Essential newborn sleep tips for new parents: A free guide
Although they are adorable, there’s no denying it. Newborns are sleep thieves!
But, don’t worry – help is here! As a mum of two and a seasoned newborn, baby and family photographer, who has photographed more than 1000 babies, I’ve got lots of tried-and-tested newborn sleep tips up my sleeve.
Settling new babies is part and parcel of my job as a newborn photographer and I’m not known as a baby whisperer for nothing! So, trust me when I say that I know how to handle and settle babies and that, with my help, you’ll be getting your new baby off to sleep in no time!
My top tips for settling your newborn to sleep
Keep reading and you’ll discover that I’ve got lots of newborn sleep tips which will help to get even the most unsettled baby to sleep.
I’m listing three of my top ten baby sleeping hacks for new parents below, and the full list is available as a free downloadable guide. You can grab your copy by signing up here.
Many, many parents who have used my tips in the guide have since told me that they worked wonders for settling their newborn to sleep.
So, you really won’t want to miss this if you’re expecting a baby soon or already have welcomed your new bundle of joy and need some advice for settling them.
Newborn sleep habits
Before I get onto the newborn sleep tips, did you know that a baby can sleep for up to 18 hours per day in the first few weeks after birth?! Yep, that’s a LOT of sleep!
But some babies sleep more than others and sleep patterns will vary for a while until your baby is older and you manage to establish a sleep routine.
How much and when your newborn baby sleeps will be completely unique to them. Sleep may come in short bursts or your baby may sleep for longer periods – I’m afraid it’s the luck of the draw!
Forget about getting uninterrupted sleep through the night as a new parent. It’s to be expected that babies will wake up every few hours during the day and night as newborns to be fed. They’ll need feeding little and often.
You’ll have heard it before, but the only way to survive this disruption to your own sleep pattern is to try and get as much sleep as you can whenever the baby sleeps. Easier said than done sometimes, but it really is essential in order for you to be feeling your best.
Trying to survive on just a few hours a day won’t be fun over a long period, so always ask for help with caring for your baby if you’re in desperate need of more sleep.
Newborn sleep tips
As the following tips will highlight, there are lots of factors that may affect how long and how deeply your baby sleeps.
They can wake easily at the slightest of touches or if they feel cold. But a sleeping baby can also sleep through a fairly loud level of noise! Which leads me to the first of my tips on how to settle your newborn baby to sleep…
-
Use white noise
Newborn babies are comforted by the sound of white noise as it mimics the sounds they heard when they were in the womb. Remember, they have been listening to the sound of your breathing, your heart beating and your body making noises for months!
For this reason, babies find it easier to settle to sleep if there is low-level white noise in the background. It’s what’s familiar to them and will comfort them enough to sleep peacefully.
In my photography studio, I use an app on my iPhone to play soothing white noise during a newborn photoshoot. There are lots of free apps available that offer this functionality. But if you don’t have the help of a white noise machine or app, make your own sounds. ‘Shushing’ (making gentle ‘shush’ sounds) will help to the baby to sleep.
2. Get the room temperature right
Another thing I do in the photography studio is ensure that the room temperature is optimised for a newborn baby.
The studio is kept at around 23 degrees because they will spend much of the newborn photo session without clothes on. But, at home, you’ll want it slightly cooler, at around 20 degrees.
Keep a room thermometer in the room where your baby is sleeping so you can keep a close eye on the temperature and adjust their clothing according to the temperature.
Babies will need to be warm enough to settle to sleep but shouldn’t be overdressed or at risk of overheating.
3. Establish a routine
By the time your baby is a few months old you will probably want to have established some kind of sleep routine. This makes it easier for your baby to recognise the signs that bedtime is approaching.
Popular rituals in a bedtime routine include a warm bath, a change of nappy and clothes, a bedtime story or lullaby, milk and a cuddle.
Be warned though, sleep is regulated by hormones and until babies are about three months old they don’t know the difference between day and night. Their bodies don’t produce the hormones cortisol and melatonin that ours do, which regulates our sleep patterns.
So, don’t get too hung up on establishing a routine in the early months – try to just go with the flow.
