When do you fit in exercising if you have a baby/toddler?

[SunshineAndFizz]

I'd love to do some exercise (to shift some of my pregnancy weight) and need some tips for fitting it into a busy life with a toddler (3 years) and new baby (3 months).

When do you fit it in? When they've gone to bed at night? Napping? Get someone else to look after them? Just have the kids with you and juggle both?

What do you do - gym? Exercise video at home? Or a walk with the pram?

Thanks!

I have a 7 month old DD and a horse and it’s difficult to fit in but I go to ride/feed horse early morning when DP is working from home and I’m back by 8.30. Depending on when DD wakes up (usually around 6.30) I do a quick nappy change and feed and I’m out by 7am, then DP does her morning routine before he starts work. She is BF but takes a bottle and now she’s having some solids for breakfast too which makes it easier. I also do lots of walking with the pram, as she has her best naps in the pram 😊

When they are in bed do YouTube workouts. I have some dumbbells. Or lunchtimes when the eldest is in nursery.

Lots of walks when the eldest is in nursery.

Either go on our turbo trainer (indoor bike) at nap time, or after bedtime when my husband is home from work. Also walk to school and back with the pushchair. But it’s hard!

6am or 5pm- leaving husband to do the breakfast or dinner- weekends pop out for an hours session

I found it easy on mat leave but tbh really struggle now I’m back at work.

Gym with a creche

Early morning runs, before the rest of the house is up for the day. When they were very little and still bfing at night, I'd nip out after the dawn feed.
And buggy runs if I was really struggling for time.

Walking with pram at least 30mins a day (baby is 11 months) 😁 also 10-15 mins YouTube or Nike Training App when she has nap plus after she fall asleep in the evening (both weights and body weight exercises) 😁 otherwise no chance also no chance for anything longer than 15 minutes

Some great suggestions!

This is my dilemma - trying to find a chunk of time!

6am. It’s my only opportunity

My gym (David Lloyd) had (has?) a crèche so I put my son in there for an hour and a half. That worked til he started at nursery. Most gyms will not allow young children in the gym.
Or go early morning before partner leaves for work?
Also home videos. The 3 year old can try and do some of the exercises too and baby can watch (or map).

Walking. We walk for miles with DC, either in carrier or pram. We've had them out hillwalking with us while they're still small enough to be relatively portable.

I tried going back to jogging/running, which was one of my favourite activities pre- pregnancy, but it doesn't appear compatible with my current chest size so it'll need to wait until BF stops, I think. If you're able to jog, you can get strollers that are suitable for jogging and take DC with you.

My other favourite fitness activity of cycling and hurling myself and my bike down hills has had to be significantly adapted too, but I can still leave DC with DH and pop out for a half-hour cycle when the urge strikes. It's probably been better for my physical health actually, as I'd broken my wrist twice in a year...

At that age I walked miles in all weather to get the weight off then when I went back to at 13 months I stayed getting up at 5am to workout, shower and get ready before baby wakes up at 6:30 and I still do it now.

I do a class for mum's where you can take your baby/toddler - there's all toys for them so it's like a stay and play at the same time. Pilates class one evening a week. One home workout using the Fiton app on my WFH day. I try to do 10k steps a day too.

Weekends - any time, offload parenting onto partner. Evenings when gone to bed. Now she's a bit older, mostly before she wakes up - leave husband in bed with the baby monitor on. Prioritise it if it's important to you, and get your partner to support.

I have one set weekend class I go to every week (give or take), the rest of the time I run as it's the quickest way to get a decent stint of exercise in (no travel, no set up).

Weekday evening class I mean!

DP looks after DD while I go out to do circuit training for an hour several times a week. I either do a very early morning class, or I do an evening one and DP does baby's bedtime. I do a high intensity class so that I feel like I'm getting the most out of the time I have!

SunshineAndFizz even 10mins counts if you have busy day 😁 if you wait to have longer chunk of time you may exercise much less than you would like to as something ALWAYS happens!

7pm after my husband gets in. Baby is in bed, husband does 5 year old's bedtime

Snap! I have an almost 3 year old and a 3 month old too! Dud you have babba in Aug this year?

I have been working on dropping my weight too. I've been walking everywhere as much as possible, and dancing around to kids exercise videos with my toddler (or just any music we like). Also been using Samsung health to track my food.

Down 2 kg already 💪

I’ve got a 3 year old and just turned 1 year old. I go in the evenings to the gym once they are asleep and play netball one evening a week. Back to work in January, so will see if I still have the energy then!

Depending where you are (I'm in NE) and certain councils run group exercise for mums with babies at leisure Centers, where you can take baby. Try searching for buggy bootcamp and you may find something in your area

I lost 10kg after my first pregnancy doing the same. I did walking workouts on YouTube.

Also built it into my housework e.g. remove all bins and forced to use outside one more so more steps a day. Side step whilst washing up or walk in my lounge whilst on the phone. Run up and down the stairs putting laundry away.