To think jogging with a baby under six months is ridiculous?

[stopgap]

Okay, so I live in Workout Central (Manhattan) but I am dumbfounded by the number of women who attach a car seat to a stroller (not even a jogging stroller in many cases) and go running in the park, often with teeny tiny newborns on board.

Am I being too PFB about this? My own paediatrician gave me the go-ahead to run with DS when he was six months, but it seems like I'm in the minority.

AIBU? Is this phenomena purely an exercise-crazy American thing?

[OhDearieDearieMe]

I'm not sure I get your concern. They're not dragging the babies behind the pushchair are they? What's your concern?

[lottiegarbanzo]

It won't be good for the mothers' joints, still a bit loose til 6 months.

[Saffra]

All those vibrations and jerky movements won't be good for the baby. Yanbu!

[Sanjifair]

They should have good control of their head to be in a jogging buggy. Think that is normally well before 6 months, no?

[zimmyzammyzoom]

I'm in the UK and jogged with my twins since they were about 4 months old. What's the problem? I don't think they even notice the difference from walking but I have got an all terrain mountain buggy, they just sleep.

[stifnstav]

Oh heck, am I expected to leave the house at some point? And then engage in... movement?!

[zimmyzammyzoom]

Mine lie flat though. Don't know if that makes it ok?

[Wincher]

I used to do a buggy bootcamp class in the park which involved some jogging. It always sent DS to sleep nicely! When he was a bit older and I used to jog home from nursery with him he used to giggle and giggle! However I then realised how much harder it was not being able to use my arms so started running after dh got home in the evenings instead.

[stopgap]

Because newborns don't have head control and because strollers without fixed wheels are not so stable. I have a Bob, and if I don't click the wheel into running mode, it feels mighty unstable when I'm running.

I saw the best ever the other day: a guy with a car seat attached to an UppaBaby, repeatedly pushing the stroller six feet ahead and then running to catch up with it!

[EarnestDullard]

I would have thought you'd need a specialised jogging buggy with really good suspension to go running with a baby. As Saffra said, the bumping around can't be good for babies, especially very young ones.

[BikeRunSki]

Maybe because they want to?
I like exercise, I like running (I also like Central Park).
I find that physical exercise makes me feel better when I am a bit down, or bored or upset or vulnerable or whatever. I ran with both of my babies in an appropriate pushchair because I wanted to and made me feel good.

[Gatorade]

I started running with DD from 10 weeks old, she was in a maxi cosi attached to a decent off road/running puschair. I personally think its great to get the little ones out in the fresh air everyday and set them a good example that excercise should be part of normal everyday life from an early age.

For what it's worth my closest friend is a paediatrician and she did the same. I think as long as you're sticking to paths and the baby isn't bouncing around too much then it is actually a good thing!

DD is now 13 months old and loves going out for a run in the puschair!

[gwenniebee]

My maxi cosi on the uppababy was fine for jogging on smooth surfaces from when my dd was about three months. Even when just walking, I was really paranoid about all the bumps when on a shoogly surface but on a smooth pavement I felt completely comfortable with it.

[Montybojangles]

stifnstav

[skaen]

Yabu. I started running when DS was 4 months and he absolutely loved it. He was strapped it and wrapped up so very little movement at all.

Why encourage people not to exercise? That just seems odd to me.

[2beornot]

Why can't you run with a baby in a car seat? They are meant for cars and I imagine thats much bumpier and a over a longer timescale? Seems very PFB to me!!

[ChestyLeRoux]

This is totally normal, and doubt it will do any harm. Ive done it with both mine

[EmmelineGoulden]

Central Park has smooth tarmac paths. I don't see the problem with a baby going over them at jogging speed in a buggy. Most of the pavements in New York are more likely to jolt a new born than the paths in Central Park..

Possibly not the best for the mothers' bodies to jog so soon after giving birth, but slobbing around for four years like I've done would be worse.

[AnisotropicWeetabixFTW]

I was running again at 8 weeks post cs. I have a jogging buggy and ran on smooth paths. Smoother than a car in all likelihood.

[ChestyLeRoux]

I get might be hard on mothers body a week after birth, but definitely not a couple of months in unless the person was very unfit to start with.

[quesadilla]

I don't think it's a risk to the babies but it is a bit ostentatious and me, me, me, and yes, American.

[Zara1984]

All the running buggies say you shouldn't use them for running until about 4-6 months (that's why I'm only looking at getting one now at 5 months). It's due to baby's head control. Even if they are in a carseat I'd wager than running is nowhere near as smooth a ride as in a car!

YANBU...

TBH I try and run in the morning before DH goes to work (ie leave baby at home) to try and get some time to myself! Not sure if I'd get the same relaxation running with a buggy!

[RubyGates]

Gosh, I should tell the meet-up group that jogs in the park behind my house every week to stay indoors, not go out and not get any exercise ever then should I?

Because they're not going to invest in an expensive jogging thingumy just for half-an-hour round the park, and they can't afford to go to the gym.

Lets's keep those new mummies indoors and isolated where they belong! (Unless they can afford expensive accessories, gym membership and a babysitter, obviously)