Help! Working out when kids won't let you...

some gyms have child care. I placed my youngest in the babysitting room and my middle was at preschool and my eldest at Kindergarten and did a jazz class.
I was never in favour of letting them cry.
Walking is good. Put the wee one in a backpack and push the 4 year old in stroller for a real work out.
Baby walkers are not considered safe in Canada. Use a bouncer-like Merry muscles or jolly jumper or an exersaucer.
Try it without sound-that sounds like a great idea.
Have patience as this too shall pass.

I'm doing the 30 ds with an 8 month old too. I work full time, so I've made us a little routine after bringing him home from daycare. He goes in the excersaucer next to me while I workout. He actually enjoys the jumping parts and jumps along now. I make silly noises and "boo" him during crunches. Try to time your workouts so the kiddos aren't due to eat or nap soon. Sometimes I have to bump the routine if his schedule got a little disoriented during the day. If it happens to be nap time, I get my workout in alone - minus most of the silly noises.

I think this is adorable and totally awesome.

I've totally been in the same situation. Can't just do my thing and let them scream just makes me all stressed out, hate working out late or I am up all night. The only thing I've really found that works if I can't get in a workout while they are sleeping is kind of including him. Granted I don't get as good of a workout in but little things like tickling him everytime I squat playing peekaboo while doing push-ups. Whatever I can think of where I get to do my thing but he's getting played with too so not as much baby drama lol.

this is also very cool

When I was a baby, I was apparently a little terror who wanted nothing more than to be held. I had a Grandpa who was more than willing to do that (still miss him). But when Mom and I moved away, she got a baby backpack and walked us where ever we needed to go in Baltimore. She had to sell her car because she couldn't afford to maintain/park it. So she carried me and the groceries; me and the laundry, me and the cat to the vet. She was in fantastic shape. I think she used that thing until I was 3/couldn't fit in it anymore. After that she had the little red wagon, and she pulled me where we were going.

ETA: this doesn't help with the at home workouts, but if you are walking distance to some places you normally drive...?

How about a bouncy seat or activity style center to keep him entertained a bit. Place it somewhere at a distance that he can still see you to know you are there. My home workouts are always a distraction but I just hit pause and consider it a breather! At least with the JM Body Rev, Jillian doesn't do waters breaks which I seem to need. Keep trying, he'll get the hang of your routine too!

I may have missed this, I only skimmed the responses, but when does he nap? He must sleep for at least 30 minutes so you could work out?

My kids are 5, 3, and 1 and I'm home with them almost every day. I bring my son to preschool at 1 pm, put my 1 year old down for a nap, and turn on a movie for "rest time" for my 3 year old. On the days he doesn't have preschool, both the bigger kids watch a movie so mom can work-out. Sometimes they get bored and come see me, and they'll do the work-outs with me a little bit or run around like crazy laughing while I"m on the treadmill. Both of those things make me laugh so I don't mind.

I definitely couldn't work out with a baby screaming in the room with me. It would be way too stressful for me. I realize his needs are met and he's fine, but seriously. What a stressful 30 minutes that would be.

Oh yeah, and I'm also in MN and we like to do dance parties at our house. We turn on music and just dance around! I spin them around and we have a good time! My heart rate definitely goes up!

You already have some great ideas here. I definitely agree that letting a baby cry does not help you enjoy your workout and just doesn't seem like the right solution. I am in the same situation with a 4 year old and a 3 month old who is cutting 6 teeth at once, so I am currently working out after the two are in bed. However, I know that doesn't work for everyone so here is another idea that I would use if working out at night is not an option...

If you try setting your little one up in the high chair with a snack or a bouncy seat with a toy and the attention span of your little one does not last a full 30 minutes, maybe you can do mini 10 minute workouts. Do a ten minute video (popsugar on youtube has a ton of good ones) and if your baby starts fussing, stop and give some attention and time to stretch out of the chair. Then do the next 10 minutes until you reach your goal. It might take you 2 hrs to finish a 30 minute workout but at least you got a workout as opposed to none.

This can also help your baby get used to the idea of you working out without having to deal with a long stent. After some time your little one will probably see that you working out is not that bad and you will soon be able to get a full 30 minutes in all at once.

Hope this helps!!

One can increase their N.E.A.T (non exercise activity thermogenisis) throughout the day and burn the same, if not more, calories than 30 day shred. And if time is pressed, do the 7 minute workout with high intensity.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

You really just have to get the 7 month old on a stable solid nap schedule.

I have a 3 yr old and an 8 month old. I had to break down and get a double jogger so I can go for walks/ runs. Having my kids strapped into a seat is what works best.
I have a home gym in my garage, and when I have weight days ( 3 days a week) I have to plan around naps. The naps dont always line up and I'm not always ready, but when my 8 month old goes down I know I have 30-45 mins to get a workout in. If my 3 yr old is not napping at the same time, I will put on a movie and have him watch it while I work out. Movie on the tv, workout on the computer.
My hardest struggle was knowing that they had control of my workout schedule BUT it is important to me and I learned to work around it. It might take a little bit of work to find out what works for you and your children.
Good luck!

Your baby never naps ???

That's what closets are for.

Seriously, take charge. Put him in a distant part of the house where his howling won't be loud enough to disturb you, and just do it. YOU are the boss here, not the kid.