How to Keep Up With Your Baby-Turned-Toddler (and Get Your Workout In, Too!)
Mama, I see you.
Your little baby is suddenly running through the house with a spoon in one hand and their pants in the other. What happened to the sleepy newborn who stayed where you put them? Now it’s go-go-go all day long—and you’re just trying to keep up without collapsing into a pile of Goldfish and laundry.
First of all: you are already doing so much.
Chasing your toddler, lifting them into the car seat, bouncing them through meltdowns, and crawling under the couch to retrieve “Doggy” for the 18th time? That's movement. That’s functional fitness in real life.
But what if we told you that with just a few small tweaks, you could turn toddler time into mommy workout time—without adding one more thing to your to-do list?
Here’s how:
1. SQUAT IT LIKE IT’S HOT
Every time you pick something up off the floor (which is… constantly, right?), turn it into a squat. Feet shoulder-width apart, chest up, butt back, knees behind toes. Boom—glute work done. Bonus: narrate your moves and make it a game. “Mommy’s picking up your blocks with her SUPERPOWER LEGS!”
2. Dance Party Cardio
Throw on a high-energy playlist and move together like no one’s watching (except they are... and they’re learning joy in movement from you!). Ten minutes of dancing = a cardio burst + giggles.
3. Stroller Strength Circuits
Heading to the park? On your walk, stop and do:
10 walking lunges (push the stroller as you go)
10 incline push-ups on a bench
20 calf raises while singing “Wheels on the Bus”
Repeat until your toddler demands snacks.
4. Plank + Peekaboo
Drop into a plank during playtime. You hold your core; they hold eye contact. Add peekaboo or sing a silly song to keep them entertained while you sneak in a full-body burn.
5. Toddler-Weighted Workouts
Safely lifting your little one is like using a giggling kettlebell. Try:
Squat & Press: hold them close, squat down, then lift overhead (bonus cheer: “Superbaby!”).
Baby Bridges: lay on your back with them on your hips and press into glute bridges.
Side Lunges with Tickles: because fitness should be fun—for both of you.
6. Stretch While They Snack
You don’t need an hour of silence to get mobility in. While they munch (or, let’s be real, throw Cheerios across the floor), get down beside them and stretch it out: neck rolls, side stretches, cat/cow. Breathe. Smile. Reset.
7. Reframe What Counts
You don’t need a full gym setup or uninterrupted time. You just need a mindset shift:
Play = movement.
Movement = exercise.
Exercise = strength—for your body and your spirit.
Mama, your life is a workout. You’re carrying the weight of tiny humans, keeping up with the pace of toddler chaos, and doing it all on limited sleep. You don’t need more pressure. You just need tools and a little creative joy.
So the next time you’re crawling after a runaway sippy cup or doing a deep squat to pick up your kid for the 400th time today—give yourself credit.
You are strong. You are moving. You are showing your child what it means to care for your body while caring for them.
And that? That’s AWESOME.
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🦸♀️ Ready for more playful workouts and mom-life hacks?
Join us for Pilates & Pacifiers– a joyful, sweaty, baby-and-toddler-friendly fitness party where no one cares if a baby melts down mid-class (it happens). All packages are on sale for the month of July. Let’s turn chaos into confidence together. 💪