year old, and both boys like Xbox Kinnect. One desperate day, I chased my youngest son around the house wearing my HRM for a half hour, he giggled the whole time!
  • caterpillardreams
    caterpillardreams Posts: 476 Member
    At home videos, they start to join in and they mimic you when you are working out. My 4 yr old now does kids yoga and dances with me. My soon to be 2 yr old tries to do pushups, jumping jacks and whatever I try to do, most of the time they run around me and I just make sure not to drop kick them while I do tae bo or something of that nature.
    Sometimes I have to let them know to not get in the way but they are so used to it now they give mami her space.
    Good luck it can be done,
    I just started insanity and the kids are always around.
  • gonnamakeanewaccount
    gonnamakeanewaccount Posts: 642 Member
    Do some workout videos after you put them to bed.
  • CaffeinatedGlitter
    CaffeinatedGlitter Posts: 201 Member
    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

    This exactly, though I will add my 9MO is already walking and tries to do "jumping jacks" by standing next to me and flapping her arms lol so try and get them to do what you're doing. Or even use them as weights! I'll set my girl on my legs while laying on my back and do a kind of reverse crunch lifting her on my legs ^_^
  • carolemorden9
    carolemorden9 Posts: 284 Member
    I work in a daycare with the 2-3 year olds. Yesterday they were so crazy that I had them come over to me and do what I do. They thought running in place was a lot of fun. They enjoyed stretching their arms over their heads too. I just try to move with them to keep me going and burn a little extra. Best advice so far though seems to be to do a workout video after they go to bed at night. If you have a Wii or other game system like that, you could get the Just Dance series and do that with them too.
  • mink63
    mink63 Posts: 35
    When I had my 1st I put her down with toys and if she got fussy I used her a weight! Now I make the 4 year old read to the baby or play with the baby.
  • jgcurry3
    jgcurry3 Posts: 172 Member
    I carry my daughter on my shoulders and do squats, calf raises, lunges. Use her for shoulder press, close chest press, front raises.Put her on the back for push ups, planks. Hold for sit ups, v ups, her favorite is russian twists.
  • Lacey_Cakes
    Lacey_Cakes Posts: 223 Member
    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.

    literally LOLed
  • geoamyk
    geoamyk Posts: 7 Member
    Check out www.FIT4MOM.com ! You bring your babies, toddlers, and kids to class with you. They are entertained by the activities we do, like singing and playing group workout games. The instructors move around parks and it gives you a chance to run or fast pace walk, and also breaks up the time for the kiddos. Most of my daughter's stroller buddies are imitating their moms by doing planks, jumping jacks, squats, and everything they see us doing. Sometimes they even run a little fitness class of their own afterwards, or just play and doing crafts.
  • canadianlbs
    canadianlbs Posts: 5,199 Member
    Lacey_Cakes wrote: »
    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.

    literally LOLed

    the only problem is a) they drool when you're holding them overhead and b) they like eye contact if you're going be flinging them around. so it's really really REALLY hard to keep good form when you're flat on your back and you can see what's coming at you.
  • CattOfTheGarage
    CattOfTheGarage Posts: 2,745 Member
    Walk, walk, walk. They can sleep or watch the world go by. It's better for them than staying in the house, gives them fresh air, stimulation, sets them an early example of being active and outdoors. An hour walking every day will do wonders for your health and happiness and be good for them, too. Why not do this at their usual nap time? Mini me used to happily sleep in the buggy.

    Or a bike and trailer.
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