How to fit exercise in with your Baby/Toddler?

The Comfy Chariot

Your precious bundle of joy has taken a lot out of you. You are a feeding, changing, and napping machine. You need time for yourself and time to fit exercise in, so how are you going to do this?

First things first. Invest in good exercise equipment you can use to make it easy to exercise with your newborn or toddler.

Buy a jogging stroller or bike carrier. We ended up buying the Chariot when Carly was over a year. It is meant for cycling but has attachments for jogging, and cross country skiing. We liked it better then the “Bob Jogger” which was our original jogging stroller purchase.   I found the Chariot handle bar to be lower down and easier on my shoulders. Good for all weather conditions, when it is cold or raining and has a plastic shield for protection.

A second extremely versatile investment is a Hiking carrier, I like the Ergo.

Ergo Carrier versatile for long walks & hikes or super market shopping

You can use it walking, supermarket shopping, and hiking up small mountains.

Now you need to use the equipment that you purchased…

Motivate yourself by first planning ahead and visualize what your day will be like –

Get all your gear and baby needs ready the night before, so you can’t back out. One of the biggest issues I have and most people have is motivation. Don’t sabotage yourself by not being prepared with all your baby accessories ahead of time.

Baby items - blankie, snacks (everytime I go out for more then hour I bring plenty of snacks always a peice of fruit and crackers), books, some toys not a whole lot. Change of clothes, wipes, & diapers.

Mommy items - water, wallet, cell phone or extra bag for food shopping.

What I have done to help get me out the door and have a purpose is to plan an activity around our run or bike ride. Either food shopping, going to the bank, library and or a coffee shop destination are convenient things to do to get you out the door. Other times I have scheduled classes for Carly that I can coordinate our runs or rides around. For instance, I signed Carly up for gymnastics class in Newton at Excell gym, which is about 5 miles away. I ran there with her, had the class and walked home.

Closer classes were the Y in Newton. We ran there only 35 minutes away took the swim class and walked home.

Carly’s naps would occur usually after the class on the walk home.

It is not as easy as one thinks. As you know you have another human beings needs who are constantly in flux affecting your abilities to get what you want done, so sometimes you need to go with the flow and try not to have too tight a schedule for your exercise that day. I try not to plan too much else if I am going to do a long training day with Carly so we can go with the flow. Her needs take priority but usually if we discuss what we are planning to do ahead of time Carly is more often then not going to want to do it.

Some fun Adventure Activities and Exercise days we have done:

1. Bike to Walden Pond and lunch in Maynard — This was about a 45 mile biking day. Took the whole day to do, stopped and had lunch with a friend in Maynard and went to Walden Pond. This I admit was a long one but Carly did fine.

Run into Boston - take Commuter train back home

2. Run into Boston and visit Dad for lunch bonus take the train home - 11 mile run into Boston checking out all the sites, Brookline, Kenmore square, Boston Public Garden and Common, Swan boats, Fanueil Hall and harbor run into World Trade Center.

3. Bike to Coffee Shop in Natick and Swim in Farm Pond — Get to swim at a pond we would not be able to get into if we drove, because they don’t allow non residents of Sherborn by car but allow them if they are on bike.

Carly Chariot rides to "Charles River Coffee House" Natick, MA

4. Train into Boston — Goal was to go to a Spanish music class at an open house for Pine Village, a new school opening in the South End.  Along the way, we  got to play in two new parks in the South End.  Bonus adventure, we ran into the “Life is Good Festival” on the Boston Common.  Carly napped in stroller on our trek home through Boston, Kenmore Square and Brookline  and then got to take the “Green line t” from Brookline Reservoir. Last walk was from Newton Center- back to West Newton.

Carly exercises in Ellis Memorial Park in the South End

5. Hike up the Blue Hills with friends – in Ergo. Carly got to nap and then take in all the sights and sounds of  nature.

Mentioned in this blog are various adventures to do with one toddler in a city and suburbs close to home.  Having two or three children, you will have to consult with another professional who can give you tips in that area with that expertise!  Are there any adventures you have done with your child you would like to share? I am always looking for new ideas to encourage my clients to do and to try with my daughter.