Discover some fun ways to keep up with your walking baby busy in this sponsored post.

Every since Jamie started walking right before he turned one, my world has been turned upside down. I thought he was tough to keep up with when he was crawling! Once he really started moving, I found that my peaceful existence as the mom of a sweet little baby was over, and it was time for Cardio Mom to make an appearance.

Seriously, who needs a gym when you have a mobile 14-month-old?

When my daughter was a baby, I made a huge rookie mistake. She started walking when she was 9-months-old, and was so good at it that right after her first birthday I stopped using strollers. I didn’t want to hold her back and stop her from exploring her freedom. I will say that she was an athletic little thing. She trekked many a mile in her baby day. But still, it was grueling.

For me. Not for her.

I’m smarter than I was when my daughter was a baby. Now I know how important it is to have a reliable and safe stroller and carseat for years after my little one starts walking. It’s really too much to expect them to be able to have the stamina to walk everywhere, and it’s way too much for the mama to have to keep up with an adventurous little one.

Even though I love chasing my little guy around (love might be an exaggeration), there are times when I want to take a stroll that I get to actually enjoy. That’s when I strap my baby in his RIVA Travel System stroller and we head out on our way.

About the RIVA Travel System

The RIVA Travel System is one of two new strollers from Safety 1st this year, one of the baby brands I’ve trusted for years. You probably have, too. They’ve been making products for families for over 25 years!  This stroller is amazing, too, y’all. Not only is it the first stroller made in the USA from a special blend of recycled materials, including recycled Safety 1st car seats, the stroller frame only weighs 18 pounds and the carseat is perfect for babies from 4 lbs. to 35 lbs. Other features of the stroller include:

• Incredibly lightweight stroller frame, weighing only 18 lbs.
• Easy-off, machine-washable fabrics
• High-impact frame made from recycled materials, which is rigorously tested to ensure sturdiness and reliability
• American-made Safety 1st onBoard® 35 FLX infant car seat with side-impact protection for children 4-35 lbs.
• Generous storage basket and canopy with peek-a-boo window
• Two innovative parent cup holders that can double as viewable cell phone holders; and One-hand Lift-to-FoldTM closure that is compact, auto-locks, and stands on its own when folded.

The RIVA Travel System is available exclusively at Walmart and Walmart.com for only $199. If you know strollers, you know that this is an incredible value for the tremendous Safety 1st quality!

3 ways to keep up with your walking baby

Start in a stroller.

When you first go anywhere with your walking baby, whether it’s to the grocery store, the park, or just a walk—start them out in the stroller. I have found that it’s a lot easier to strap them in the stroller when you’re at the beginning stage of your trip because they don’t know all that awaits them on their adventure. If you’ve ever tried to strap a baby in who has just found something they want to explore, you know what I’m talking about! Once you get to where you’re going, you can be the one to choose when baby gets to get out and explore. The RIVA Travel System Stroller is perfect for outings because of the spacious storage basket underneath which lets you keep everything from snacks to your purse while you’re walking.

Make frequent pitstops.

When you’re out and about with baby, make several pitstops so they can get out and get a feel for the land. Take them out of the stroller, walk around with them a little bit and let them see where you are. The more you get out with baby, they’ll get used to the pitstops. You’ll find that they actually start to look forward to getting strapped back into the stroller because they’re looking forward to what’s coming up next!

Adjust your expectations. 

Babies walk slow. Babies walk fast. They run away. They stop and look at things. Sometimes they will give up walking and refuse to move. Remember that they are just learning to be independent and navigate this new skill. If you are truly in a rush to go somewhere, just put them in the stroller. Don’t even chance it. You can not put baby on a schedule! Adjust your expectations for how far you’ll get with your walking baby, be flexible, and remember to savor this time. Because, one day they’ll be driving and you’ll wish for the days of chasing after them in the park.

I’m excited to be a RIVA Travel Systems ambassador! To purchase the super affordable, sustainable, and quite good-looking RIVA Travel System, head over to Walmart.