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…
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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
Shop local this Christmas
Christmas shopping, love it or loathe it?
If you are anything like me then the Amazon delivery man is making daily visits to your door with Christmas pressies. That started me thinking that as a small business myself I really ought to try and shop local and visit those local independent retailers and makers.
Here are a few of my favourites I found on my travels.
I first came across the Attic store many years ago when they were an online based store trading mainly on “Not on the high street” and I loved their quirky crochet toys and gifts. Well, now you can visit either of their beautiful gift stores located in Broadstone and Westbourne. Both shops have something for everyone and lots of items that can be personalised making the perfect Christmas gift.
My faves are the personalised jewellery , chose your item and they will put it on a personalised card with a special message. So much nicer and thoughtful than the normal amazon delivery 😉
Lytchett Bay Soaps
Continuing the shop local ethos we have include this great new small business, free postage and packing over £18 or if you are local enough then its free delivery within 3 miles. That’s a win win to me its local but I can order online and the lovely Liz will drop the soaps off to me .
Looking on the website you are literally spoilt for choice , you can go for a best seller like “storm freya” or make up a super gift box as a perfect present.
Great news too is that most of the products are vegan and plastic free.
Cherry Picked Hampers
Theres something supremely christmassy about giving and receiving a hamper full of wonderful local sourced goodies. Over at Cherry picked hampers they have a wonderful selection of hampers for every occasion, the Christmas hampers look extra yummy. This fab local business ticks the local box by sourcing all their produce from Dorset, making it the perfect gift for family and friends.
Walford Mill Wimborne
Walford Mill is a unique centre for makers and artists, they offer a great range of individual items ranging from ceramics to jewellery and cards in the shop. The current maker exhibition is all about Christmas and there are lots of pop-up artists and makers exhibiting during December making it an ideal place to get those unique and unusual gifts.
The Rhubarb Candle Company
Everybody loves candles at Christmas and I just love this local candle making company. The candles are hand poured and made using soy and not the nasty paraffin wax. Very tempted to get the Christmas tree, Spiced Orange or Gingerbread perfumed candle to make the house smell just oh so christmassy. You can order on the website, pick up at a local gift fair or collect from them in person.
Hope you find that ideal gift for your loved ones, don’t forget that you can purchase a KW Photography gift voucher and keep those memories alive forever.
Bye for now
Karen x
Best Christmas tree shopping in Dorset
Christmas tree time
Yay It’s that time of year again, Halloween is a distant memory and the kids are nagging to put the Christmas tree up….Now!
I do try to hold out for December before getting into the festive spirit if the kids will let me. However the one essential item, the Real Christmas tree needs to be sourced and wrestled into the car before Christmas can really get started.
I have been busy asking my photography clients and friends where they would recommend shopping this year for the perfect tree. Here are the top places that have been recommended to get that all-important Christmas Tree.
Moors Valley Country park.
Open 10am to 4pm daily for tree sales, from the 1st to the 16th Dec (or until stocks last).
Trees range from 4ft to 8ft depending on the type you choose , Traditional Norway Spruce or non drop Nordmann Fir.
Why not make a day of it and have some fun in the park with the kids before buying that all important Christmas tree. No time to play, then there is no car charge if you just want to buy a tree and go.
Moors Valley is a forestry commission site, the trees are felled and replanted responsibly meaning there will be Christmas trees for many generations for come.
Brothers farm
Open from Sat 30th Nov
Dorset grown Nordman Fir from the Cranborne Estate.
New kids on the block are the Benson Brothers, I have been following the transformation of their Blueberry PYO with lots of interest over on Instagram and just love this pairs enthusiasm and ethics.
Their moto this christmas is “Christmas is for giving”, so when buying your tree you get to make your very own christmas deccy ( kids will love it) and also make one for Poole Hospital staff as a special thank you for their dedication.
Why not pop along grab a warming cuppa Organic coffee and a homemade mince pie before wrestling the tree in the car.
