Womb to Bloom - Maternity & Beyond

Having a new baby at home is hard enough without having to worry about getting exercise. Here are five great ways to get some exercise with your baby through the day.

Wear Your Baby
There are many great styles of carriers for wearing your baby. You can get a front carrier, a sling or any one of the other styles of carriers that attach to your body. Babies love to be carried and this way you can carry your baby with you and leave your arms free.

Even very young babies weight quite a bit. The longer you carry them the more they seem to weigh. If you get into the habit of wearing your baby you are adding several pounds of resistance throughout the day as you perform your daily chores around the house.

Take a Stroll
Having a new baby makes it feel as though you are stuck at home. Break out of the stuck-at-home blues and get out the stroller or baby carriage. Bundle your baby up according to the weather and head out for a walk. If it is snowy find a sled that you can pull and strap your baby’s portable car sear or carrier in and tow him along with you instead.

The fresh air is great for your baby’s health and will help him sleep more soundly in the long run. You will also feel much better and the exercise will help combat baby blues and other emotional turmoil.

Do Baby Lifts
Babies love to get lifted and moved around. There are many ways to lift and swing your baby, and all of them are sure to earn you smiles as your baby enjoys the motion. Try lying down one your back and hold your baby on your chest. Lift your baby straight up over your chest, then lower him for kisses. Repeat several times.

Another fun game is to hold your baby in front of you so that he faces you as you sit and lift him straight up so that he come up over your head, then back down to your lap. Add interesting sound effects and he will anticipate the motion and be eager to join in the fun.

For side-to-side action, stand in a clear area and hold your baby securely between the legs and at the head. Swing your baby sideways in a rocking motion. Bring him as high as you can to each side as he swings, giving him a delightful drop each time you lower him back to the midline, only to sweep him back up in the other direction.

Be aware of how secure your baby’s head and neck are in all these exercises. As your baby gets stronger he will need less support. In the meantime be careful not to jar him too much as you move him around. Also, don’t do these exercises right after feeding unless you want a milk shower.

Go Swimming
Water aerobics are great fun and offer super resistance training. Babies are naturally water-friendly and with swim diapers readily available they can come along into the pool without difficulty.

Many community centers offer fitness classes for new mothers, including water aerobics. They get the baby involved and use him for extra weight for a range of activities. While your baby won’t be ready to really swim for quite some time, you will get him used to the water at an early age and will make it easier to introduce him to swimming lessons when he is a bit older.

Follow a Fitness Video
There are all kind of videos and DVDs available with simple fitness programs. You can play one at home and exercise in a private setting with your baby right there to watch. Many exercises can be done with your baby beside you. Push-ups are great fun when your baby is under you so you can kiss him each time you go down. Jogging on the spot or doing other aerobic exercises is great fun and is sure to attract your little one’s attention. If your baby doesn’t want to stay down, put on your carrier and exercise with your baby on board.

By exercising with your baby, not only are you getting yourself back into shape, but you are setting a good example for your little one. An active lifestyle is very important to a developing child, especially in this era of childhood obesity. So get active and enjoy your baby. You will be glad that you gave it a try.