Download your free ‘essential sleep tips for new parents’ guide
For seven more newborn sleep tips and the full guide in a downloadable PDF format, don’t forget to sign up here to have it sent to you by email.
I hope these help! Do let me know how you get on by posting in the comments below.
Karen
Beach Days - Sandy toes and Salty kisses
Dorset Beach Photographer
I’m lucky enough to live and work as a family photographer on the sunny south coast in Dorset. Dorset is well known as a top UK holiday destination and has so many gorgeous places to visit. I feel spoilt for choice for photography locations in the local area. From the beautiful rolling countryside with spectacular views, to the award-winning beaches at Bournemouth and Poole. Not forgetting the dramatic Jurassic Coast, there’s something for everyone. I feel so lucky to be able to be a Dorset beach photographer.
Visitors flock to our beaches from far and wide because they are so unspoilt. Miles of golden sandy beaches, white cliffs and pristine coves to explore with the family. If you love relaxing by laying on the beach sunbathing then visit the 7 miles of sand at Bournemouth and Poole. Or if you fancy a bit more adventure, the Jurassic coast offers fabulous fossil hunting and rock pooling. My kids loved searching the rock pools for all sorts of creatures.
My home town of Poole has the most stunning harbour which is Europes largest natural harbour, this is a mecca for water-sports enthusiasts. Even at high tide, the Harbour side of the Sandbanks peninsular is very shallow. Making the harbour perfect for learning to windsurf and paddleboard. If you fall off you can just stand up in the water and hop back on!
Summertime is the perfect time to visit and enjoy the sun, sea, and sand at Dorset’s gorgeous beaches. Kids love playing in the warm coastal waters and spending the day building sandcastles. Beach days are just so much fun for all the family.
What could be better than splashing in the waves or trying your best to build the biggest sandcastle possible with a tiny bucket and spade? Spending time searching for fossils with my two kids at Lyme Regis is a memory I will always cherish. Cracking open a stone and finding a fossil is just so much fun, and not just for the kids ;).Kids just love spending time at the beach. It’s such a perfect family day out.
The Global pandemic has challenged us all to rethink our priorities and take stock of what’s important in our lives. I think we are all enjoying and appreciating the simple pleasures in life much more. Even if my Banana bread was never quite instagramable 🙂
“Stayvacations” are all the rage and quite honestly Dorset is a fabulous county to do just that. If you are fortunate to live here already then its wonderful just to get out and explore where we live more. I’ve found so many great hidden gems locally (oh maybe that’s another blog).If you are visiting or hoping to soon, then I bet the beach is high up on the list for reasons you fell in love Dorset.
This year more than ever, I’m getting asked to meet families at the beach for a fun relaxed photoshoots. Whether you are staying on holiday, day-tripping, or live locally the beach is a great location for photos.
My favourite beaches for photo sessions are Hengistbury head with the amazing sunset and great beach huts. I also love my local beach, Sandbanks especially nearer the ferry with the sand dunes ( kids love playing in the dunes) and Studland for the quieter more rugged landscape.
Location photo shoots are some of my favourite sessions for families, especially with the long summer evenings. Why not make your stay even more memorable by booking a beach photoshoot. Those memories really will last a lifetime.
Remember, love the sand between your toes (and in your sandwiches), embrace the sand in the car for the next month. Most of all enjoy!
If you fancy a stroll along the beach whilst getting some amazing photos to cherish, you can get in touch with me here.
Bye for now
Karen x
Picnic Time, don't forget your teddy bear
July is “National Picnic Month”
The whole month of July is National Picnic Month, the weather will hopefully warm up and we can all head outdoors. As a family photographer i love the long summer evenings for photoshoots and picnics.
The schools finish for summer at the end of the month (I know 2020 is a bit different) what better way to celebrate summer than a picnic. Here in Dorset, we are truly spoilt by our wide-open spaces.
The Local parks, forests and beaches are beckoning, even the perfect spot in the garden makes a great picnic spot. Kids love heading out to breathe in the fresh air and run around. They can run around and enjoy the sunshine whilst you get to relax on the picnic blanket sipping something chilled and bubbly.
Best Local Picnic Spots
Whether you are local or visiting the area its always great to get the lowdown on some great venues for picnics.
