5 Tips for Soothing Your Newborn Baby | From a Newborn Photographer in Hertfordshire

Those first days with a newborn pass in a way that is hard to describe until you are living it. The tiny fingers, the sleepy stretches, the way your baby curls into you. These details change so quickly. As a newborn photographer who has photographed hundreds of babies across Hertfordshire, I know that a calm, settled baby makes for the most beautiful, honest images. Over the years, I have developed a set of techniques I use every single session to help babies feel safe, comfortable, and sleepy. Here are my top five, because they work just as well at home as they do in my studio.

Newborns cry to communicate their needs, whether they’re hungry, cold, or need a nappy change. The key to a successful newborn photography session is calming babies quickly when they get upset. Here are the five essential tips:

These are the same techniques I use every day at my newborn photography studio in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, and they work just as well at home. If you would like to find out more about what a newborn photography session in Hertfordshire looks like, I would love to hear from you.

Swaddling Your Newborn Baby for Better Sleep and Comfort

Babies love to feel secure, and swaddling mimics the comfort of the womb. It prevents them from flailing their arms and upsetting themselves. I often swaddle babies during sessions, not just for a pretty picture, but as a vital tool for helping them settle and sleep soundly. Swaddling is one of the quickest ways to soothe your newborn.

In my studio, I swaddle babies throughout the session as needed. It is one of the first things I reach for when a baby needs to feel grounded and secure.

I love to use the Swaddle Up for my boys.

Using Side and Stomach Positions to Calm Your Newborn Baby

While it’s safest for babies to sleep on their backs at home, for soothing, side or stomach positions can be incredibly calming. In my sessions, the stomach or “bum-up” pose often keeps babies most relaxed. At home, you can try laying your baby on their stomach across your shoulder in the burping position to soothe them before laying them down.

This is why you will often see me cradling babies face-down across my forearm during a session. It looks unconventional, but it is one of the most effective ways to settle a fussy newborn quickly.

Using White Noise and Shushing to Soothe Your Newborn Baby

To help your newborn sleep, try shushing them. Babies don’t need complete silence to fall asleep; in the womb, they are used to loud, rhythmic sounds like blood flow. During sessions, I use a white noise machine that plays shushing sounds, activating babies’ calming reflexes. White noise machines that mimic womb sounds can be very effective.

My white noise machine runs throughout every session at my Hatfield studio. Parents are often surprised by how quickly it settles even the most unsettled baby.

To save yourself from shushing all night, use a white noise machine like the Baby Shusher.

Gentle Swinging Techniques to Relax a Fussy Newborn Baby

Babies are accustomed to movement from their time in the womb, which is why they often fall asleep in the car. After feeding, I gently rock babies in my arms to help them relax and sleep. For fussy babies, I use small, quick motions to mimic the jiggly feeling they experienced in the womb. Supporting the baby’s head and neck with one hand, I gently jiggle their bottom with the other hand to soothe them. Patting their bottom can also help.

I use this constantly during sessions. Even the fussiest babies tend to soften within seconds of a gentle rhythmic jiggle. It is one of those techniques that feels almost magical when it works.

Important: Never, ever shake your baby.

At my Hatfield, Hertfordshire studio, every newborn photography session is calm, unhurried, and completely led by your baby. Feeding breaks and cuddle breaks are all part of the experience. Find out more about how to prepare for your newborn session.

Using Sucking for Comfort and Reassurance With Your Newborn Baby

Another fast-acting technique is sucking. Babies find comfort and reassurance in sucking. While breastfeeding or bottle feeding provides nutrition (nutritive sucking), using a pacifier provides non-nutritive sucking, which helps lower heart rate, blood pressure, and stress levels. Though some parents are hesitant about pacifiers, using one briefly during a session won’t cause nipple confusion.

I always keep a clean pacifier to hand during sessions. It is a simple tool that makes a genuine difference, and I will always ask a parent first before using one.

Putting These Newborn Soothing Techniques Into Practice at Home

The more you practice these five soothing techniques at home, the better you’ll understand what works best for your baby. Some might respond well to shushing or white noise, while others might calm down with gentle swinging.

I hope you find these tips helpful. I’d love to hear which techniques work best for you and your little one.

Book Your Newborn Photography Session in Hertfordshire

When you are ready to capture those first precious days, I would love to welcome you to my studio in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. Every newborn session at Megan Foster Photography is calm, personal, and completely guided, a full-service photography experience from your very first enquiry through to your finished artwork. Families visit from across Hertfordshire, St Albans, Welwyn Garden City, Barnet, Watford, and North London.

With love,

Megan x