As a newborn photographer, I spend a lot of time putting babies to sleep. For this skill, I have to thank my two darling children for being such terrible sleepers and really helping me hone this skill! Putting babies to sleep takes a little bit of technique and a few key gadgets that I would love to share with you! With Christmas around the corner, you can give a mother to be the gift of sleep or if you have a baby, add these to your Christmas list because they are life savers in my newborn studio.
The first item that I am in love with is my Baby Shusher. It is easily my favorite gadget for getting babies to sleep and it’s what I get for every mom I know who is expecting. It plays a recording of a human voice shushing. You might wonder why you can’t just shush your baby yourself and the answer is that you can, but it’s exhausting after a few minutes. Turning this on will give your shusher a break and might even put you to sleep too! I do have one word of caution when using this item, though. My daughter turned this on the day I received it and put it right to my ear and let me tell you it is VERY loud if you put it too close to your ear. Having it about a foot or more away from baby is perfect for a soothing, shushing noise to help baby drift off to dreamland. It’s the best.
Click here to shop for Baby Shushers
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Another item that I recommend to new moms is a baby swaddle with velcro. I received one of these at my baby shower when I was pregnant with my first baby and returned it because I thought it looked like a “baby straight jacket” with the velcro on the side. I actually don’t use these in my studio but they were key with my daughter once I had a second child and got over the idea of velcroing my baby in a wrap. I was ready to try anything for a little sleep the second time around and this is what my pediatrician recommended. These swaddles gave us eight weeks of blissful rest until my quickly growing baby girl grew out of the largest size. These don’t work for newborn photography because they wouldn’t give me a smooth looking wrap and I don’t need the babies in my studio to sleep all night long, but if you want a baby to sleep and not wiggle out of their swaddle, a secure swaddle wrap is essential!
Click here to shop for Swaddle Wraps
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Another item that I just love and that is popular in newborn photography is the Lulla-Vibe. This is a little vibrating pad that you can lay down right next to baby and the vibration helps to sooth them to sleep. I use this when I am transitioning from one set up to another and I need to lay baby down for a few minutes. This helps to keep baby asleep, especially when they are on their back and more likely to startle awake.
Click here to shop for Lulla-Vibe
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Soothie pacifiers are also super helpful at soothing babies to sleep. I don’t keep these in my studio, but I do let mom’s know ahead of time that if they use a pacifier with their baby, to please bring it to the session. Not every baby will take a pacifier and not every mom wants to use them but they are very helpful.
Click here to shop for Soothie pacifiers
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Lastly, a yoga ball chair is so convenient when babies need a little bouncing to get to sleep and it is a back saver! I used to just walk around with babies and bounce them but this is a game changer. Many newborn photographers use yoga balls to bounce babies to sleep. I love this yoga ball chair because it is sturdy, stays in place and provides back support. It won’t be the cutest item in your nursery, but it will be one of the most used!
Click here to shop for Gaiam yoga chair
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I hope this is helpful, whether you are looking for a gift for a new mom in your life or if you are a new mom looking for some items to make life a little easier (and more restful)!
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