Picnics can be anything from a quick stop on the way to the park to grab some prepacked food or a full-on cream tea complete with Pimms. Either way, the kids will love just being outside.
Here some of my favourite local picnic places.
This beautiful place really does have it all. At Upton Country Park there is so much open space over the site that you can enjoy a picnic and a game of rounders almost anywhere on the site. Enjoy the peace on the newly opened meadows or head to the shoreline and take in the views of Poole harbour. The front lawn of the house is perfect for picnics, learning to ride bikes and football. There’s plenty of toilets and the cafe and ice cream kiosk are re-opening. As a Family photographer Upton Country Park is also my favourite place to hold sessions. The car park is open 9 am-9 pm in the summer and parking charges apply.
Set over 110 acres of parkland, Poole park is open all year round. You have everything from crazy golf to two large play areas to amuse the kids. You can try your hand at dingy sailing on the saltwater lagoon or feed the ducks and swans on the boating lake. Its a fab place to take the family for a picnic and enjoy the Summer sun. Parking charges apply.
Moors Valley is a hugely popular place for families of all ages. It’s a great place to spend the day and because it’s so popular its best to head out first thing and take a picnic. It’s easy to fill the day in the adventure play areas or on the play trail and come away safe in the knowledge the kids will be well and truly worn out. Parking charges apply.
Teddy bears picnic
Children just love to take their favourite stuffed toy out to play. Whether its a battered teddy or a Disney character it doesn’t matter. By bringing your kids “cuddly friend” along it makes the picnic so much more fun. In-fact why not take teddy along to your family photo shoot and we can create a special teddy bears picnic.
As a family and children’s photographer, I just love the storytelling interaction when kids use their imagination in play. Sometimes these are the best photos because they are so relaxed.
Let me know your favourite spots for a picnic, I love to explore new places too.
Why not join me for a family photoshoot bring teddy and a picnic, and just let the magic unfold.
Oh and don’t forget Teddy!
Bye for now
Karen x
Introducing the KW Photography Baby Oscars
And the Award goes to…
This Sunday, the 89th Academy Awards – a.k.a. the Oscars – will be held in Hollywood. The great and the good from the movie industry will attend and the best actors, actresses and movies of the past year will be celebrated. So here at KW HQ we decided we needed our own version The Baby Oscars
Purely in the name of fun, I have decided to create my very own version of the Oscars to tie in with this prestigious event.
Having had my photography business established for six years now, I have a tonne of adorable newborn baby and kids portraits in my portfolio.
So, I thought it would be fun to look back and celebrate some of these gorgeous children.
I love photographing children of all ages
Babies and children are just the cutest people to photograph.
Those of you who have hired me as your portrait photographer and recommended me to your friends will know that I absolutely LOVE my job.
Getting to meet so many delightful little people makes my work so much fun!
The innocence of a sleeping newborn right through to the mischievous grins of a one-year-old during their first birthday cake smash shoot are just some of the things I enjoy the most.
So, ladies and gentleman, without further ado, let me introduce you to…
The KW Photography Baby Oscars
In this inaugural KW Photography Baby Oscars, I’m celebrating some of my favourite images from the past year.
And there are prizes for the winners – if your child is featured below please contact me via the comments box below to claim your prize which is a free 10 x 8 print worth £25.00.
The KW Photography Baby Oscar for the ‘Best Newborn Smile’ goes to…
Bea: Back in July 2016, Bea came along with her mummy and absolutely stole my heart with her great big grin. She was just six weeks old at the time and really loved that camera. Yeah baby!
The KW Photography Baby Oscar for the ‘Best Pout’ goes to…
Theo: This was an easy one to choose. There was no contest really!
All Theo had to do during his photo session was to enjoy his cake smash cake and be the star of my cake smash video. But, no, he had other ideas!
It’s true what they say about working with kids and animals! Ha ha!
The KW Photography Baby Oscar for the ‘Best Yawn’ goes to…
Benjamin: Just look at that sleepy head! Oh, it’s such hard work being just a few days old!
The KW Photography Baby Oscar for the ‘Best Splash’ goes to…
Alyssa: I had so many adorable children in for cake smashes during 2016. Alyssa’s still makes me laugh out loud! She was so excited!
