I often get asked, “How do you keep newborn babies asleep during their photo sessions?” If only I had a magic wand! Until that day comes, I’ve learned several effective techniques to help newborns drift off to sleep and stay that way throughout their sessions as a Rhode Island newborn photographer.

Patience and Basic Needs

The first step is understanding the baby's needs, which can sometimes take a bit of time—so patience is crucial. If a newborn isn’t settling, I always check their basic needs first. Are they hungry? Does their diaper need changing? Do they need to burp? Once I address those essentials, I ask parents for their tips on calming their baby if they’re still fussy. Over the years, as a Rhode Island newborn photographer, I’ve learned to ask many questions about each baby so I can tailor my approach accordingly.

Baby-Led Approach

I take a very baby-led approach during my sessions, which means I often need to adjust the order of my planned setups based on how the baby is feeling. I let parents know upfront that we’ll likely do a mix of wrapped and unwrapped setups. Depending on the baby's needs, we may end up focusing more on wrapped shots. Regardless of whether their baby is mostly wrapped or not, I always capture adorable newborn photos.

Embracing the Moment

What if you’ve addressed all their basic needs and the baby is still awake? I’ve learned to embrace that situation! If the baby is calm and alert, I take the opportunity to capture some lovely awake shots—parents appreciate these too. If the baby is fussy while awake, I do my best to soothe them before snapping any awake photos.

Helpful Techniques

As for my “tricks of the trade,” I have several techniques to help guide babies to sleep. My studio is kept warm, typically between 75-80 degrees unless the baby is fully wrapped. If the baby seems too hot, I’ll adjust the temperature or turn on a ceiling fan. I also use a special “magic blanket”—it’s just incredibly soft—and if the baby takes a pacifier, I’ll offer that too. However, I’ve found that many newborns don’t take pacifiers, so I don’t rely on that too heavily.

The Power of Hands

One of the best tricks I use to calm babies? My hands! I gently hold their hands to prevent them from hitting or scratching their faces. The longer their hands and arms flail about, the greater the chance they might startle themselves and have trouble falling back asleep.

Essential Baby Products

Lastly, parents frequently ask me about the products I use to soothe babies during sessions. Here are a few of my favorites as a Rhode Island newborn photographer:

White Noise Machine: I love this portable, rechargeable white noise machine. Many parents bring these in, and I appreciate that it stays on for the entire session without needing adjustments. Link
Baby Shusher: This handy tool helps me reduce my own shushing during the session. Babies seem to respond well to the sound, though it does have a timer, so I need to adjust it periodically. There’s also an app, which I haven’t explored much yet. Link
Vibration Pad: This has been a game changer for me! It works wonders for some babies, especially those who don’t take pacifiers. I place it next to the baby, not directly on them, as the vibrations can be too strong for direct contact. Link