Working out with awake babies?

Jennifit

Jennifit

Cathlete
Hi!

I have 10 month old twins and seem to be struggling for my own time to workout lately...I tried to a CTX today and they screamed bloody murder for 20 minutes until I just gave up. I would love to be able to workout with them in the room, but how long will I have to endure the screams? Will they ever "get the hint?" I am starting to get really frustrated.

Thanks!!

j
 
I know alot of ppl might blast me for this but I put on a Baby Einstein tape when my DS was that age. That kept him enraptured for 30 min. I also went to the Y but half the time the sitter would come get me out of class.
LD
 
I couldn't workout with my kids around until they were older - maybe around 2? Otherwise, I would push them in the stroller, try to do it before they got up, let DH watch them at night or squeeze in some time during naptime. It's frustrating, but you have to keep it in perspective and start being grateful for the exercise time you get instead of feeling frustrated for the workout time you miss if that makes sense.

Before you know it, they will be older and it will be so much easier to exercise with them! Not easy, but definitely easier!:)

Erica
 
Wow, thats tough with twins no doubt! If one screams, the other one probably starts up, too! When my daughter was that age, I tried to workout during her naps. Sometimes that wasn't possible, because I was working part time, too. If I worked out with her awake in the room, I would either put her in a baby swing or exersaucer play station. I would have to stop several times. Sometimes it took a couple of hours to complete a 45 min. workout!! She was usually content playing or swinging, and watching me, though! Twins, however, are a real challenge! It does get better, though, with time. Eventually, when they get older, they may even try to workout with you! That is really priceless!!!! For now, Baby Einstein tapes work if you have a portable or extra dvd player. Babies love them, and they are beneficial for everyone!:) Take care, Nancy J.~~~
 
Please be careful with the baby Einstein tapes and tv in general. Research is showing that babies who are exposed to television before 2 years of age demonstrate lower language skills (as evidenced by producing and understanding fewer words) and higher rates of ADD (among other things). The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no tv before age 2, and my sense of the research (I am a developmental psychologist so I keep up with this) is that this is something you want to follow.
 
It must be hard working out with 2 kids. I usually wait until nap time to get my workout done. And if he wakes before that, he is happy enough sitting in his swing or exersaucer and watching me. The only time he gets mad is when he is hungry. You would think that with 2 they would keep each other entertanined for a little while.
I can't put a movie on while working out b/c we are in the same room and I am the one watching the movie:) but if it were an option I would do it. I don't think 30-40 mins of t.v will hurt a child.
Lori:)
 
I let my son watch plenty of Baby Einstein in his day. When the kid is screaming and mommy just needs 30 minutes of peace and quiet for whatever, I think it's fine.

I would say try that, or wait until nap time...
 
I will try that...I will have to get a portable dvd player...
I try to do it at nap time, but my DD likes to take 30 minute naps. So, there has to be a time when I can workout with them awake. One day, they kept trying to chase my feet, I put them in their exersaucers all and heck broke loose! lol

Anyway, thanks for the tips - mamma needs some alone time.

Thanks Everyone!!
 
My son loved the Babie Einstein tapes. I always thought I would be the type of parent that didn't let the kids watch TV, but I don't know what I have would have done without it. Anyhow, I started getting up at 5 am to workout after my daughter was born. Now, the kids are a little older and I workout when they are awake with little trouble. Also, to make the time less, you can do the cardio and than later in the day, do the weights. The weights sections on ctx aren't that long, so the kids wouldn't need to be on their own for too. Long.
 
2121 -
That's a great idea! My DD gets up around 5:45! She is driving me nuts with that, but that's another topic! lol I have split it up to make the workouts shorter. Do you do one body part per day?
 
Wow! Twins! You really have no time for yourself! I currently have a 4 and 2 year old and feel I have very limited time for workouts, well or even to go to the bathroom (today, when i got out of the bathroom I found my 2 year old drawing on the walls and white carpet with dark red lipstick!) LOL... but with twins 10 month old, your busy!

