The 7 Best Workouts You Can Do with a Baby

Postpartum exercise provides health benefits like strengthening and toning your abdominal muscles, boosting your energy, helping you sleep better and relieving stress. But due to weak muscles, an achy body and just plain exhaustion, you might not feel ready or maybe you’re even a little scared to start working out again. Plus, there’s always the time issue. Sure, you could squeeze in a sweat sesh while the baby naps, but you could also workout with baby on board with these seven mom-and-baby exercises.

1. Baby Overhead Press

  1. Sit cross-legged, holding your baby in front of your chest.
  2. Make sure your elbows are bent and pressed against your rib cage.
  3. Straighten your arms upward without locking your elbows.
  4. Pause, then lower your baby to the starting position. Do ten reps, rest and then do two more sets.

2. Walking Lunges

  1. Hold your baby in a comfortable position while standing tall and looking straight ahead.
  2. Take a large step forward with your right leg and bend both knees 90 degrees.
  3. Keep your front knee over your ankle as your back knee approaches the floor, heel lifted.
  4. Push off the back leg and step your feet together. Shift your baby to the other side and repeat with the opposite leg.

3. Baby-weight Squats

  1. Stand with your head facing forward and your chest held up and out.
  2. Place your feet shoulder-width apart or slightly wider, then push your hips back and down as if you’re sitting into an imaginary chair.
  3. Make sure your thighs are parallel to the floor and your knees are over your ankles.
  4. Press back up to stand. Do ten reps, rest, shift baby to other side, and then do two more sets.

4. Peekaboo Push-ups

  1. Lay your baby on a cushioned surface and get into a push-up position (on your knees is totally fine).
  2. Keeping your elbows close to your body, lower yourself down so that you come face-to-face with your baby.
  3. Bracing your core, push yourself back up to the starting position.
  4. Do ten reps, rest and then do two more sets. You can also turn this one into a plank by holding the top part of the push-up position.

(Note: If your little one—like our adorable model—doesn’t want to sit still, set up some safe distractions nearby for play.)

5. Baby Bench Press

  1. Lie face up on the floor with your knees bent. Contract your abs.
  2. Hold your baby securely on top of your chest.
  3. Press your arms straight up, pause and then lower your baby to the starting position.
  4. Do ten reps, rest and then do two more sets.

6. Strolls With...a Stroller

It seems kind of obvious, but just pushing your baby’s stroller around the block is great exercise—and an excuse to get out of the house. Once you get the go-ahead from your doctor for more strenuous activities, you can also turn this into a light jog.

OK, so this one is a little bit more for baby than for mom, but it’s so darn cute we had to include it. Namaste, bebe.

 

 

Blogs are not written by MNC Staff.

Original article can be found here: https://www.purewow.com/family/baby-workouts

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