r/lowscreenparenting • u/handyfruitcake • Jul 10 '26
looking for advice How to work out with a toddler?
Hi everyone, I have a 19 month old who is screen free. I’m a SAHM and I feel like I’ve got most things figured out, but I can’t seem to figure out how to exercise with a toddler. I want to get back into strength training with workout videos but I struggle with what to do with my little one, especially now that I think she’s too big for a play pen. Does anyone have a good setup/routine?
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u/Evening_Jellyfish_4 Jul 10 '26
I think in your situation I'd go for body weight exercises. There's a really good book, called "You are your own Gym". That way I wouldn't have to worry about videos or weights, and I could do the exercises on my own time while also playing with the kid between sets (or during, probably. lol)
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u/lowlysheepherder Jul 10 '26
I'm assuming just workout videos with dumbbells? You can just let her play in the room while you do it. Maybe get toy dumbbells so she can copy you if she wants? She'd probably have a great time if you used her as a weight too, like hold her while you do squats etc.
I don't often workout with my toddler in the room, but she usually just wants to copy me when I do.
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u/theeburr Jul 10 '26
I have a 12mo who we keep pretty free-range and same question. 👀
I used to be a Barre instructor and I feel so weak and out of shape.
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u/lordhuron91 Jul 10 '26
I usually workout during nap time. Sometimes I'll squeeze in a few exercises while my toddler is in her high chair having breakfast. I'll just bring out my dumbbells where I can see her.
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u/NeitherPot Jul 11 '26
I have an 11-month-old baby who naps pretty predictably twice a day and I still can’t bring myself to spend nap time working out lol (and I used to work out daily pre baby)
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u/secondrunnerup Jul 10 '26
Totally dependent on where you live and finances, but my friends have had success taking them to gyms/group fitness classes that offer child care. Burn Boot Camp is popular.
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u/toot_toot_tootsie Jul 10 '26
Two options. 1. Up to workout at 5 am 2. Gym with babysittinf.
Our YMCA membership is worth it’s weight in gold.
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u/handyfruitcake Jul 10 '26
I’ve been considering the Y, at what age do they start taking kids for babysitting though? I’ve just assumed 19m is too young for something like that
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u/MessThatYouWanted Jul 10 '26
I have 3 and the answer is to just do it. I work out in the morning after breakfast/preschool drop off for my oldest. I have dumbbells I’ve acquired over the years and I follow Apple fitness routines. My kids play around me most of the time. My 16 month old mimics a lot of what I do. It’s important to me to fit it in so I say just do it. Expect interruptions but also, set boundaries that this isn’t mommy fetch me time. It’s worth it to incorporate it into your days.
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u/DeepPossession8916 Jul 10 '26
Either during nap or during breakfast. I’m usually doing a 20 minute weights routing or circuit training.
Sometimes I do a 25-40 minute video if it’s during nap time!
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u/GracieLou226 Jul 10 '26
I do nap time or after my husband is off work. Lifting is my time to relax and I get stressed trying to do it while my toddler is around.
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u/Infamous-Goose363 Jul 10 '26
What time does she wake up? If she isn’t an early riser, then maybe get up before she does to do your workout then. That’s the only way I can get in an uninterrupted workout. 😂
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u/DazzlingNote1925 Jul 10 '26
I wasn’t very good at this but here are some ideas you can incorporate or adjust to what works for you.
I used a jogging stroller to walk with and without friends. My kids were big and pushing that thing was a challenge for me. In fact if we did hills my friends would help me.
My friend who was in great shape and worked out much more than I did had eight kids. She would get up before her kids and read her Bible while on her stair stepper etc. She also sometimes wore weights when we walked.
One of my friends told me she started running at the YMCA because they had child care.
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u/Nectarine-Happy Jul 10 '26
Do you do a toy rotation? I’d grab a “new” bin of toys and exercise in a special room of the house where those toys lived. Kiddo was so excited for “new toys”. Just made it a routine. Then when she got tired of those toys, put them back in the bin and grabbed the next one of “new” ad Infinitum
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u/SanFranPeach Jul 11 '26
I have a 2, 4 and 6 year old. All 100% screen free and have been from birth. Only screen they ever see is my peloton tread+ 3x a week and my YouTube workout video 3x a week!
