how to get your baby to settle

Photos by Ruby
Apr 15, 2024
3 min read

Feeling exhausted? It's totally normal. Give yourself a mental hug, get the kettle on, and remind yourself that you're not alone.

How has it been? Everyone asks. 'Great! I can't remember what a good night's sleep feels like though.' Firstly, don't feel alone in this. It is something basically every new parent adjusts to and experiences. Being a newborn photographer, it is one of the most common things that gets said to me on a newborn photoshoot.

Having no sleep can feel like hell at the best of times. Feeling like you've got to look after a baby, get jobs done and learn a bunch of new skills whilst having no sleep - can feel impossible.

Baby yawns whilst sitting in his father's arms

SO, WHAT CAN BE DONE?

A lot of it is just about getting to know your baby's needs, and your baby becoming attuned to the concept of a routine. Sleep is SO habitual, not just for baby's but for adults too. Ever had that feeling where you wake up early one morning, for a meeting or to catch an early flight, and then your body insists you wake up at that time for the next few days afterwards? It is literally about training your body to understand when it needs to wake up.

There isn't a magic remedy. It is so personal, and each little one has their own habits and needs. But after chatting to you guys on all your photoshoots and being let in on all your tips and tricks, I thought I would pile together a little list of my favourites for you to have a read. Drop me a message if you have any others!

So, without further ado...

1. Turn the lights down low and the heating at a nice temperature for cosiness!

Baby's want to feel secure and this kind of environment will remind them of what it was like to be in the womb. Now, for your newborn photoshoot we obviously wont have the lights down low, but I do advise that you keep your home nice and toasty warm for the duration of the photoshoot.

2. Watch out for sleep cues!

Baby's are actually so clever. They know when it is time for them to sleep, and they do try and let you know - even though they can't vocalise it yet. If you don't respond quickly, you might miss the sleep window so it's great to have an idea of what means they're feeling those zzz's. Obviously a BIG YAWN is pretty self explanatory. It says, get me lying flat on my back, I am SNOOZY. However you can also look out for red eyes and red skin around the eyes, rubbing their eyes and blotchy cheeks. Also staring into space can often be an indicator that it is time for bed.

3. Get some daylight!

This was such an interesting one, but apparently time spent outside in daylight, especially in the afternoon, can help babies sleep for longer at night! In prep for your photoshoot it might be worthwhile taking your newest arrival out on a walk to get some daylight, as it can allow them to feel sleepy ready for the photoshoot.

4. Baby Massage

This isn't one I would be using specifically for the photoshoot, but again it is a great one to read up on for home use! It's definitely one I can relate to, because nothing quite beats a massage for me! For more information on how to carry this out safely, have a look here: https://www.pampers.co.uk/newborn-baby/care/article/massage-for-your-baby

As a newborn photographer, I won't be using massage per se during the photoshoot, however movement and touch are definitely two very important factors for getting a little one to settle when needed. I tend to do a lot of the settling myself, and it is as simple as holding the baby close to my chest and softly bending my knees to create a gentle motion.

5. Baby Shusher

My all time favourite. This gadget is my SACRED object, especially on a newborn photoshoot. As a photographer who has worked with little ones for 6 years, I can tell you my life changed when I discovered this gem. It pretty much does what it says on the tin, it 'shushes'. I have it on during my newborn photoshoots because it creates a calm and rhythmic environment for the baby. Apparently, it is also about replicating the kind of noises that they heard in the womb. Buy yours today: https://babyshusher.com/