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From the moment our babies start crawling away from us, we are concerned with safety from nearly every angle. But while you are frantically baby proofing every square inch of your home, don’t forget that there are things you can do to ensure the business of being Mommy doesn’t bring you any aches and pains of your own. Consider these tips for keeping healthy and pain-free while your little one keeps you on your toes!

• Lifting your little one: Out of the crib, on top of the changing table, into the car…sometimes there seems to be no end to the amount of lifting you do on a daily basis. And this is on top of lifting many other things—groceries, strollers, sometimes other children! To avoid injury, it’s important to know how to properly lift and carry children of all ages. Bend at the knees getting down to their level to take the extra weight into your legs as opposed to your back and shoulders. Keep your back straight and resist the urge to twist. Finally, keep them close to your body so that you have better control of their movements…this prevents them from making too many jerky movements, which is safer for both of you.