I have a confession to make: I am soooo ready for summer. Even though we live in Arizona where the weather?s nice pretty much all year round, there?s just something about summertime…. And since the kids are out of school (Yay! No more homework!), we get to do stuff we can?t do at other times of the year and enjoy a more relaxed routine. I love it! However, when the kids are home all day, it gets even trickier to get those workouts in. Especially with a little one around. And summer = swimsuit season, which can add a wee bit of extra stress. 😉
So how can you get in a great workout, on limited time, with your baby, and shed those extra pounds STAT so you?re ready for summer sun ?n fun? Voila! My latest babywearing workout, which is perfect for older babies like Ruby. You can use the same Ergobaby Performance Carrier I raved about before, and besides that, all you need is your favorite little one. Can?t get simpler than that! If your baby is smaller than Ruby, no worries?simply modify the workout. And if you?ve got older kids around too, why not include them in your workout!
Before we get started, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Warm up before and cool down after by doing a few minutes of walking and light stretching.
- Keep those ab muscles tight during all exercises for some awesome core and stability work.
- If you need some help with balance or extra support, hold on to the back of a chair or bench.
- Can?t quite get through the workout? Do what we do?we call it ?chipping.? When you can?t do any more, stop for a few seconds, shake it out, and keep going. Repeat as needed. It works!
- Always, always, always follow your doctor?s recommendations.
Ready? Let?s go!
Complete as many rounds as safely possible in 30 minutes of the following exercises:
- 5 park bench push-ups?
- 10 stable lunges?
- 15 supported squats?*can be done on a bench if desired?
- 1 fast-paced walk around the park?
NOTE: Safety first! If one round is all you feel it is safe to complete with your little one on your back, then finish out the remainder of the 30 minutes with a fast-paced walk around the park. Walking burns calories!! However, keep up the rounds as long as you are feeling you and baby are good and safe.
For a more advanced version, these moves can be done without support as well, as long as baby is safe:
- Advanced lunge: Step out first to ensure stability, then bend into the lunge?
- Advanced squat: Keep feet shoulder-width apart and weight on heels for max stability. Use your arms as a counter balance.?
Besides helping me get in some amazing workouts, here are some other reasons I?m such a pro-babywearing workout momma:
- Workouts can be done anywhere (inside and outside).
- You get a natural resistance progression as baby grows.
- You can do each workout all at once or throughout your day as you have a few free minutes.
- Your little can help you get and stay fit.
- Workouts are good for beginners to not-so-beginners?basically everyone.
- You?re teaching your kiddos the importance of exercise and that working out is really fun!
- And the best thing? Extra bonding time with your little one. 🙂
How do you use your carrier to get those workouts in? Share in the comments below? for your chance ?to win?one?Ergobaby Performance Carrier!!
Here’s what you need to do to enter:
- Comment below on how you use your baby carrier to workout.
- Share this post via one of my social media channels.
- Be sure to follow me and Ergobaby on as many of the following as possible:?Instagram,?Twitter, and?Facebook.
You? have until midnight on Wednesday, April 29, 2015, to enter, and the winner will be randomly chosen and announced on Thursday, April 30, 2015.
Xoxo,
Heidi
Missed my previous Ergobaby babywearing adventures? Check ?em out here:
Oh Baby! My Babywearing Workout
Oh Baby! My Babywearing Workout, Part 2: The Piggyback Park Workout
Oh Baby! My Babywearing Adventures Continue
And here are some other posts you might like:
No Time for Exercise?
Exercise…It?s A Family Affair!
745 Responses
I have a cheap-y carrier for my fast growing little man. He has almost reach the weight limit on it. We like going for walks, doing small things around the house, and working out in our little garden. It’s getting harder with the carrier I have so lately he has been in the stroller quite a bit, which he hates! This carrier would be so nice!
I have the Chicco baby carrier and I use it during some of my workouts! I love doing squats and walking lunges. However, I often use my son Gavin, who is 8 months old, as my weight during the boot camp I go to! He gets to be outside with mommy and watch me get back in shape! During weight exercises I use him to do bicep curls, shoulder lifts, chest press, tricep dips, and anything else I can think of! He loves every minute of it! Most importantly is that I’m setting the example for him to lead a fit and active lifestyle! I have hear Ergo carriers are the best and hope to one day afford one! But or now I’ll just keep working with what I have and continue to get fit with the help of my little man! You are a true inspiration Heidi! Thank you for all of your tips with fitness, health, and family life!
I currently do mommy baby workouts mostly military press related workouts with him. I love the bonding with him but I would prefer to have it when I walk him around the late 3 mIles is a long walk with a stroller and I can’t bond with him as much.
For my 3rd kiddo, I’m using an original Baby Bjorn that I received as a gift in 2009 for my first baby – and, he hates it. He’s already 16 lbs. at 10 weeks and he’s not comfortable. I run my own business, while being a SAHM too so a baby carrier is a must. My favorite workouts with him in the carrier before he reached 16 lbs. we’re Hip Hop Abs and neighborhood parks. Baby boy and I would love an Ergo baby carrier!
I am due in early June with baby #3 and then I will have 3 under 3.5 years old! It’s easy to make excuses to not exercise with 3 little ones running around! But keeping fit keeps me sane! Last summer I put my two kids in the swings at the park and did a circuit that used park benches to do box jumps, monkey bars to do pull ups, jump squats, lunges & burpees all while my kids happily swung in the sunshine! This summer I hope to do the same thing only wearing baby! ((And with some modifications of course!))
I am blessed enough to live in Hawaii where I can be out side all year long! I wear my 11 month old during walks on the beach in the deep sand (that’s hard enough as it is! Add a 20 pound baby & HOLY WORKOUT!) I ask wear her on any & all hikes we do! We did 7 miles the other day & the equivalent of 115 flights of stairs! I am working on getting my health back to where it should be. Having a high quality carrier like this would make a world of difference! Thanks SO much for these awesome workout ideas! I think I’ll do them and share with my YouTube subscribers!
Don’t own a carrier but this one would be perfect for my daughter’s church cleaning job! It would make cleaning so much easier having a carrier! Right now her 3 month old is pushed around in a stroller by her while she cleans.
I wear my baby carrier around the park & incorporate lower body workouts like lunges & squats!!
I wear my 3rd while going up and down the stairs and cleaning. I strength train in the mornings while he’s still sleeping. I’d love to have a better carrier so I could do a real workout with him!!
I am due in July so technically I haven’t used a baby carrier but I am determined to get back in shape post baby. I have heard a lot of good things about this carrier and it will be awesome to bond with baby and get exercise!!!