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Original poster

Finding time to workout with 5 month old

37 replies

PockerMaus · 02/12/2025 20:46

Any mums who enjoy fitness... How do you find the time with a baby?

Prior to pregnancy I would go to the gym 5 x a week. Since having my boy I'm struggling to find the time to get to the gym as my partner gets home from work around 6 and by the time we've had dinner/bathed the babe and put him to bed (he has to be fed to sleep at the moment and is EBF) I am too tired to go to the gym.

I do two mum and baby classes in the week but find I am often distracted and don't feel like I've done a proper workout.

My son sleeps from 7:30 - 7ish every night with around 2/3 wake ups. He will only fall back asleep on the boob (have tried lots of different ways to get him to sleep with no luck but it works for us so I don't really mind).

My partner leaves for work around half 7 and gets home at 6. He doesn't do any of the night wake ups (again I am ok with this due to him being BF). My son usually wakes up around 1am and 5am. I was going to suggest to my partner that I go to the gym between 6am and 7am in the morning and if our son wakes up during that time, he'll just have to deal with him even though he has to leave for work. Would you say that's reasonable?

How do you make time to work out?

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jill5676 · 03/12/2025 09:05

I only work out at home with little ones (was never a big gym person anyway mind!). I use Bumps and Burpees online fitness classes. I also just try to walk everywhere as much as I can.

mindutopia · 03/12/2025 09:21

Long walks in the pushchair or sling during the day. You by yourself during the week. And then you could go out as a family on the weekends. Dh and I used to do 10-12 mile hikes with ours up to probably age 3 in the carrier on the weekends.

Then weekend mornings when your partner is spending time with the baby (who he hasn’t seen all week).

You can also do free weights at home with baby in a bouncer if you’re so inclined for short bursts.

Original poster
PockerMaus · 03/12/2025 18:19

Btowngirl · 03/12/2025 07:39

From when DD2 was about 8 weeks, 4 nights a week my partner & I used to take it in turns to do whatever we wanted after baby was in bed (mostly we both went to our gym to workout or use the sauna but sometimes I just went to the supermarket & enjoyed being by myself lol).

The thought is tiring but it makes you feel so much better physically & mentally. I did end up later in MAT leave putting DD into the crèche at the gym if you are in a position to go to a gym with a crèche. Appreciate this isn’t an option to everyone though. I also BF and used to leave a bottle of expressed just in case so I wasn’t on edge or rushing back.

sorry OP, cross post & just seen no gym with a creche near you.

Edited

Ah yes! Originally this was our plan, we'd share out the evenings like you said. I think it's just hard then as then our time together is minimal! So hard to find a balance 😭. But could be an option to revisit if the morning idea doesn't work out.. thank you :)

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Original poster
PockerMaus · 03/12/2025 18:20

mindutopia · 03/12/2025 09:21

Long walks in the pushchair or sling during the day. You by yourself during the week. And then you could go out as a family on the weekends. Dh and I used to do 10-12 mile hikes with ours up to probably age 3 in the carrier on the weekends.

Then weekend mornings when your partner is spending time with the baby (who he hasn’t seen all week).

You can also do free weights at home with baby in a bouncer if you’re so inclined for short bursts.

Love this! Yes we do a lot of walking as we have a Vizsla who needs an hour + walk each morning 😊 maybe I can extend our walks for the moment until we get in to a better rhythm and I'm more comfortable leaving my son for an hour or two!

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Original poster
PockerMaus · 03/12/2025 18:21

jill5676 · 03/12/2025 09:05

I only work out at home with little ones (was never a big gym person anyway mind!). I use Bumps and Burpees online fitness classes. I also just try to walk everywhere as much as I can.

I find it really hard to work out at home! But maybe if I get an exercise bike or something, that might make it more appealing! I've not heard of bump & Burpees, I will take a look :)

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IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 03/12/2025 19:08

Have you got a garden? Could you afford a PT to come to your house say once a week to do a “proper” work out whilst your baby is asleep or watches you serenely from his buggy (one of mine was very predictable, one wasn’t!). Then repeat that by yourself once or twice, and go for a run at the weekend.

From 6 months you can use a Running Buggy too. O trained for a 10K pushing DS!

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Original poster
PockerMaus · 03/12/2025 21:34

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 03/12/2025 19:08

Have you got a garden? Could you afford a PT to come to your house say once a week to do a “proper” work out whilst your baby is asleep or watches you serenely from his buggy (one of mine was very predictable, one wasn’t!). Then repeat that by yourself once or twice, and go for a run at the weekend.

From 6 months you can use a Running Buggy too. O trained for a 10K pushing DS!

Love that! I've recently bought the nipper sport so been thinking about going running with him when he's old enough :)

OP posts:
Unexpectedlysinglemum · 03/12/2025 21:39

I loved the mum and baby fitness classes if they’re too easy tell your instructor! If you do that and then you can gym at the weekends and one evening a week, plus one YouTube workout at home in the morning or nap time you’re good to go surely? You can also just go to a gym with a creche like Nuffield

Original poster
PockerMaus · 07/12/2025 15:59

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone that has commented, you've made me feel like I need to be a bit easier on myself :)

I think I'll start using my dog walks as exercise so try walking a bit further and doing that alongside some more mum and baby classes! Then I can get as much sleep as possible too!

OP posts:
AwkwardPaws27 · 07/12/2025 16:03

Our local Nuffield gym has a creche - I never used it but a friend who is very into fitness (for her mental health more than anything else) used it regularly for her baby. She was always on site in the gym, so felt comfortable using it. I am expecting baby #2 so may try it this time round.

Original poster
PockerMaus · 07/12/2025 16:58

AwkwardPaws27 · 07/12/2025 16:03

Our local Nuffield gym has a creche - I never used it but a friend who is very into fitness (for her mental health more than anything else) used it regularly for her baby. She was always on site in the gym, so felt comfortable using it. I am expecting baby #2 so may try it this time round.

Aww yeah if we had one close I would try this but our nearest Nuffield or David Lloyd is about an hour away!

OP posts:
pambeesleyhalpert · 07/12/2025 17:10

Have you tried a parent and baby CrossFit? I loved them and you’re paired up so one looks after the baby while the other does the set then you switch. It’s great! But no YANBU!

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