5 Easy Tips I’ve Learned to Keep Your Newborn Sleepy
After years of photographing newborn sessions, I have definitely picked up a few tricks for getting your tiny angel sleepy enough to get them into the cute little poses we love for pictures. But these tips have proven to be just as useful for new moms! I always get questions about it from my clients, so I figured I’d share some of my wisdom for any new parent that might find it helpful!
Milk, milk, & more milk! I feel like this one is kind of a given, but it’s by far my #1 way to keep a newborn sleepy during the session. The best time to feed your baby right before the session begins. I like to keep a bottle nearby during the shoot as well.
Lulla-Vibe: What a game changer! Lulla-Vibe is a vibrating pad which you can place under the crib mattress to gently vibrate the crib. Vibration helps to induce sleep because it brings the baby back to the calming memory of being in the womb.
I actually love using this product for newborn photography! As soon as I place the vibrating pad on the baby’s bottom, 9 out of 10 times the baby settles down and gets sleepy! Every time I do a session, parents always end up buying this after seeing how well it works! Feel free to check it out on Amazon using my link below!
Baby Shusher: I use the brand Baby Shusher Sleep Miracle Sound Machine. I’ve tried lots of white noise machines in the past and I find the actual human voice shushing noise gets newborn to sleep so much faster. It reminds them of the noises in utero because the blood flow they hear in the womb is very similar and provides a relaxing environment for them to rest. Support a small business by shopping through my link below!
Swaddle: It helps eliminate anxiety in your baby by imitating your touch, which helps your baby learn to self-sooth. Not every baby loves swaddling, but for the ones that do, this works great. If your baby resists being swaddled at first, don’t be discouraged! Just try a new technique because, most often, they will respond well to the comforting warm feeling.
Forehead rubs: So simple, yet so effective! Rubbing right above the baby’s eyebrows soothes them into getting super sleepy. This relaxes the muscles in their face, causing them to close their eyes and calms them down. Lightly touching their facial areas like the forehead and bridge of their nose also helps your baby feel safe and fulfills their emotional needs.
