Babies – especially newborn babies – are kind of my thing. I won’t toot my own horn about much, but I have been called a baby whisperer more times than I can count (which is A-OK in my book!). Before your newborn session, you’ll want to make sure your baby is nice and sleepy and I’m here as a South Jersey newborn photographer to share my top tips to get that baby SNOOZIN’.
Tip #1: Give baby a warm bath
Turn up the heat (or heating up the bathroom with a space heater ahead of time!) warm up some towels in the dryer, and get out the lavender lotion! Many of my clients find that a nice warm bath ahead of the session helps to keep baby sleepy. As a South Jersey newborn photographer, many of my parents find that their baby sleeps much better after a nice bath! A bath can also help in reducing flaky skin – definitely don’t skimp on the lotion afterwards. And if your baby has cradle cap? One more scrub with a cradle cap reducing soap can make sure that they’re picture ready.
Tip #2: Make sure baby is well fed and burped
They call it milk drunk for a reason, right? It can be hard to time when to feed baby especially when they’re cluster feeding or feedings seem inconsistent, but if it’s possible, try to give baby a full feed before the session. I like to have my parents feed baby right before leaving their house if they’re coming to the studio for a studio session and it’s a 30 minute or less drive, or right when they arrive to the studio if it’s a longer drive. As a Delaware newborn photographer, my studio is stocked with whatever you need to feed baby – bottle warmers, nursing pillows, you name it!
Consider burping baby well, right after feeding – especially if your baby tends to spit up or has reflux. When babies are laid down directly after eating, it can cause them to spit up more than normal – something we don’t want during your session with your South Jersey newborn photographer (but don’t worry – if it does happen, we have tons of blankets and wraps to swap out)!
Tip #3: Keep baby awake before the session – but approach with caution!
This can definitely backfire so please approach with caution and adjust as necessary! Before the session and before you do a last feed with baby, try keeping baby awake with tummy time, leg kicks, outside time if the weather permits, you name it. You might have noticed that babies can get overtired when they’re up for too long – and we definitely want to avoid that can make it even harder for babies to fall asleep.
And a bonus tip: ask your South Jersey newborn photographer for a prep guide
All of my newborn families receive an in-depth prep guide ahead of the session with my list of tips to prepare for the session, what to consider packing in their bag, and a run-down of how the session will go. They find this incredibly helpful as they plan for their session with a Delaware newborn photographer! Ask your photographer if they have a prep guide for you to review, or what items they have in their studio that make your packing list lighter.
Need to get your baby sleepy for their newborn session? Top 3 tips from a South Jersey newborn photographer!
Ready to reserve your newborn session? I’d love to learn about your family and how I can help! Reach out here to chat more.
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Awarded “Best Main Line Maternity Photographer” & “Best Main Line Newborn Photographer” by Main Line Parent
Veronika Paluch is an award-winning and highly sought after maternity, newborn, baby, and family photographer offering luxury, organic fine art portraits and an impeccable client experience. She specializes in documenting authentic connections and simple moments of children & families and the quiet beauty of motherhood. Stripping away all of the extras – the costumes, the props, the rigid posing – leaves room for her to capture classic, timeless images that showcase love & family connection.
Veronika serves clients in her beautiful natural light studio, as well as on location throughout the Greater Philadelphia area including the Main Line, Wayne, Plymouth Meeting, King of Prussia, Devon, Malvern, Paoli, Exton, West Chester, Swarthmore, Media, South Jersey, and Northern Delaware.
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