MOM AND BABY EXERCISE

AEROBIC MOMMAS	A HAPPY MOMMY MAKES A HAPPY BABY

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Posted by: aerobicmomma Original: 2/26/2006 8:30 PM Views: 308 Comments: 0 eProps: 0 Read Comments Post a Comment Back to Your Xanga Site

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Sunday, February 26, 2006

These are some of the exercises we plan on trying in the playgroup. So we wanted to make them available so that you could keep using them at home. Let us know how you like them!

DISCLAIMER: THIS INFORMATION WAS TAKEN OFF OF A WEBSITE. I LOST THE WEB ADDRESS AND AM CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR IT. HOWEVER THE PERSON WHO WROTE IT IS CARRIE MYERS-SMITH.

MOM AND BABY EXERCISE
Incorporating baby into regular exercises can be fun for both mom (or dad) and baby and provides mom with an opportunity to recondition muscles that may have become weakened from pregnancy and allow her to interact with her child. Babies love to watch their parents work out, especially when there is music. Some babies will be lulled to sleep by the rhythmic movement.

Mom and Baby Exercise Guidelines

Ensure mom has received approval before participating in a mom and baby exercise program.
Babies should not be held or worn in a baby harness during strenuous, high-impact activities.
Do not use hand-held weights or barbells around an infant (or any child).
Never release your grasp of the baby when the exercise lifts the baby off the floor.
Never let holding an infant compromise correct form and posture. If an exercise cannot be performed properly while holding the infant, the baby should be set down.

EXERCISES:

CURL-BACKS: Lay baby on lap (thighs) during abdominal curl-back exercises. Hold onto baby's hands.
AIRPLANE RIDE: Lie on back and bend knees to chest. Place baby on lower legs (shins) and pretend to give him or her an airplane ride. Never release your grasp of the baby.
KISS-THE-BABY CRUNCHES: In same position as airplane ride, perform abdominal crunches. As mother curls up, baby kisses are given. Older babies can sit on mom's tummy.
BABY LEG LIFTS: Lie on back with knees at a 90-degree angle and baby resting on lower legs. Lower legs, moving heels toward buttocks, then lift legs back to starting position. Keep lower back pressed against the floor throughout entire movement.
HORSY RIDE: Have baby sit on mom's tummy during bridging. Baby will feel like he or she is going on a "horsy ride."
FLYING BABY: Bench press while holding baby rather than weights. Baby must be able to hold head up for this exercise.
KISS-THE-BABY PUSH-UPS: Lay baby underneath mom while mom does push-ups. Mom kisses baby each time she lowers her chest toward the floor.
LEG EXTENSIONS: Sit on the edge of a chair with both knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Place baby on one shin. Hold onto baby's hands and straighten the leg that the baby is on. Repeat on the other leg.