Jogging With Your Baby – the Ultimate Guide for Active Mothers
A new baby in the family is always a great joy, no matter is it the first one or the third one. And it also means another thing – mums will have to adapt to a new way of life after their bundle of joy arrives. And it includes having to come up with ideas on how to get back to some old routines, too, like working out.
Mums who were physically active before their baby arrived would probably want to get back in the shape as soon as possible. Many of them opt for jogging with their babies. Even though it’s a great way to bond with your baby, you need to have a couple of things in mind if you want to try it out.
1. Consider the neck position
Your baby needs to have good control of its neck before you go jogging with them. The baby’s head mustn’t flop around freely while you run because it could be painful for them or cause an injury. So, your baby can be in the stroller while you jog if it’s at least 6 months old or even 7-8 months. The doctor is the one who will give the final permission.
2. Make sure your baby is warm
You will definitely warm yourself up while jogging but your baby will be sitting in the stroller. So, you need to dress your baby according to the current weather. Think about what you would wear if you were only be sitting outside – that’s the outfit for your baby, too. You can wear lighter clothes as your body temperature will rise but your baby needs to be warm and comfy.
3. Safety comes first
You have to make sure your baby is safe at all times. If you choose to go jogging at dawn or dusk, then the top, front and the sides of the stroller have to have reflective accents. You can’t leave it for the drivers to simply notice you (the front part of the stroller is usually pretty low).
Another thing is to never sprint through a yellow light. It’s safer to stop and wait for the next green light. You should also use any safety feature that the stroller has, like a parking brake, a wrist straps or the lock on the front wheel. Every time you stop, even just for a couple of seconds to drink water, use the parking brake.
4. Find a quality stroller
Your baby needs to be comfortable in the stroller, so you need to browse until you find a perfect model. Read the features of every stroller carefully. Reliable sites like Mother’s Choice have detailed descriptions of all models, so make good use of that. It would be better to find a stroller with larger tires for your baby’s comfort. A locking front wheel is a great safety measure against tipping over and provides easy maneuvering.
5. Mind the environment
As you run, flies, mosquitos and gnats could fly into your baby’s face. It’s pretty simple to buy a stroller netting and protect your baby from them. Also, buy an SPF-50 sunscreen for the baby. Even if you extend the sun canopy, it won’t completely protect your baby’s sensitive skin from the UV radiation.
6. Surfaces to jog on
This isn’t about whether you are able to jog and push the stroller over gravel or grass – you probably can. The problem here is that you can come across a deep place or a dip that could tip the stroller and hurt your baby. Even if your baby is wearing the harness, tipping will still toss your baby around. Forward momentum will lead to flinging the seat, together with your baby. So, the safest choice is to stick to asphalt, concrete and packed sand. Any rough path could be dangerous to your child.
7. Make the schedule suits your baby
It will be easier for you to jog if your baby is content. That means it should be well-rested and full. Most babies enjoy the jogging time if they have already been fed. If you’re planning to make a long run, then it’s best if you do it at your baby’s nap time. The baby will probably fall asleep while you’re jogging.
In other words, don’t go jogging if the baby has just woken up or if it needs to eat soon. You won’t get far in those particular situations. If for some reason your baby starts to fuss while you’re jogging, try to continue for a bit. Maybe the motions will calm the baby down. If not, shorten your jog and try again later. Some babies simply need some time to get used to it.
Final advice
As with anything else connected to your baby, you need to be patient. Maybe your baby will need some time to adapt to this activity. And maybe you will need some time to see what works for you. The important thing is that you’ll get to spend some time together.