As a seasoned newborn photographer, I’ve had the privilege of photographing hundreds of Hertfordshire’s newest bundle of joys. Over the years, I’ve honed a number of techniques to soothe and calm babies, helping them drift into a deep sleep, perfect for those adorable poses. Here are my top tips for getting your newborn to sleep and stay calm during a photoshoot.
Newborns cry to communicate their needs, whether they’re hungry, cold, or need a nappy change. The key to a successful newborn photography session is calming babies quickly when they get upset. Here are the five essential tips:
Swaddling
Babies love to feel secure, and swaddling mimics the comfort of the womb. It prevents them from flailing their arms and upsetting themselves. I often swaddle babies during sessions, not just for a pretty picture, but as a vital tool for helping them settle and sleep soundly. Swaddling is one of the quickest ways to soothe your newborn.
*I love to use the Swaddle Up for my boys.
Side or Stomach Pose
While it’s safest for babies to sleep on their backs at home, for soothing, side or stomach positions can be incredibly calming. In my sessions, the stomach or “bum-up” pose often keeps babies most relaxed. At home, you can try laying your baby on their stomach across your shoulder in the burping position to soothe them before laying them down.
Shushing
To help your newborn sleep, try shushing them. Babies don’t need complete silence to fall asleep; in the womb, they are used to loud, rhythmic sounds like blood flow. During sessions, I use a white noise machine that plays shushing sounds, activating babies’ calming reflexes. White noise machines that mimic womb sounds can be very effective.
To save yourself from shushing all night, use a white noise machine like the Baby Shusher.
Swinging
Babies are accustomed to movement from their time in the womb, which is why they often fall asleep in the car. After feeding, I gently rock babies in my arms to help them relax and sleep. For fussy babies, I use small, quick motions to mimic the jiggly feeling they experienced in the womb. Supporting the baby’s head and neck with one hand, I gently jiggle their bottom with the other hand to soothe them. Patting their bottom can also help.
Important: Never, ever shake your baby.
Sucking
Another fast-acting technique is sucking. Babies find comfort and reassurance in sucking. While breastfeeding or bottle feeding provides nutrition (nutritive sucking), using a pacifier provides non-nutritive sucking, which helps lower heart rate, blood pressure, and stress levels. Though some parents are hesitant about pacifiers, using one briefly during a session won’t cause nipple confusion.
Putting These Tips into Practice
The more you practice these five soothing techniques at home, the better you’ll understand what works best for your baby. Some might respond well to shushing or white noise, while others might calm down with gentle swinging.
I hope you find these tips helpful. I’d love to hear which techniques work best for you and your little one.
*Ready to book your newborn photoshoot?
With love
Megan x
