Hey. I chimed in on the other “parenting” thread, so I might as well chime in here too. (I agree that it might make sense to condense the threads).
So one device that I found invaluable was a jogging strollers–a stroller robust enough, and with a hand brake, so that you can take it running. I really put in some miles with that stroller, and not just training, but getting around town. The biomechanics of running with a stroller are a little different (you don’t swing your arms, or you swing one arm at a time) but if you get the stroller on a grade, you can get a really good workout, especially as your child grows older/heavier!
Our backpack carrier worked well for walking/hiking but it also worked well carrying around in the house doing chores, cooking, and so on. Our daughter used to like to sleep in it. Sometimes, I wore it for hours, as I just went about my day.
If you’re a climber, bouldering halls can work well–your child can crawl around on the matts, annoying other climbers, while you and your partner alternate burns on routes.
And as I said before…anything you can do to set up a home gym, home climbing wall, home exercise bike, home pull up bar, whatever, will be hugely helpful.
Just a general comment, I spent, and still spend, a huge amount of time with my daughter. We joke that I am both the mama and the papa. I work part time, so I am the principal care giver (I don’t really like that term, but it make sense sometimes). I feel so lucky that I have and had this time for my child. It’s definitely the best thing I have ever done, the most rewarding and fulfilling. Once you put in that time, nobody can take it away from you. You become part of your child, your child becomes part of you. And if that happens partially in a backpack carrier, or jogging stroller, all the better! My daughter used to love the speed when running in the stroller–she would laugh with pleasure (if she wasn’t sleeping). Maybe that’s part of the reason she now loves mountain biking and skiing?
Congrats, and good luck!
Bruno
