Getting Sleepy Newborn Portraits: Reducing Your Baby’s Colic

I’ve been photographing newborn babies for years, and I can tell you that newborn photo sessions are truly unpredictable. After all, babies are unpredictable! That doesn’t mean you’re at the mercy of however the day goes, though. There are plenty of things you can do to help your baby’s first professional portraits go as smoothly as possible and turn out beautifully.

One of those steps is to make sure your baby is comfortable and happy during their session. A happy baby is a sleepy baby, and every parent loves to have plenty of sweet portraits of their sleeping newborn. Over the years, I’ve learned that one of the most common reasons babies may be uncomfortable and fussy during their session is colic, aka gas.

You already know that if you’re breastfeeding your baby, the food you eat will affect your breastmilk. Did you know your breastmilk can affect your baby’s gas? That’s good news because it means you can keep your baby’s discomfort to a minimum for their newborn photo session with some simple modifications.

What can you do to make sure your baby is less gassy for their newborn photos? If you’re breastfeeding, avoid these foods in the 24 hours prior to your baby’s photo session:

• Cranberries

• Pineapples

• Grapefruit

• Oranges

• Lemons

• Strawberries and all other berries

• Tomatoes and tomato products

• Chocolate

• Any nuts including peanuts

• Spicy foods

• Asparagus

• Onions

• Cucumbers and pickles

• Broccoli

• Cauliflower

• Brussels sprouts

• Cabbage

You should also avoid foods that are made with the ingredients above, such as:

• Pizza

• Spaghetti and other pasta with tomato sauce

• Chili

• Tacos

• Salsa

• Ketchup

What you drink could make your baby gassy too. Steer clear of these drinks:

• Soda

• Coffee

• Tea

Yes, this list is long, and it may include some of your favorite foods. But you’ll thank yourself for your sacrifices a few weeks after your session when you get to see the adorable portraits of your newborn baby sleeping peacefully and when you have those newborn portraits to treasure for decades to come. Keep in mind, however, that if your baby is excessively gassy or fussy, it’s a good idea to talk to your pediatrician about the possible causes and how you may be able to help.

If you have a baby on the way and you’d like to schedule your newborn photo session, call my baby photography studio in Washington, DC today.