Exercising with young children around

_angua_
_angua_ Posts: 35
edited September 28 in Fitness and Exercise
I have two children under two (a young toddler and an infant), so I have very little time to myself. I go for walks with them and carry them around a lot but was wandering if anyone had any tips for how and when to get exercise in.

Replies

  • nkteach
    nkteach Posts: 41
    good question! I usually wait until nap time..but then sometimes I want to nap then too! So if I dont get in done at nap, I will wail until my hubby gets home from work.
  • seobstar
    seobstar Posts: 169
    naptime? I workout every day at the same time...it's very simple...put them down for a nap and then pop in a DVD. I also have an eliptical at home, so that helps. All the more reason why I'm a huge proponent of MAKING your kids nap, and putting them on a good routine so that you have time for yourself!
  • KnightsGal76
    KnightsGal76 Posts: 69 Member
    Hey Hannah!

    First off, kudos to you for showing them at that early age a healthy lifestyle! When my kids were little, I would put them in the playpen and then exercise while they were in there. They were in the same room as me, so they could see me and I could talk to them, but they were contained so I wouldn't step on them or anything. It didn't hurt them to have to be in the playpen for a little while, and it helped me to be the best mom I could be because I was taking care of me.
  • eates
    eates Posts: 334 Member
    I have an almost 2 year old and almost 4 year old. If I exercise at home I do it in the morning while they're eating breakfast & watching cartoons. I play a video on the laptop in the living room so they can still watch cartoons from the table. My 3 year old is pretty good about letting me work out or working out with me.
    There are other things you can do- play hide & seek, play tag, dance around the living room, play soccer or keep away with them
  • Melbel85
    Melbel85 Posts: 240 Member
    I have a 4 yo and a 2 yo I am in the middle of Jillian Michaels 30 day shred, I have to wait for their nap times for this.
  • seobstar
    seobstar Posts: 169
    just to clarify: I have 3 kids and I have them all 3 napping/resting at the same time every single day. You just have to force it and eventually they'll all get on the same schedule. It's so worth it for your sanity as a mommy! =)
  • DancinSMartiPants
    DancinSMartiPants Posts: 363
    You're not going to like this. 4 a.m. Both of my children are early risers, so that is the only way my workout doesn't dissolve into a "workout." Now that they're a bit older (6 &2) I "workout" with them, too, so they know mommy exercises, but I never count the activity as actual exercise.
  • FabCheeky
    FabCheeky Posts: 311
    You can try what worked for me. Buy a cheap yoga mat, and tell the bigger one that THIS is where YOU work out like Mama! The infant can be put in a stationary walker-thingy or bouncy chair or whatever makes them quiet. hehehe Be sure to have the baby face you, and try to make animated faces and noises. Encourage your toddler to do the same.
  • ChantalGG
    ChantalGG Posts: 2,404 Member
    I did calisthenics with my son when he was young. I used him as my weight and it was a good workout. he loved it too it was just playing for him and he was learning his numbers the same time. lol
  • Christinichka
    Christinichka Posts: 171 Member
    You're not going to like this. 4 a.m. Both of my children are early risers, so that is the only way my workout doesn't dissolve into a "workout." Now that they're a bit older (6 &2) I "workout" with them, too, so they know mommy exercises, but I never count the activity as actual exercise.

