I’m very cautious about newborn safety during a photo shoot, so I thought I’d share some tips on how to keep your baby safe and comfortable.
I always suggest to lie the baby on soft bedding. You can prop up their heads with a folded blanket or towel underneath the blanket to keep their heads tilting forward (so as not to photograph up their little noses). Most newborns prefer to be swaddled as it makes them feel secure but if your baby prefers arms out that’s fine. Always keep their necks supported too.
Don’t overfeed for the sake of making the baby '"pass out” or sleep for posed photos. The baby will more likely spit up more than usual, have stomach pains and will also throw them out of their normal eating schedule.
Watch for overheating. Newborn’s breathing can become fast or erratic when they’re overheated. Their heart rate increases and can make them extremely lethargic. A good way to check your baby’s temperature is to place the back of your hand on their chest and if they feel too warm, turn off the heating and wrap them in a light blanket and allow Mum or Dad to hold them to settle.
Newborn babies are flexible and bendy but they still can be injured. Trying to manipulate a baby into an odd pose that they don’t naturally do is not a good idea as this is when accidents can happen.
Newborns need to be near their Mums at all time. I never send Mum out of the room to try and calm the baby as it affects the bonding and feeding pattern that Mum is trying to establish. If a baby wants/needs to nurse and be with their mother, then that is right where the baby belongs. I always give the baby to Mum or Dad if they’re distressed in any way. It could simply mean they need a feed, a nappy change or the comfort of being with their parents. When a baby is too stressed their coping mechanism is to go to sleep which is not good. If a baby is stressed in any way, it’s always best that the parents comfort them and do whatever is required to help them settle.
Here are some photos from a previous newborn shoot. These lovely people have just welcomed a little baby girl, congrats, she’s beautiful!