What time does your dh get home? Will he take the kids for an hour each night while you workout? Getting up at 5am never worked for me as I was already sleep deprived with the little ones not sleeping all night. I don't know what time you go to bed and how much rest you currently get? When I try to work out with the kids home, it is constant interuption. I finally decided to buy a gym membership with a babysitting room and take their aerobic classes. The only times I can workout at home is when my kids are napping or my Dh is home.

Just remember that this time in your life is temporary. I know it doesn't seem as such now. Especially when you feel you need the workout and time to yourself now more then ever!!! Finding time for yourself in these next few years will probably remain a challenge. But it will get a bit easier with each year.

One more idea... if you have any teenage girls in your neighborhood you could hire them for an hour or two when they get home from school... especially if there is more then one they could alternate days... good luck, and blessings to those little ones.
:)
 
Ooooh, I remember those days :) When mine were that young (now 7 and 4 yrs). I wasn't as "fit" when my first was that young, so I resorted to walking w/her in the stroller. When my second came along I ran on the treadmill while he took his morning nap. When I discovered Cathe I started working out during his afternoon nap. Well...that's really hard because I wouldn't leave the house sometimes until 3 p.m. Once my DD was in school and my DS was home alone w/me I would put a video in for him to watch. Now my kids are so in tune to my schedule, they will bug me on the mornings I don't workout!!! My DS follows me around asking me, "aren't you going to workout Mommy?" and sometimes, that is a great motivator for me :) It gets easier as they get older I promise. And now my kids don't need the TV to help keep them busy, they color, read or play with their toys (for my DS he LOVES his cars).

Good luck, and keep taking care of yourself!!!

Becky
 
Thank you so much for your support. I am happy to hear that it gets easier. I was able to do MM yesterday morning!?!??! The FIRST full workout without either one waking up! yeah! (I think it was because of all of your good vibes)

Anyway, thanks again -

Linda, I wrote in my journal last night what you said, "Everything in life is temporary." Thank you!

j
 
My sister who has two small girls has the neighbor teenager come over for an hour three times a week so she could go out for a run. She started out paying her ($5) but now the girl likes the kids so much she won't take the money and usually stays for several hours.

Also, don't kill me but have you thought about trying some other videos that have shorter workouts? For example they have videos that have three 10 minute segments on them. I have them for weights and yoga. So, if the babes are not cooperating you get something in that is meant to be done in 10 minutes.

Don't beat yourself up do you have any idea how many people don't even bother?!!


KIM
 
My sister who has two small girls has the neighbor teenager come over for an hour three times a week so she could go out for a run. She started out paying her ($5) but now the girl likes the kids so much she won't take the money and usually stays for several hours.

Also, don't kill me but have you thought about trying some other videos that have shorter workouts? For example they have videos that have three 10 minute segments on them. I have them for weights and yoga. So, if the babes are not cooperating you get something in that is meant to be done in 10 minutes.

Don't beat yourself up do you have any idea how many people don't even bother?!!


KIM
 
My sister who has two small girls has the neighbor teenager come over for an hour three times a week so she could go out for a run. She started out paying her ($5) but now the girl likes the kids so much she won't take the money and usually stays for several hours.

Also, don't kill me but have you thought about trying some other videos that have shorter workouts? For example they have videos that have three 10 minute segments on them. I have them for weights and yoga. So, if the babes are not cooperating you get something in that is meant to be done in 10 minutes.

Don't beat yourself up do you have any idea how many people don't even bother?!!


KIM
 
You've already gotten some great ideas here. A little TV won't hurt them (within reason), and I really like the idea of hiring a neighborhood kid as a "mother's helper". If there are no teenagers around, even a younger girl would still be helpful since you will still be in the house. I personally had good results with working out during naps, but I well know that it doesn't always come together. Breaking up the workout into shorter segments is another good idea.

Oh, and don't forget that if you have a computer with a DVD player (or a laptop), you can use that to play movies for the kids too!
 
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