    Yup same here! I usually get my workout in at 5am before my son is awake otherwise I have a kid bugging me the whole time I workout. I also go on walks with him, or he will want to do my exercise videos so we'll do that sometimes. And I just try to be active with him. But main exercise is at early AM.
  • kcarreno
    kcarreno Posts: 45 Member
    I have the same problem. I have a 2 1/2 year old that no longer naps during the day or she doesn't sleep at night, and I have a 10 month old and it makes it so difficult to exercise! I usually either wait until my husband gets home or try to get up before them in the morning. I also try to do things with them for exercise...but I completely agree that it is very difficult!
  • cornerofgreystreet
    cornerofgreystreet Posts: 180 Member
    I have 3 kids, ages 5, 4 and 12 months. The only time that I can exercise is in the morning before my husband leaves for work. It is hard to get up that early but if I don't do it then I don't get to exercise. I did wait until my youngest was sleeping well through the night though, otherwise I would never have slept! Good luck!
  • ANeWcRe8N
    ANeWcRe8N Posts: 1,180 Member
    I have 4 kids.. 3 smaller ones and the only way I can get a workout in is if I get up early in the morning before they do or when they are napping.
  • shannonkk
    shannonkk Posts: 192 Member
    i have a one and two year old, I jog in place when they are awake or out side in the yard and they play in the sandbox or follow me and laugh. I wear a HRM too.
  • ladybug1620
    ladybug1620 Posts: 1,136 Member
    I wake up at 430am to do it before anyone wakes up. On weekends I sleep in. So I will tell my hubby to watch them for a while, or do it when they go to sleep.
  • miriamtorason
    miriamtorason Posts: 208 Member
    i get up about 8. I sit down, drink a bottle of water, then exercise. My son wakes up around 9:30. Rather than forcing him into things, though, I work around his schedule. Obviously, as it's just the two of us, that's easier. I don't know how that would work out with two (or more!) littles, though.

    The nutshell, I deliberately planned bedtime so that my son wakes at a reasonable (to me) hour, and then get up an hour and a half earlier than he does / is supposed to. Most of the time, it works. Sometimes... Well, he sits in his booster seat and eats breakfast while I exercise.
  • diana109
    diana109 Posts: 113 Member
    My kids wake up early too, I have a 21 month old and a 3 year old, so waking up at 4:30am-5am is the best option for me. When they were younger I use to have workout DVD's and do short ones with them around. As mentioned above I put my youngest in a exersaucer or jumperoo while I did it so I wouldn't hurt her in any way. My 3 year old or 2 at the time was content playing and dancing to the workout music. Good luck!!
  • _angua_
    _angua_ Posts: 35
    Thanks, sounds like early is the trick. My youngest is 12 weeks and the older is 16 months, I think I will do as much as I can during the day. Might put off the waking up early part as the youngest is still waking at least twice a night normally.
  • Minnesnowtagurl
    Minnesnowtagurl Posts: 406 Member
    My Husband and i used to get up super early or wait till bedtime.
  • cdl8
    cdl8 Posts: 164 Member
    just to clarify: I have 3 kids and I have them all 3 napping/resting at the same time every single day. You just have to force it and eventually they'll all get on the same schedule. It's so worth it for your sanity as a mommy! =)



    Totally agree. I have a 7 yr old and a 2yr old. The little one sleeps while the older one has quiet time so Mommy can workout. And if it doesn't work the way I have planned it, my hubby knows I get 1 hour when he gets home! You must find time for yourself to be the best Mom and wife you can be!!!!!
  • mommyJto3
    mommyJto3 Posts: 139 Member
    Either early in the morning before they wake or at night when they go to sleep. I have a 1.5 and a 3.5 year old, so when the 1.5 goes down around 8 i get to workout while the 3.5 is winding down from his day.

    On the weekend I just workout while they are playing in the living room .. just try not to hit them with a dumbbell :)
  • AlsDonkBoxSquat
    AlsDonkBoxSquat Posts: 6,128 Member
    When my son was an infant I would put him in a carrier and do "baby weight" exercises with him strapped to me (squats, lunges, etc). We'd also dance around the house like fools, well I'd dance he'd squeel. Get some Zumba or Cardio fit videos and see if you can turn those on, strap the baby to you, and get the toddler to dance with you. My son is now 21 months old and when I do step routines he mimicks me, I think it's the funniest thing ever and he likes to dance to the music.
  • janeosu
    janeosu Posts: 140 Member
    I have 4 kids and what I usually do is hop on the elliptical or out for a run the minute I put my 3 year olds down for the night. They have an early bedtime - usually around 7pm. I used to use naptime, but when my older 2 are in school that's my time to get everything else done :) You just have to find what works for you and sometimes it can change day to day!
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