“It’s chaotic, but beautiful”: Steph Claire Smith on newborn life, letting go of guilt and finding movement that fits
Steph Claire Smith is back in the baby bubble with newborn daughter Billie.
With a four-year-old, a newborn and a thriving fitness empire to run, 31-year-old Steph Claire Smith has her hands (and heart) full.
The KIC App co-founder, influencer and mum-of-two chats to Bounty Parents about soaking up the baby bubble with daughter Billie, her second child with husband Josh Miller, navigating the shift from one to two kids, and why she’s ditching pressure and perfection in favour of presence and self-kindness.
Newborn life with Billie, sleep and slowing down
Huge congratulations on baby Billie! How has the transition been from one to two kids?
Thanks so much! Honestly, it’s been chaotic haha but also really beautiful! I’m just trying to really soak up the newborn phase and be grateful to be experiencing it again.
One of the hardest things has been not being able to 100% be there for Harvey at all times. But he’s adapting so well to being a big brother, and some of my biggest fears – particularly around sleep – haven’t been as tough as I imagined!
What’s it like navigating newborn life again while also keeping up with Harvey?
It’s definitely a different gear the second time round. I’m still very much soaking up nap-trapped moments on the couch, but things aren’t always as still with a four-year-old zooming around too!
Harvey is at kinder three days a week and Josh is also at home with me, so I’ve got lots of support and extra hands. That’s made navigating everything a little easier.
Sleep deprivation is real with a newborn. How are you coping this time around?
It really is! And people don’t always realise it can last well past the newborn phase. Harvey wasn’t consistently sleeping through the night before Billie arrived, so I was really worried we’d be up with both of them.
But he’s been sleeping great since she arrived, which has been such a relief! And while we’ve had the odd sleepless night, Billie has been easy to resettle so far, so I’m surprisingly feeling pretty good. Having Josh home and being able to have the occasional sleep-in has helped a lot too.
Big feelings and trusting her instincts
You’ve spoken about Harvey favouring you over Josh. How are you navigating that dynamic now with a newborn in the mix?
Thankfully this has improved! Harvey and Josh have been spending so much quality time together, and that phase of Harvey refusing Josh’s help with bedtime or overnight settles has really eased.
He still asks for me if we leave it up to him, but if I can’t or Josh steps in, Harvey’s no longer pushing back, which is SUCH a relief.
Has your perspective on parenting changed now that you’re a mum of two?
Not really! It was a juggle learning how to manage life with one, and now it’s just a new kind of juggle.
The big shift for me is that I really trust my intuition and judgment so much more now. I’m feeling a whole lot less anxious about parenting, which is such a win.
Fitness & self-care
As one of the co-founders behind Kic, how are you approaching fitness this time around?
These first seven weeks have been all about rest and recovery. I’ve been adding in some gentle walks here and there when I’ve felt up to it, but I’ve approached fitness with zero guilt or pressure.
After Harvey, once I had the all-clear, I followed our postnatal Pilates program. It focuses on rebuilding your pelvic floor and other foundations before jumping back into exercise, and it was such a good way to ease back in. I’ll be doing the same again.
What’s your advice for mums wanting to ease back into movement postpartum, especially when time and energy are low?
It’s really important to remember that you don’t need to do long workouts or stick to a complicated routine to get moving again. Even five or ten minutes a day is a beautiful way to start, and it helps movement feel more achievable with everything else going on.
If you don’t know where to start, an expert-led program can help take the guesswork out.
And energy is a tough one, because when you’re sleep-deprived or juggling kids, it can be hard to take that first step. But I always feel better, mentally and physically, when I prioritise movement. That said, it’s about listening to your body. Sometimes just a gentle stretch and meditation is enough.
What’s been your go-to form of movement in the early weeks with Billie?
Slow, gentle walks outside have been really energising, but my focus has mostly been on rest and recovery. Fresh air always helps though, so I’ve prioritised getting outside for a walk when I can!
Tell us about Kic’s Move on from Mid challenge, what inspired this mid-year reset?
We know our community usually feels a bit average at this time of year – winter slump and all – so we wanted to meet people where they’re at. ‘Move on from Mid’ is a 4-week Strength or Pilates challenge, and this year we’re really excited to offer a Postnatal Pilates option for the mummas too.
I’ve just had the all-clear from my physio, so I’ll be jumping into the postnatal program when the challenge launches on July 21.
With two little ones and a thriving business, how are you carving out moments for yourself?
It’s something I’m being really intentional about right now. Sauna sessions, meditation, usually in the car at the supermarket or even in the driveway if Billie is napping!
I’ve also been back in the studio recording KICPOD, which has been a really nice way to ease back into my “regular programming.” I won’t be fully back into all things Kic until later this year, so for now it’s about finding a nice balance between the baby bubble and everything else.