The KW Photography Baby Oscar for the ‘Best Smash’ goes to…
Woody, Hugo and Rosie: Being triplets, they will have to share their cake smash crown, just as they shared their cake. Hats off to mummy and daddy! Triplets as active as these three needs heaps of energy!
The KW Photography Baby Oscar for the ‘Best Chin Dimple’ goes to…
Daisy: Perfect in every way! I love her gorgeous little chin dimple.
The KW Photography Baby Oscar for the ‘Best Newborn Hair’ goes to…
Florence: Just look at those gorgeous locks!
The KW Photography Baby Oscar for the ‘Best Dressed’ goes to…
Elsie: She wins the best-dressed crown hands down. She stole the show in her mummy’s wedding dress.
KW Photography Baby Oscars winners
So, that’s my 2017 KW Photography Baby Oscars award winners!
I hope that you have enjoyed these pictures as much as I have enjoyed taking them? Which is your favourite? Do let me know in the comments.
And, don’t forget mummies and daddies, if your child has been featured please also comment on the blog to get in touch about your prize.
Have a great weekend everyone ☺
Karen x
Christmas baby portraits: How I created these ‘Elf on the shelf’ images
Christmas baby portraits
With Christmas coming up, naturally, I have been taking lots of themed Christmas baby portraits these past few weeks. I just adore them, and every one goes crazy for the elf on the shelf!
Parents do too! And, why not?! There’s so much to love! They can be used on personalised Christmas cards. And they make great Christmas presents for family and friends when printed and framed, or used in photo gifts.
Christmas baby portraits are lovely both to give, and to receive.
Elf on the Shelf inspired portraits
I have particularly enjoyed working on a new concept this year. A creative setup, inspired by the ‘Elf on the Shelf’ craze.
Elf on the Shelf has increased in popularity, here in the UK, over the past few years. So I thought it would be fun to transform a few gorgeous newborns into little elves and capture them sleeping on their very own ‘shelf’.
I say ‘shelf’ in adverted commas since they were not perched on a shelf, of course. It’s simply a clever optical illusion. If you’d like to know how I safely created these Elf on the Shelf-inspired portraits, read on!
Newborn photography: Tricks of the trade
Now, it’s important for you to realize that I would never balance a baby on a shelf or hang them from a height.
Nor would I position them in a basket that was at risk of toppling over. Or in a way that they were required to support their own head in their hands.
That just wouldn’t be safe.
Composite newborn images
All my portraits are taken in the safe, warm environment of my photography studio and the baby’s parents are always close by as well.
‘Composite’ newborn baby portraits like the one above are actually created after the photoshoot. They are essentially one or more photographs combined together using digital editing techniques.
Although the majority of the work is done in the photography studio, editing is an essential element in the success of this kind of image.
How I created the sleeping ‘Elf on the Shelf’ portrait
For the photo above, I setup the shot of the baby resting her head on the teddy bear, while laying on the shelf. The shelf was balanced and securely positioned on a chair, and the baby was held safely in position by the parent at all times.
The final image was achieved when I combined several photographs together. I removed the parents’ hand and the chair from the photographs during the digital editing process. Clever huh?
(For more of an insight into this process, take a look at how composite newborn images are created here).
Clever Christmas baby portraits
Here’s another Elf on the Shelf portrait. This one was tricky to setup, but was worth it!
Although the baby appears to be sitting on the shelf, he was actually lying, safely and comfortably, on his back on the floor.
I deliberately chose the rustic wooden backdrop which looked like the interior wall of a winter log cabin, and then propped the shelf up against his legs and bottom.
To complete the illusion, the props were also carefully positioned alongside him, and stuck down with tape to stop them from falling to the side. Then I photographed the whole setup from above, with my camera looking directly down to the floor.
Ensuring baby’s safety at all times
Of course, I wanted it to appear as though these babies were really positioned on the shelf.
But, as with any other portraits that I create that appear to put the baby in a position of potential danger, I can assure you that these are all created 100% safely.
Book your photoshoot today!
These are just a couple of examples of creative portraits that I produce for my clients within my signature newborn photography experience.
If you’d like something similar with your newborn baby, whatever the time of year, please contact me today.