Trinity St Trees
Available in Dorchester and Weymouth have a great selection and long opening hours. Open till 8pm in Dorchester and 6pm in Weymouth.
This year is their 30th Birthday and to celebrate they are gifting baby potted Christmas trees with every tree purchased. Fab fun for the kids to try their hand at decorating , and if cared for will last for years to come. Pop over to their website to see just what goes into making the perfect shaped tree.
New Park
Situated in Brockenhurst, the heart of the New Forest New Park is another popular forestry commission site. Open from the 29th to 18th Dec and offering Spruce and Fir trees from 4-8ft.
Why not head the beautiful New Forest for a breath of fresh air, pub lunch and spot of Christmas tree shopping. The kids will love seeing some local wildlife. There are plenty of pony’s, cattle and deer roaming freely in the forest.
Here are my top places for the best tree hunting , good luck with the search for the perfect tree. I have been persuaded to put my tree up on the 1st of Dec so i think im going to head over to Brothers Farm to pick mine up.
Dont forget if you are looking for gift vouchers then check out my top 10 here.
My own gift vouchers make the perfect gift that lasts a lifetime .
Bye for now and happy tree hunting
Karen
Outdoor newborn photography in Dorset
During the spring a couple of years ago, I took a newborn baby to a patch of bluebells in Dorset countryside. There, I did my first ever outdoor newborn photography photoshoot.
And, because I loved that session and the photos I created so much (and the baby’s parents did too!), every year since I’ve aimed to do more outdoor newborns.
This summer, I’ve tried a few new outdoor locations with newborn babies. I’ve been to the beach in Poole, and the forest and parks locally. Luckily for me, Dorset has plenty of beautiful locations to work from.
On-location baby photography
Outdoor baby photo sessions are quickly becoming one of my favourite things to do, but they can be quite challenging.
They are weather dependent for one thing, which is why I can’t offer them as a paid-for service; they’re just a personal project for now that I organise when the mood takes me, and the weather is fine.
It’s frustrating that I can’t do more though, to be honest. I’ve certainly had lots of interest from parents wanting to book me for an outdoor newborn photo session and I love doing them. But right now, they’re just something fun and challenging for me to try out with willing families.
Anyone who knows me well should know that I’m always up for a creative challenge!
The challenges of an outdoor newborn photoshoot
Another reason why photographers don’t typically offer outdoor newborn photography is that feeding the baby during the session can be tricky, and if you have a newborn you’ll know that they need feeding regularly when they are so small.
Without the comfortable seating that I have in my photography studio, and perhaps no seating at all depending on the location, an outdoor session with a newborn can be trickier for the parents.
Plus, you also have the fact that if you’re in a public location, there’s a high chance that other people will be nearby and may want to have a nosey at what we’re up to!
That said, I always choose quiet locations for my outdoor newborn photo sessions and do them when the sun is setting. This is when places like parks and beaches are usually quieter, and it’s when the light is absolutely gorgeous!
Sunset sessions are my favourite! The golden evening light is just perfect for photoshoots!
Interested in an outdoor newborn photoshoot?
If you’re expecting a baby and are interested in my newborn photography service, do get in touch.
For many years now, I’ve offered both studio photography and outdoor, on-location photography and I love the variety of my work. Take a look at my newborn gallery to see more examples of the images I’ve created for clients.
Outdoor newborn photography sessions are limited and only available at certain times of the year. But if you’re keen to know more, be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram, as that’ll be where I announce any model calls for future outdoor newborn photoshoots.
Karen
Newborn, baby and family photography: What options do you have at KW Photography?
Here at KW Photography, I offer a variety of different newborn, baby and family photography sessions so this article is a round-up of the services that are available if you choose me as your portrait photographer.
I want you to be clear on what the options for child and baby portrait sessions with me are so that you can make the right choice for your family.
Newborn Photography
My most popular service is my newborn photography. This is my signature service – the one thing I have become known for and which I am the most experienced in. It’s completely true that photographing newborn babies is my first love!
