Get fit and into shape with these fun exercises that involve your baby!
Congratulations, you’ve had your baby, and now you're thinking about getting fit again.
Nowadays we are surrounded by images of perfect celebrity mums bouncing back from the last 9 months effortlessly, somehow looking even more beautiful than they did pre-pregnancy. While we fully support these busy mums for doing such a great job, us non-celeb mums can’t help but compare ourselves to them, resulting in low feelings about our own progress.
Many new mothers don’t even have time to sleep, let alone hit the gym for five hours a day
Don’t feel guilty if you don’t lose your baby weight as soon as you expected. Many new mothers don’t even have time to sleep, let alone hit the gym for five hours a day like the new mums we see portrayed in the media. Similar to your baby’s development, losing weight will be a gradual process, so little steps should be taken to succeed.
While it’s a great idea to get help from a qualified personal trainer as you start to regain your fitness, you don’t have to go to the gym or even leave your baby’s side to get a good workout. Try these exercises that you can do throughout the day at home. While performing these exercises, be sure to maintain your baby’s safety at all times. They must be able to comfortably raise their head and sit up on their own before you can leave them sitting alone.
High Chair Lunges
This exercise is great for your lower body. Place your baby in a high chair or their pushchair (make sure to put the brakes on) and face them but stand about three feet away. Put your hands on your waist and slowly step forward on your right leg towards your baby, you can blow them a kiss as you get closer, and return to standing. Repeat this for 12 steps on each leg.
Aeroplane Moves
The aeroplane is a fantastic exercise for toning your tummy up and can really make your little one smile if you follow this with aeroplane sounds. Lie down on your stomach with your baby a safe distance away from your face and simultaneously lift your legs and hold your arms out to the side. Hold this position for 10 seconds a time and repeat 10 times.
Alphabet Abs
Lie on your back with your child on the floor next to you, place your arms at your sides with one around your child and extend your legs straight up toward the sky while keeping your feet together. Slowly draw each letter of the alphabet with your toes, while saying the letter out loud to your baby. Try to repeat the entire alphabet.
Reverse Baby Curl
Lie with your back on the floor, looking up to the ceiling, and bring your legs towards your chest so they are at a 90 degree angle. Hold your baby on your shins and gently lift your hips up off the floor, bringing your head and shoulders up at the same time. Lower your hips and repeat. This will work your abs and gently rock your baby back and forth.