Getting Your Baby to Sleep in Newborn Photos: What You Need to Know
Every parent knows that for newborns, sleep schedules are unpredictable, to say the least. Every baby is different, with some drifting off easily throughout the day and night while others want to stay awake and join the party. When it’s time for your baby’s newborn photo session, though, we want them to be sleeping as soundly as possible.
Why is this the case and how can you help your baby sleep for their photo session? As your Seattle-area newborn photographer, I’m happy to explain!
Why We Want Babies to Sleep for Newborn Photos
There are two reasons why, in every newborn photo session, my goal is to get the baby to sleep for most of the session.
The first reason is the portraits. We all love those precious sleeping baby portraits! These newborn photos capture just how tiny and new your little one is, and for most parents, those sleepy photos are the dream.
The second reason is that when your baby is sleeping, the photo session typically goes much more smoothly. Babies are much easier to wrap, dress, and pose when they’re sleeping, so the more your baby sleeps during the session, the more looks and styles we’ll be able to capture in their photo session. Plus, it’s more relaxing for you when your baby is sleeping soundly and doesn’t need you to soothe them often throughout the session.
How to Help Your Baby Sleep for Newborn Photos
We only have so much control over whether and how much your baby sleeps during their photo session, but rest assured that there are plenty of things you and I can each do to create the perfect environment for a newborn nap. I can use strategies like keeping my studio warm and having white noise playing to lull your baby to sleep. Here are a few tips you can help with too:
Keep your baby awake for an hour or two before their session, playing with them and engaging them so they’re tired when it’s time for the photo shoot.
Feed your baby just before the photo session so they have a sleep-friendly full belly.
Before you feed your baby, either swaddle them or dress them in something that’s easy to take off so they won’t wake up when we prepare them for their portraits.
Book your photo session early (yes, really!). The ideal time for newborn photos is between 5 and 21 days old because your baby sleeps the most during this time, so try to book early so I’m more likely to have availability during this time.
What If My Baby Doesn’t Sleep During Their Newborn Photo Session?
This is a natural question parents ask, but you don’t need to worry! It’s very rare for a newborn to not fall asleep for at least part of their photo session, even if it takes some time to get them to sleep. If your baby is awake but settled, we can still get amazing portraits of them looking wide-eyed and adorable. There’s a very small chance that your baby will cry and fuss through the entire session, but if that does occur, we’ll discuss our options at that time.
Book Your Newborn Photo Session
Have a baby on the way? Let’s get your newborn photos booked! Contact Jaimié Birtel Photography to get started.
