Mom and Baby Exercise Part 2

Kiss the Baby Push-Ups

Here's an exercise that Allie really enjoys!

Place your baby underneath you while you do push-ups, kissing your baby each time you lower to the floor. 

To make this exercise harder you can:

•  Extend one leg up in the air as you do the push-ups
• Make sure to squeeze your gluts to work the backside
• Bring this extended leg up to your chest after you lower your body to the ground to work more core, make sure to squeeze those abs, alternate legs each rep
• Do a triceps push up
• Keep your arms close to your body as you lower to the floor
• Grab two heavy weights ~8-10 pounds and do a push up while holding the weights
• Do a one arm row after each push-up to work your back

(Move your baby for this last variation, you wouldn't want to hit him/her with the weight!)

To make this exercise easier you can:

•    Place your knees on the ground

Till Next Time!

Laura

Mom and Baby Exercise Part 1

I love exercising! I love how I have a great gym close by that has a great day care to watch Allie while I do my spin classes or run on the treadmill. 

This is all great but I also love finding time to exercise with Allie. 

Mom and Baby exercise is a great bonding experience for both mom and baby!

Quick Fact: Exercise can help decrease symptoms of  postpartum depression, help build those bones, muscles and joints and increase stamina. 

Because we all know it helps to have a strong body and some stamina while raising a little one!

I will be blogging more exercises in the future but I wanted to start with one of my favorites! 

 Airplane Ride 

While lying on your back (back pressed to the ground) with your knees to your chest, place baby on your shins! Talk/make faces at your baby as you move them up and down and side to side!

This exercise mostly targets the core and lower body.

This is also a great tummy time exercise for those babies that are not as comfortable with being on the floor during tummy time. (This game is kind of a distraction)

You can also add a leg lift to work on the quadriceps muscles.

Start with your legs at a 90 degree angle, lower legs moving your heels towards your glutes then back up again. I make sure to always keep my lower back pressed to the floor during the whole exercise. 

Remember to always hold onto your baby!!


Till Next Time!

Laura

References: 

Myers-Smith, C.(n.d.) Mom and Baby Exercise. Retireved June 14, 2011 from http://www.dswfitness.com/docs/Mom&BabyExercise.pdf

Polak, N. (n.d.) Get Moving! Retrieved June 14, 20011 from

http://www.babyzone.com/mom_dad/fitness_nutrition/article/mom-baby-exercise-pg4