Newborn behaviour and settling techniques is one of the biggest questions I get asked during a newborn session. Im often described as a baby whisperer on a daily basis
During my newborn photography sessions Im often asked how Im able to settle baby and how I manage to get them to sleep so quickly. I do have a magic touch with newborns and settling them having over 10 years experience being a Newborn Photographer. However, there are some simple techniques that I use that you also can also utilise at home to help settle your baby to sleep.
These little tiny humans all have their own unique personality and temperament. The first few months are so different for them, the smell, the feeling of clothes on their skin, new sounds and the feeling of being alone. Some newborns are quite content and patient, others not much. Some newborns are quite active and alert, others are settled and happy to self southe.
However, all newborns communicate in the same way, by crying. Crying stimulates your letdown reflex ready to feed, crying allows us parents to know that baby is wanting or needing something such as food or comfort. If baby is hungry, you may notice those hunger cues before the crying starts.
Often during my newborn sessions, I will notice your babies hunger cues:
- the little tongue poking out
- mouthing
- shaking head side to side
- open eyes and more active movements
We will always stop and feed your baby and begin the session again once baby has a nice full tummy and a cuddle from mum or dad. The following are some settling techniques I use whilst photographing your new baby and to help settle your newborn to sleep.
Often my customers will hear me huming, humming during my sessions are something that I have found either settles a baby to sleep or calm a babies cry before it escalates
It really can also be a process of elimination, if your newborn continues to be unsettled, move on to the next, however, sometimes baby could simply be overstimulated and just need to be held to help them to settle.
- Check your babies nappy, some babies absolutely can not stand a wet or dirty nappy and insist it is changed immediately.
- Even if baby has been fed only an hour ago, I usually suggest to try to feed again, comfort feeding is perfectly fine and normal duirng my sessions and sometimes is all your baby needs to help them settle if they are feeling overstimulated, tired, or just in need of some comfort.
- Womb noise or white noise. I use a pink noise app and also use a baby shusher in my studio.
- Wrapping, If a baby is taking a little longer to settle I may opt to wrap your baby and do the wrap portion of your session first. Babies love being wrapped and usually settle quite quickly
- Too hot or too cold. Your baby will tell me very quickly if they are feeling too warm or too cold. I know how to read your newborn due to experience I have in this field
Quite often, once we have gone through these techniques, a newborn will settle into a nice deep sleep. These are just a few ideas I use in the studio during a newborn photography session but ultimately sometimes the baby just needs some awake time and we use this as the perfect chance to take some awake photos of your little one
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