What are some strategies you could use to get past these barriers?

If it's a smaller child or infant, place one on the middle of the chest and on the child's back. (if it is a bigger child with enough room for two, place one on the upper right/your left of the chest, and one on the lower left/your right) the pads should never touch each other. 

It’s a because it says during exercise so they are doing a athletic activity