Kansas City Newborn Photographer ~ Melissa Rieke Photography
Elias
There are so many things that go into a successful newborn portrait session. The age they come into the studio (I like to shoot in the 8 to 14 day range). Too early they haven’t developed good eating habits yet and are hungry more often…and too late they no longer sleep as soundly and don’t want to curl up as much. I try to suggest keeping the baby awake as much as possible before the session…so they are nice and tuckered out when they arrive. A pacifier…I know I know…many of us do not want to give our little ones a pacifier too early…and that is fine…we will survive without one…but they are pretty helpful. Many of the newborn poses involve their little hands to be by their face with triggers them to want to suck. A pacifier has saved many poses from being lost.
Extra milk! We like to have the babies nice and “milk drunk”. I will ask that you bring a bottle of expressed milk or formula so I can feed the baby if he gets hungry during the session. If you are exclusively breastfeeding that will work as well. But if you are giving the baby a bottle it is better if I can feed him…once they smell mommy and get back in her arms it is hard to get them settled and peaceful again!
Another important thing is their little bellies. Often times babies get gassy…and this makes them very stiff…and not so happy. Today I thought I would find some great tips on ways to help with a gassy baby! I have found several online to share..but first my best tips from when mine were little!
1. Bicycle…lay them on their back and run their little legs like a bicycle…this helps get things moving and helps get the gas up and out!
2. Massaging their little bellies counter clockwise in a wide circle around their belly buttons (not on their belly buttons but a big circle around).
4. If nursing…watching what you eat. For instance…GARLIC. I learned my lesson with Gus when I hate a whole BULB (not a clove) of roasted Garlic one night. (we spread it on bread like butter…soo good)….the next morning poor Mr. Gus had a 15 minute blow out…it wasn’t pretty.
Here are some other tips I found on the web..
– Try a different bottle
-Burp early, Burp Often
-Tummy Time
Ok….now that I said all that…we can see how cute and handsome Mr. Elias is…the real reason you are all here in the first place!
Newborn Sessions are done in the first 10-14 days. Be sure to book before your due date.
