The arrival of a second baby brings joy, love – and a fair amount of juggling! One of the biggest worries for many parents though isn’t the sleepless nights or the double buggy… it’s how to keep life feeling balanced for everyone. How do you continue activities for your older child while caring for a newborn? And how do you make it all feel manageable, rather than overwhelming?
At GetSetSwim, we see this transition every day. Families growing, routines shifting, parents doing their best to meet everyone’s needs. That’s why we design our swim schools and spaces around the real needs of families.
Activities like swimming shouldn’t be the first thing to fall away – but they may need to adapt a bit. We asked Eilish Saba, founder of The Baby Care Company, who runs classes and coaching to prepare parents for the arrival of a second baby, for her expert thoughts:
Why keeping familiar activities matters
When a new baby arrives, older siblings can experience big emotions: excitement, pride, uncertainty, and sometimes a sense of displacement.
Eilish explains: “Maintaining familiar routines and activities can be incredibly grounding for an older child. It reassures them that their world is still important, even as it expands to include a new sibling.”
Swimming lessons, in particular, offer something consistent: a familiar place, trusted teachers, and a sense of achievement that belongs just to them.
Adjust expectations (don't abandon routine!)
The key isn’t doing everything perfectly, it’s being flexible.
Some weeks, you may arrive early and feel calm. Other weeks, just getting out of the house is a win. And that’s okay.
Eilish reassures parents: “This stage of life is about adjusting expectations. Activities don’t need to be seamless to be worthwhile; they just need to be supportive.”
That philosophy underpins how we approach children’s swimming lessons to help all the family. Our goal is to make attending lessons possible and stress-free, even on the messy days.
Make space for real life (and babies)
We know that attending a swimming lesson with a newborn in tow brings practical challenges. That’s why our swim schools are designed with families in mind.
Across our locations, parents will find:
- Unisex changing rooms, making it easier for one adult managing more than one child
- Baby changing facilities within the changing area
- A baby pen, so parents can safely put baby down while helping their older swimmer change – or even change themselves if joining a Parent & Baby class
These details may seem small, but they make a big difference when you’re navigating swimming lessons with a newborn and a toddler in tow.
As Eilish notes: “Parents need environments that support them, not spaces that add pressure. Feeling physically supported helps parents feel emotionally supported too.”
At our new clubs in Fulham and South Kensington, we’ve taken this thinking even further. Families will find:
- A dedicated play area to keep a sibling happily occupied during another child’s lesson
- Space to pause, sit and enjoy a cup of tea – because sometimes a moment to breathe matters just as much as the lesson itself
We want our clubs to feel like places families can be, not just pass through.
Practical tips for managing activities with two (or more)
With Eilish’s guidance, here are a few gentle reminders for parents navigating this stage:
- Keep one-to-one time where you can – even a short swimming lesson can feel special
- Accept help – whether that’s a partner, grandparent, or friendly team member
- Choose environments that understand families – where babies are welcome and flexibility is expected
- Let routines evolve – continuity matters, but so does kindness to yourself
As Eilish beautifully puts it:“You don’t need to do everything. You just need to do enough – and enough looks different for every family.”
Growing together, one splash at a time
Having a second child doesn’t mean life has to shrink; it just changes shape.
At GetSetSwim, we’re here to support families through those changes, with thoughtful environments, expert teaching, and a deep understanding of what real family life looks like.
Whether you’re bringing a newborn along to watch their sibling swim or stepping into the pool together for a Parent & Baby class, you’re always welcome, just as you are.
The Baby Care Company run second baby preparation classes and coaching across South West London. Head to their website to book, or contact Eilish directly at info@thebabycarecompany.co.uk.