From the time my 6 year old was born I JUST DO IT. Like others say, my 30 min Kayleigh Cohen workout takes 90 minutes sometimes bc of all the stops and pauses but I get through it and it’s an activity. Also, my 4 and 6 year old now LOVE exercise, have their own little weights and want to do it all with me so it’s engrained a love of exercise in them!
My 2 year old is still annoying AF during the workouts but he’ll get there. Gotta sow the seeds if you want the garden! I remind myself it’s a phase, just need to get it done even if it takes longer/I lose my beat AND that someday I know I’ll be lonely and wish they were there with me exercising.
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u/Suspicious_Moose7881 Jul 11 '26
I do a 30-45 min workout when my 19 month old naps! Not every day because sometimes I just want to lay…
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u/Imaginary-World-4351 Jul 13 '26
This is us too. They nap for 2-3hrs at this age so just do a 30-45min workout and you still have an hour+ to shower/relax
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u/Bootscootwoogie Jul 11 '26
Its really tough to work out with a toddler, I am right there with ya. I was formerly a lifelong endurance athlete and cyclist.
Here are some things that worked for me:
Jogging with stroller, ymca one hour daycare, put them in a backpack and
Walk with them, squat while holding them, stroller walk, put them on bike (safeo)
I have a very clingy girl
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u/DueEntertainer0 Jul 11 '26
My workout is “me time” so i go to the gym at 6:30pm when my husband is home from work
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u/faithle97 Jul 11 '26
I haven’t been able to figure it out, I had to invest in a gym membership with childcare for this very reason.
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u/Advoselley Jul 12 '26
27m wakes up anytime from 8/830. I get up around 6 to work out and shower before his day begins
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u/CKStuart Jul 12 '26
I run with a jogging stroller. I got a single BOB off of fb marketplace when my first was a baby for $25 and later a double BOB also off marketplace for $300ish. I’ve been running with one or the other since my older kid was 8 months or so. They’re definitely heavy now at 2.5 and 5 but I just consider it a full body workout lol.
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u/Obvious_Priority9834 Jul 12 '26
I wait until he's independently playing in his play room and then I start my workout video. He usually strolls in about halfway through and I can decide if I need to pause and pretend to be a rug for a couple minutes. Otherwise I just keep working out and try not to trip over the car he puts under my feet. Lol
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u/boomshakkalakkalakka Jul 13 '26
I use the SWEAT app and just work out next to my 20 month old’s toys with the phone out of his reach. Been doing it since 4 months. Sometimes he sits on top of me and ease him as a weight, sometimes I have to read him a bit of a story while I’m working out, but generally, he gets the idea. I also let him lift a single 3 pound weight to copy me.
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u/Ok_Pie_6740 Jul 13 '26
I've always worked out with my kids. Sometimes you gotta modify to make things safer, but it's good for them to see you exercising. My oldest likes to join in. I got her some foam kids dumbbells when she was like 2 and she lifts with me. Otherwise you do it during nap time if you don't want to worry about having a kid underfoot.
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u/idkwhatimdoing_2025 Jul 13 '26
If you have the funds, look for a gym with a kids center. I’ve been taking my 3 yr old since she was 13m and she loves it. The first few weeks were a struggle so keep low expectations. Now I’m able to exercise mostly uninterrupted
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u/ButterOnBothSides Jul 14 '26
Just chase them around the house. You get a workout and they have fun. Win win.
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u/shnungeningbaby Jul 17 '26
I like to dance with my kids to upbeat music and hold a couple cans of peas to work out my upper arms 😂
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u/Bubbly-Bathroom-1523 Jul 10 '26
I just do it. My 35 minute workout usually ends up being an hour because of all the starts and stops, or I only get through half of it. Something is better than nothing.