Back exercises?

[Anonymous]

I'm a SAHM and need advice from seasoned nannies...

Does sitting on the floor (without back support) hurt your back? I get so achy sitting without back support, especially in my upper back. Do you guys have any specific exercises or ways that you strengthen your back for long periods of sitting on the floor?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Sit on the couch and let the baby sit on the floor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sit on the couch and let the baby sit on the floor.

Thanks but there are no couches in his playroom or in any of his activity-classes like story time or Music Together.

[Anonymous]

Remind yourself to stand up straight and pull your shoulders back all of the time. Practice sitting up perfectly straight and hold that position for as long as you can - gradually you will increase the time you can do it comfortably.

As a nanny, I also highly recommend all Pilates core exercises. You can get a great DVD or catch a class on You Tube.

[Anonymous]

There are a couple of exercises you can do while holding your child, they strengthen core, arm and back muscles and infants/toddlers think it's a game. Sit on the floor with your legs out straight in front of you, hold the child straight out in front of your legs, then raise the child in an arch so that their feet are over your head, bring the child back down in front of you (make sure you keep your arms as straight as you can). Twist to the left bust don't move your arms or legs, bring the child back to center, then twist to the right. Do it few times to start, gradually build up. I also do a set with my legs crossed after legs out.

Lay your child on the floor and stand at their feet, lean down so that your hands are on either side of the child, slowly pick them up and keep your arms extended until you are standing and the child is in front of your face, then reverse and do it super soft and slow as the child touches the floor. Believe me, it's a lot harder to do slowly, it builds up the core and back muscles, and the child thinks it's a game, especially if you make funny faces and noises the whole time.

[Anonymous]

With older kids, I hold one arm down against my side and hold the other out in front of me, letting the child grab on before lifting until my arm is straight. It works on the child's grip and strength while I work on my strength, and again, kids think it's a game. Switch arms, hold the arm out to the side, it works on all of those. As the kids get bigger, I still do the child on the floor, but I do it faster on the way up and I take them all the way over my head, down is fast until I get to my knees, then I slow down.