Al’s Favorite Newborn Items for Soothing
Hey All! I’m Al of Pleasantly Captured Photography, LLC. I photograph newborns for a living and absolutely love what I do. It can be a tough job sometimes, especially for babies needing extra soothing. Whether you’re a new parent searching for ways to get your little one off to sleep, a seasoned parent looking for something new to try, or a newborn photographer that needs a new technique to add to your arsenal of tools, I hope this list can help!
*This post contains affiliate links, meaning I will receive a small commission for purchases made through the links at no extra cost to you. All opinions expressed are my own.*
Momcozy Muslin Swaddle Blankets
If you’ve come to me for your newborn photos, you know my go-to soothing technique is swaddling! Swaddling is such a great technique because it helps babies feel secure. Once those arms are tucked in, the baby will doze off! I use a fleece cotton receiving blanket in the studio, but I prefer the muslin receiving blanket at home. The muslin breathes much better, especially for hot and humid summers in the south!
Summer Soothe and Vibe Portable Soother
I love this portable vibrating soother during my sessions. I can lay it under and on blankets to help relax the baby for the next shot. The velcro straps are handy for those parents on the go if you’d like to attach it to a stroller, car seat, etc. In addition to the two vibration modes, it plays soothing sounds (two birds, one stone). The only drawback is it can be noisy if on a hard surface.
Munchkin Lulla-Vibe Vibrating Mattress Pad Sleep Soother
This vibrating soother is new to my studio but is a huge help. I love my other soother; however, it can be noisy on hard surfaces, which is where this soother prevails. The soft cushion makes it convenient to put into hard buckets or beds without the annoying rattling sound which can startle a baby. I also love that the pillow allows it to touch the baby directly, something I don’t feel comfortable with the summer soothe because the hard plastic can be cold.
Baby Shusher Sleep Miracle Soother
I have to admit, my assistant and I are old-school shushers! We love shushing babies back to sleep but have found that doing it for extended periods can make our throats dry and hoarse. You’d think we live under a rock as this shutter has been out for some time, but I finally decided to try it after a parent brought this item into the studio. It has a timer, volume control, and a strap that makes carrying it around easy or clipping it to your light or posing stand. I was instantly in love.
Yogasleep Dohm Classic The Original White Noise Sound Machine
The white noise machine is a great staple in any nursery as it helps drown out the sound and soothes little ones to sleep with its gentle sound. The white noise machine isn’t something I’ve used in the studio, but I have used it at home personally for my youngest one. My youngest still uses it to this day, and she’s 7! She can’t sleep without her “calm machine,” as she calls it.
I hope that this list of my favorite newborn products for soothing has helped! I will be sure to update as I try any new items in the studio. If you all have any items that you absolutely love and would like to share, let me know in the comments below! Thank you all again for taking the time to read!
xoxo, Al
