Having a baby is a big deal, and having two or three is a huge deal. After giving birth, it’s only natural to want to get back into the shape you were in, or even be in better shape than before. Especially after having two or more children. It can be difficult to find the time and desire for exercise, besides running and chasing after the kids. So should you exercise and take up jogging with your babies? The answer is yes, absolutely.
There are many different methods of exercise you can do, but with two or more children on your hands, it is no easy task. That is why we recommend using a double jogging stroller.
If jogging with your babies or toddlers sounds like an attractive idea, a double or triple jogging stroller can make it easy for you to stay in shape while spending some quality time as a family, especially at a time in your life when you may be overwhelmed by responsibility. For active parents with twins or multiple babies, these kinds of strollers are a must-have. You can perform your daily dose of exercise while your babies take their nap. This is a win-win scenario.
Here are 5 tips to help you achieve your daily goals when jogging with a baby.
1. Safety first.
Unless your stroller has a car seat adapter, you shouldn’t begin jogging with your babies until they are at least six months old, because most babies can’t hold their heads up until that age. It is crucial that they can independently hold up their heads before you take them on a run, to avoid any possible injuries because of the bouncing and jostling.
2. Types of strollers.
Double or triple jogging strollers differ from regular strollers in many ways. The jogging strollers are specifically designed and built to handle the speed and roughness your children will experience during your run, so it is important to know what type of stroller you are taking when jogging with babies.
3. What to look for in a stroller.
Because safety is the number one priority, you should always check the safety features on the jogging stroller. These are some of the key features that you want to keep in mind when going through some of the options.
Safety Tether – This is an important feature for when you pick up too much speed or head down a steep incline. You can’t have a runaway stroller if it is attached to you.
Hand Brake – Most models come equipped with a hand brake to make it easier to slow down and completely stop the stroller. When jogging with a baby, using a parking brake, or yanking the stroller to get it to stop is not recommended.
Locking Front Wheel – When jogging, you need to make sure that the stroller is not swiveling left and right, but keep it on a straight path, so the stroller must feature a locking front wheel.
Five-Point Harness – Since you’re going to be running, you can’t have enough security measures when it comes to your loved ones. The five-point harness is going to keep them as safe as possible.
4. Look out for Mother Nature.
Rain, sun, wind, or even flies and mosquitoes can make (jogging with your babies) an unpleasant experience. So you need to make sure your children are protected at all times. Naturally, when you run you’ll heat up, but your babies are stuck in a seat, and babies lose heat fast, so make sure you have dressed them accordingly. Take some extra blankets just in case.
5. Go easy on yourself.
Having babies and being a new mom is a huge adjustment, so you shouldn’t overdo any of your training at first. Pushing a double jogging stroller can also change your running style, so just relax and stay focused. Do interval running at first, run for a minute then walk for two or vice versa. Try jogging alongside the stroller, not directly behind it, this way you can push the stroller with one arm and swing with the other. You can keep switching arms once your pushing arm gets tired. And never let go of the stroller so you can run hands-free, even with all the safety features, you are putting your babies as well as anyone else around you at risk.
There is a jogging stroller out there with your name on it, so don’t despair and feel like you’re running and exercising activities are compromised, there are plenty of techniques you can incorporate when jogging with baby to keep you in excellent running shape.