I just adore working with newborn babies and love creating portraits of your brand-new baby, capturing them as they are in their first few days of life. They don’t stay like this for long, so I think it’s so important to photograph this amazing stage.
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A ‘Newborn’ Studio Session
I’m known for my sleeping baby pictures and I’ve photographed over 1000 babies to date!
In this type of session, I spend up to 3-4 hours photographing your baby, creating a variety of poses, and using different props and backdrops to give you a wide choice of images (20-30) to choose from.
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Outdoor newborn portraits
Plus, if you want something different, in addition to the traditional posed newborn images, you can now take advantage of the option to have newborn photos taken in my outdoor garden studio as part your newborn studio session. This is included in the newborn session fee.
Outdoor newborn portraits have proved very popular since I started doing them last year. I keep your baby warm at all times, don’t worry! As always, your baby’s safety is my number one priority.
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The ‘My First Year’ package
This is a great option for families who want newborn photos and know they’d also like to return for baby photos on two additional occasions in their baby’s first year.
I typically capture babies at the ‘sitting’ stage, at approximately 6-8 months, and again on their first birthday (many families choose to upgrade this first birthday session to a ‘cake smash’ photoshoot).
Another thing to point out is that when you book a newborn session with me, you are very welcome to bring older siblings, family members and even your furry friends to also be featured in the photos. I’m a dog lover myself and know that they are an important part of the family too!
Baby and family photography is what I specialise in so adorable sibling photos and mum/dad pictured with the baby are important photos to take. Family photos (up to five people) come as standard too!
Click here for more information about my newborn photography services and here to see examples in my newborn photo gallery.
Baby and Family Photography
If you’ve missed the newborn stage but are still keen to get photos of your baby once they are a few months old, there are plenty of options for you:
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Relaxed older ‘newborn’ photos
Some photographers won’t attempt newborn-style photography with babies over four weeks, but I am very confident working with babies of any age.
The images you can expect to receive when the baby is a little older will be just as beautiful, but they will be more relaxed as your baby won’t be as curled up anymore, and they will be more alert than days-old newborns who sleep almost all day.
Which means that I can usually achieve adorable wide-eyed photos like this.
Click here for more information about my newborn photo sessions and here to see examples in my newborn photo gallery.
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Baby portrait sessions
You can also come to me at any time in your baby’s first year for a baby portrait session. Common milestones that parents like to document are the:
- At approximately 3-4 months – I can photograph them laying on their backs, smiling or practising their ‘tummy time’
- At approximately 6-8 months – typically babies are learning or have learnt to crawl and can sit independently which is a big achievement!
- And any time from 12 months old, babies start to walk. It’s lovely to capture those very first steps!
And, if you wish to have more than one photoshoot during your baby’s first year, the ‘My First Year’ package, as I mentioned above, is a great value option. Find out more about the ‘My First Year’ package here.
Cake Smash Photography
Cake smashes are hugely popular and it’s easy to see why! They are such fun for your baby and the photos are colourful and full of personality!
During a cake smash portrait session, your child gets the chance to celebrate their first birthday in style. With a giant birthday cake and sat in front of a colourful backdrop accessorised to your liking, they have the chance to play, eat and even destroy their cake while I take photos!
But while cake smashes are traditionally associated with a baby turning one, they don’t have to be! Rules were made to be broken, right?!
You can book a cake smash anytime from when your baby is sitting up independently, as I explain here.
Click here for more information about my cake smash photoshoots and here to see examples in my cake smash photo gallery.
Newborn, Baby and family photography
So, as you can tell, there are lots of different options available to you if you’re looking for newborn, baby and family photography.
I’m proud to say that I am one of the longest-established newborn and baby photographers here in Dorset and that I’ve worked in this specialist genre of photography for seven years, photographing babies and children of all ages.
An investment into professional newborn, baby and family photography is one that I guarantee you will never regret. The photos will keep the memories alive and you’ll treasure them forever.
To enquire or to book a portrait session with me, please complete this contact form. I look forward to hearing from you!
Karen x
