Influencer mum Angela Holm, 29, has found herself at the centre of a heated online debate after bringing her baby to the gym for a late-night workout. Holm, who was around four months postpartum, was filmed putting her baby in a carrier and walking on a treadmill, leaving some viewers worried about the potential safety risks.
The clip quickly divided social media. While some people defended Holm for trying to squeeze exercise into a busy life with a newborn, others insisted that the issue was never about a new mum wanting to work out. Instead, they were concerned about having a baby strapped to her body while using a moving treadmill.
@angela.holm Postpartum gym night with my baby: 🤍🫶🏼#workout #postpartum #baby
♬ original sound - Angela Holm
Carrying Baby While Walking on Treadmill
Holm shared the footage on Instagram and TikTok with the caption: 'Postpartum gym night with my baby.' In the video, she arrived at the gym at around 9pm with her newborn in a stroller before starting her workout.
She initially jogged on the treadmill while her baby daughter remained in the stroller. When the baby started crying, Holm stopped, picked her up and secured her against her body using a baby carrier from her own business.
Then, she got back on the treadmill and walked while still filming and kissing the baby's head. The moment quickly became the focus of the video, which has now gained 2 million views on TikTok alone.
The reactions were immediate, with one person bluntly asking: 'Is this gym addiction?'
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Social Media Erupts Over Baby's Safety
For many commenters, the treadmill was the problem.
One viewer who said they worked at a gym claimed bringing a baby onto a treadmill would be 'a big no.' Another warned: 'Carrying a baby on the treadmill is DANGEROUS!!!'
Others focused on the possibility of falling. One comment read: 'It just seems like a big tripping hazard. I feel like more people would fall/trip over feet on a treadmill versus outside.' Another user even admitted they had nearly tripped on a treadmill several times and said seeing a baby carried on one made their 'heart drop.'
Some commenters also questioned whether the gym environment was suitable for a baby, citing concerns over noise and gym rules.
Not everyone was against Holm, though. Some viewers supported her attempt to stay active while caring for a newborn. Others questioned why mums are so often criticised for making time for themselves.
'I think you're doing AMAZING. Keep going,' one supporter wrote.
Who Is Angela Holm?
Angela Holm is a US-based lifestyle and motherhood creator who shares family life, parenting, fitness and postpartum content online. She is also the founder and designer of Angel Baby Carriers, a babywearing business inspired by her own experiences as a mum.
But the controversial gym video is not the first time Holm has shared content featuring her baby while exercising.
On her social media, she often shows how she incorporates her children into everyday routines, including fitness. That makes the latest video particularly on-brand for the creator, but it also means her choices can attract intense scrutiny.
It's important to note that the debate is less about whether Holm, who gave birth just months ago, should be exercising. Instead, it centres on whether a gym, particularly a treadmill, was the right place to carry her baby.
