5 Fitness Activities to Do With Your Baby

Featured Article, Growth and Development, Sports and Activities

Fitness expert Nicole Glor of Nikki Fitness recently partnered with Huggies to offer Huggies Little Movers classes in various cities. For those who couldn’t attend a class, here are five great moves that Glor shared with participants. Try them in the comfort of your own home.

Mama/Papa Bear, Baby Bear

Nicole Glor

CREDIT: Amy Sussman/AP Images for Huggies

  1. With slightly bent knees, bend over and place your hands shoulder width apart on the floor, so that your body is in the shape of an inverted V.
  2. Walk your hands forward until you are in a plank or pushup position.
  3. Then, walk your feet forward, toward your hands back in the inverted V position.
  4. Repeat by again walking your hands forward to the plank position, almost in the motion of an inchworm.
  5. Baby will mimic and bear crawl next to you with their bottom in the air.
  6. Repeat 10 times.

Benefit for Baby: builds upper and lower body strength

Benefit for Mom or Dad: works upper and lower body, chest and core

 

Tick Tock Baby Rocket

Huggies Little Movers Class Takeover

CREDIT: Amy Sussman/AP Images for Huggies

  1. Stand with your legs apart holding baby under the arms in front of you and facing out.
  2. Lift your right leg off the ground and to the side, then switch position with left leg in a “tick tock” motion.
  3. Next, squat down letting baby’s legs touch the floor. Encourage baby to squat down with you.
  4. Push off the floor as you stand up from the squat and lift baby over your head like a shooting rocket.
  5. Repeat 10 times.

Benefit for Baby: helps strengthen baby’s legs and rhythm capabilities

Benefit for Mom or Dad: works inner and outer thighs, biceps, shoulders and chest

Horsey Gluteus

3-Horsey-Glutes

CREDIT: Amy Sussman/AP Images for Huggies

  1. Lay on the ground in sit-up position, and sit baby on your waist.
  2. Keep your hands on baby’s waist as you raise your bottom and waist up from the ground and then back down in a bouncing motion. Baby bounces, wiggles and works to balance on your waist.
  3. Repeat 10 times.

Benefit for Baby: strengthen core, lower body and balance

Benefit for Mom or Dad: works your gluteus

Swinging Six Pack

Huggies Little Movers MY GYM Class Takeovers

CREDIT: Amy Sussman/AP Images for Huggies

  1. Head over to the park, a gym for little ones, or anywhere that might have a safe swing for both baby and you.
  2. Put baby in the swing and encourage them to pump their legs for momentum.
  3. Kneel on the ground and hold the swing in both hands sturdily.
  4. Shift your weight forward, slowly pushing and controlling the swing with your core and extending your body forward and as far out as you can.
  5. Slowly return to straight position, all the while engaging your abs and encouraging baby to keep pumping their legs to move the swing as you rest before the next one.
  6. Repeat until you feel the burn!

Benefit for Baby: builds muscle in baby’s quads

Benefit for Mom or Dad: works core, arms and chest

L Stand

Huggies Little Movers MY GYM Class Takeovers

CREDIT: Amy Sussman/AP Images for Huggies

  1. Help baby on all fours with their bottom facing the wall or mirror. Help them kick one leg back at a time against the wall or mirror.
  2. Once baby has the hang of it, get down on all fours in front of a wall or mirror in an inverted V with your head away from the wall.
  3. Slowly walk your feet up the wall, in a hand stand position, and hold for a 5 count.
  4. Baby won’t walk up the wall like you, but will wiggle and move as they put one let against the mirror or wall at a time. The mirror is extra fun for baby looking at themselves upside down!
  5. Hold for 5 seconds and slowly walk down. Repeat until you’re beat!

Benefit for Baby: builds baby’s upper body strength and cognitive development

Benefit for Mom or Dad: works upper body and balance

%d bloggers like this: