Whether you’ve just had your first or fourth child, any new mama knows it’s a whole new world after you give birth. Life changes in so many beautiful and unexpected ways, and responsibilities keep piling up which is why we created this mom AND baby workout.
Many new mothers want to exercise after giving birth but making time for workouts post-partum is the biggest challenge. Even if you do find time for exercise, setting up child care or bringing a new baby to the gym isn’t always possible. Getting a workout at home can be difficult too—to say the least. People may say that your baby’s nap time is the perfect spot in the day for exercise! However, most new moms know that if your newborn is quiet or napping for a bit, you want that time to nap yourself or catch up on the never-ending items that have piled up during your baby’s awake time.
The solution? Workout WITH your baby at home! Yes, it sounds a little crazy. Yes, we want you to ENJOY your baby and not worry about working out right away. But if you find yourself craving some physical activity but can’t leave baby just yet, this mom and baby postpartum workout is just the solution. Still skeptical? Read on.
Some women can’t wait to get moving again after having a baby, while others are happy to have a break. Of course the exhaustion that occurs from having a newborn can be a bit of a deterrent. But the truth is that a little bit of movement can provide a short burst of energy and oftentimes give you a mood boost when dealing with those challenging but rewarding days. In addition to giving you more energy, exercise will also:
help build strength to carry your baby
improve your self-esteem
set an example for your family about living a healthy life
Your birth experience, your recovery, and the type of activity you choose will determine how soon you can begin to exercise. According to The Mayo Clinic, if you had an uncomplicated vaginal delivery it’s generally safe to begin light, easy exercise as soon as you feel ready—up to a few days after giving birth (not that we are suggesting you rush home from the hospital to do squats…). If you’ve had a C-section, extensive vaginal repair, or a complicated birth, talk to your health care provider about when to start an exercise program.
In terms of more intense activity or strength training, it will take longer before your body is prepared. For the workout below it’s probably best to wait about 6 weeks since you’ll be lifting, pushing and squatting. The best thing you can do is ask your doctor to be sure you are safe. In addition, listening to your body is key. If something feels off or wrong, trust your gut and stop doing it. There will be plenty of time to get in shape and there are other things you can choose in the mean time. Finally, if you are experiencing diastasis recti make sure you read this first before taking on a workout!
Mom & Baby At-Home Strength Workout
Once you feel ready, start with some walking, jogging or other lower-intensity cardio. After several weeks, you can get back in the swing of things using this at-home postpartum strength workout.
For this mom and baby workout you only need a good pair of shoes, a mat and of course, your darling babe! For a few exercises, you will want to make sure your baby is old enough to hold his/her head up without support. If that’s not the case, just skip those few since there are other great moves here that you will still love! And remember, if baby is crabby and not in the mood for this—let it go! Head out for a basic stroller walk instead or just wait until the right time. It’s better to have a positive experience with your workout for both your sake and baby’s than to muddle through tears and frustration just to get the workout in.
Reverse Lunge With Baby Hug Twist
Hug your baby close to your chest with both arms.
Step right foot back, bending both knees into a lunge.
Gently twist your baby over left thigh, then return to center.
Step forward and repeat on other side. Try for 8-10 per leg.
Baby Kiss Push-Ups
Place your baby on his/her back at the top of a mat.
Place your hands on each side of your baby’s middle.
Lower your chest to hover above baby, giving him/her a kiss.
Press your body back up to plank and repeat. Try 8-10 reps.
Squat Overhead Baby Press
Hold baby’s sides with both hands, with baby in front of your chest and your elbows close to your side.
Place feet hip-distance apart and soften knees.
Sit back into a squat, keeping weight over heels and abs very tight.
Stand back up and press your baby up overhead making a funny face or sound.
Pull baby gently back to chest-level as you squat and repeat. Try 8-10 reps.
Baby Tricep Press
Lay back on your mat, holding your baby around his/her middle
Put baby’s face over your face with your elbows close to your side.
Press baby up, lengthening arms and squeezing your triceps.
Lower baby down and say “boo,” keep elbows pulled inward.
Press baby up and repeat. Try 8-10 reps.
Plié Front Baby Press
Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, toes turned outward.
Hold baby with hands around sides, right in front of your chest.
Keep spine straight and drop tailbone down between heels while pushing baby away from you. Do NOT straighten arms 100%; keep a slight bend in your elbow.
Press body straight up, doing a kegel (tightening your pelvic floor) and pulling baby back in with a “boo.”
Try 8-10 reps.
Army Crawl Baby Kisses
Place your baby on his/her back at the top of a mat.
Place your hands on each side of your baby’s middle.
Lower to one forearm at a time keeping abs tight and give baby a kiss.
Press your body back up to plank and repeat. Try 8-10 reps.
(if this is too hard for you, hold a forearm plank over your baby for 30 seconds instead)
Walking Lunges, Baby Style
Hold baby close to your body facing away.
Take a big step with right leg and slowly bend both knees into lunge.
Step back foot to meet front foot, then repeat, moving forward onto left leg.
Take 8-10 walking lunges forward, then turn around and take 8-10 back to start.
Abdominal Baby Push-Away
Lying on your back, bend your knees at a 90 degree angle. Stabilize baby so he/she is resting on your shins, and hold onto his/her hands.
Slowly extend your legs away from you and curl your upper body forward, holding onto baby’s hands until they are as far as you can reach. Keep low abs pulled down into spine.
(This will help us personalize your experience so that you can get the best advice possible from us!)
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However you may visit Cookie Settings to provide a controlled consent.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.