Karen x
Smile baby! Newborn, baby and child photography
Is there anything more adorable than a smiling baby?
Lucky for me, I get to meet so many gorgeous little ones in my job in newborn, baby and child photography.
And since it was World Smile Day recently, I felt it fitting to collate a collection of some of my recent ‘smiley’ portraits for you to enjoy.
To sleep or not to sleep…
The majority of newborn babies I photograph are less than two weeks old. At that age, they typically spend up to 18 hours per day asleep.
So it’s no surprise then that they spend most of the photoshoot blissfully unaware of the flashing camera. Safely in the land of nod.
But there are always a few cheeky ones!
Sometimes the babies I photograph just refuse to play ball. They’ll be wide awake and taking it all in. This is really lovely if it happens. It gives me the opportunity to capture some great open-eyed shots, like this.
Smile, smile, smile
And if I’m REALLY lucky, they’ll flash me a super-cute smile too!
Babies don’t usually smile before the six-week mark. Anything before that is an unconscious reflex, similar to the jerky arm and leg movements that they do in their first few weeks.
But if they do smile, it’s unbelievably cute! If I can capture any smiling shots for the parents, I always will. Seeing their baby’s smiling face for the very first time is just magic!
Natural smiles are the best!
Older babies, toddlers and young children also regularly give me the most adorable grins.
Unfortunately, as kids get older they learn to give the posed “cheeeeseeee” grins whenever a camera is presented in front of them. This isn’t so great, and it’s one of my daily challenges when working with toddlers and older children.
But capturing a natural smile, when the child’s eyes and entire face light up, is fantastic at any age.
I hope you enjoy the smiles! I love baby and child photography!
If you are expecting a baby and wish to discover more about my newborn photography sessions, visit my Frequently Asked Questions page as well as my Newborn Photography Guide here.
Don’t forget to book as early as possible to secure your preferred date. Book around the time of your 20-week scan if possible. Slots do fill up fast!
Until next time,
Karen x
Choosing your newborn photographer
Newborn photography is now a popular lifestyle choice for many new parents. As the genre has become more popular in the UK in recent years, after first becoming en vogue in America, families throughout the country are now generating an unprecedented demand, which has, in turn, led to an increasing number of photographers offering a newborn photography service. Let me help you with choosing your newborn photographer.
Yet, when it comes to choosing your newborn photographer – someone in whom they are to trust handling and manoeuvring their precious just-born baby – it can undoubtedly prove difficult to decide who to choose. Should they select solely on price? Or are there other factors to consider?
Since there is currently no official qualification that a photographer offering a newborn photography service needs to achieve, unfortunately, the industry is, in effect, unregulated. To put it bluntly, anyone with a camera could potentially claim to be a newborn photography professional, and I can say for certain that there are many very unprofessional, inexperienced people doing just that!
It genuinely frightens me to think of how these so-called ‘professional’ newborn photographers must be posing the newborn babies presented to them. Without any professional training whatsoever, and therefore without having learnt the essential skills of how to safely pose babies, photographers are out there trying out baby poses and positioning these young children in potentially dangerous ways. And all the while, the unwitting parents are none the wiser to the danger that they have put their babies in since they’ve probably never had newborn photos taken before, and they’ve trusted and believed the claims of the ‘professional’ photographer without question. Even looking at a photographers portfolio can be misleading, there are stock images you can buy or unscrupulous photographers will actually just use other photographers photos and pass them off as their own. This very thing has happened to me more than once, sadly there are people out there happy to make a fast buck.
I believe there’s also huge concern about those newborn photographers who are promising a photo session and photos cheap some as low as £20! In my view, such a price can only reflect the fact that the photographer is sub-standard and potentially unsafe posing your baby.
Ideally all newborn photographers would adhere to a professional code of conduct that is designed to safeguard babies and their parents. My hope is that in time, organisations such as the Baby and Newborn Photography Association (BANPAS) will be able to make this a reality.
I’ll undoubtedly blog about this topic again in the future as this subject is one very close to my heart and there is so much more to say. In the mean time I’d love to hear your opinions, and to learn what factors made you choose your newborn photographer, whether you used me or someone else. Please comment and I look forward to reading your responses.
Until next time,
Karen x
