How can you run when your baby is too young to go in a jogging stroller?

So, you’re ready to begin running. You have your jogging stroller, you have a postpartum running plan in place, and maybe you’ve even signed up for a race. Awesome! But… your stroller recommendations say you can’t actually jog with your baby in the stroller until they’re 9 months old (to be safe, always check with your pediatrician about the right time for your baby to be in a jogging stroller). Wait, what? How exactly are you meant to run when you can’t actually run WITH your baby yet?

Don’t worry, Mom on the Run Club tips have you covered!

Let’s start with the ideas that typically come to mind.

• Run when somebody else is watching your baby (okay, great - but what if that’s not an option?).

• Run on a treadmill at home when your baby is napping, or playing in the same room as you (also great… if you happen to have a treadmill… and your baby takes long naps… or happily plays beside you while you run… ).

Now that those are out of the way, let’s look at some creative ideas.

• Team up: if you have mom friends who live nearby, try to team up and run together. Walk to a park, and then take turns running while the other person watches both babies. If you’re super social, you could consider starting a local group for exactly this purpose! Not only do you get to run, you’ll meet new friends with shared interests. Win win!

• Utilize childcare at your local fitness facility or community centre: some of these facilities offer free childcare to their members. If you are comfortable with using this service, you can bring your little one to the gym, and then after you run solo on the treadmill or around the track, you could have a Mama and baby swim session together!