I'm currently doing a course on community health, and have to develop a project that will help a group in the community.
We don't actually have to carry out the project, just study it and get ideas as if we were setting it up.
I've chosen to examine a keep fit group specifically designed for new mothers and mothers of young children, up to the age of about 3 years.
I've had several threads on here in the past about things like this, and there was a lot of interest, but no one seemed to know if there was anything available locally.
My theory is that most women want to lose weight or tone up after giving birth, but childcare is often a problem. In this keep fit group children are encouraged to attend alongside their mothers. Babies can lay on mats whilst toddlers can join in.
The exercises will be relatively easy and low impact, with emphasis on post partum mothers (after the usual 6 weeks at the earliest).
I believe by involving children from such a young age it will help to encourage the idea of a healthy lifestyle early.
I've searched the net and it appears these classes are becoming popular in America, with a few currently running in London and other southern cities.
So, would you attend a class like this? Do you think your child would enjoy it? Would you be reassured if a health visitor or midwife oversaw the classes for health and safety purposes?
Anything else you can think of please let me know as it will all be entered in my notes!
Many thanks for reading!

I've been very interested in joining a keep fit class, but child care (and cost) has been an issue. I did find out that there were some walking keep fit classes, where you push your pram in a group, which sounded ideal. But I don't think they were up and running here in Sheffield. I would have attended something like that or the keep fit classes you mention, but I wouldn't now as my DD is too old (28months) and active to sit still for it. Saying that, if my DD could join in (she likes my excercise video and joins in with me), then I probably would go as it's an activity for both of us.

I hate to be a naysayer but I wouldn't do it. Mostly because my kids are monkeys and I'd never get to keep up, I'd be chasing my twins all over the place and telling them to behave or stay in the room or stop rolling up the exercise mats. Though they'd join in I don't think it would last long before one would need a wee, or some juice or just got bored.
The same would have applied from a very early age so it's possible its the fact there's two of them which is the particular issue, more difficult to keep both engaged etc.

The last time I tried The West End work out at home it resulted in a rather silly scenario with one twin on each hip laughing as I did the leg moves round the lounge, unable to use any other part of my body to copy the moves.

:hihi: zebra! sorry but the mental images I have now!! Oh dear!

thanks for your reply doodle, yes the idea is that children can join in if they are able to. I do like the idea of a seperate area if kids don't want to join in

I go to buggy fit classes which I think is what doodle is talking about. They are in Millhouses park. Although it's not just a walk, it's a lot of running and other exercises and even now I find it hard after doing it for 6 months! I think it's a great idea because I don't know of any reasonably priced gyms where there is a creche for me to leave my little boy in. I find he's mostly fine whilst we are doing the class as he likes being in the buggy when we are running and when we are doing the exercises he watches and either copies or just laughs at us! I would definitely go to a group where I could take my baby but like Zebra I think if my little one was actually on the loose it would be mayhem! He's much safer when confined to a buggy!

http://www.buggyfit.co.uk/index.htm

I would LOVE to do a buggy fit class but didn't think there were any in sheffield! millhouses is still a bit far though :(

She does another in Endcliffe park although that's still this side of the city so I don't suppose it's that much closer. You don't have to go every week so if you wanted to make the trip occasionally you could. There aren't anymore in Sheffield but there's loads in Doncaster :confused: Maybe they are all fatter than us!! :hihi:

:( theres LOADS of parks they could use all over the city, I bet a lot of women would do it! Tell her to come to Hillsborough park :hihi: I can travel there!