Preparing for your newborn photography session is about more than choosing the perfect little outfit or packing the diaper bag. A comfortable, well-fed baby is often a much happier and sleepier baby — exactly what we hope for during a newborn portrait session.
If you are breastfeeding, you may have heard that you should avoid certain foods before your baby’s newborn session to prevent gas or fussiness. While every baby is different, there is no universal list of foods that breastfeeding mothers need to eliminate before a photography session.
Here is what I recommend instead.
48 Hours Before Your Newborn Session
For the day or two leading up to your session, try to keep your diet normal, balanced and familiar.
This isn’t the best time to experiment with a brand-new meal, unusually spicy food, a large amount of caffeine, or something you’ve already noticed seems to upset your baby’s tummy.
Most importantly, pay attention to your own baby’s patterns.
If you have already noticed that your newborn becomes particularly fussy after you eat a certain food, consider avoiding that particular food before the session. Every mother-and-baby pair is different, and what seems to bother one baby may have absolutely no effect on another.
What About “Gassy” Foods?
You may have heard recommendations to avoid foods such as:
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Beans
- Onions
- Garlic
- Spicy foods
- Dairy products
These foods do not automatically cause gas in a breastfed baby, and there is no reason to eliminate them simply because you have a newborn photography session coming up.
However, if you have personally noticed a consistent connection between a particular food and your baby’s fussiness, simply leave that food out of your meals before the session.
Be Mindful of Caffeine
A cup of coffee doesn’t automatically need to disappear from your morning routine!
However, caffeine does pass into breast milk in small amounts, and some newborns can be more sensitive to it than others. Too much caffeine may contribute to increased wakefulness or fussiness in some babies.
If your baby seems particularly sensitive to caffeine, consider reducing your intake before your newborn session.
Don’t Make Major Diet Changes Just for Your Photoshoot
One of the most important things I want new moms to know is that you do not need to put yourself on a restrictive diet just because you’re coming to my studio.
You’re recovering from pregnancy and birth while nourishing a newborn. Your own nutrition and hydration matter, too.
Instead of eliminating entire food groups, eat normally, drink plenty of water and avoid only foods that you already know don’t agree well with you or your baby.
If your newborn regularly experiences significant gas, reflux, vomiting, diarrhea, blood in the stool, excessive crying or discomfort after feeding, please discuss these symptoms with your baby’s pediatrician rather than trying to manage them through a pre-session diet.
Feeding Your Baby Before the Newborn Session
A full tummy is one of our best helpers during a newborn photography session.
I recommend planning to feed your baby shortly before we begin. Depending on your baby’s needs and the length of the session, we may also stop for additional feeding, burping, diaper changes and cuddles.
There is absolutely no pressure to keep your baby asleep or to stay on a photography schedule.
Your baby’s needs always come first.
Newborn sessions are intentionally slower and more relaxed because newborns aren’t models — they’re tiny humans who may decide that our carefully planned schedule is completely irrelevant!
And that’s perfectly okay.
A Calm Baby Makes for a Relaxed Newborn Session
The goal isn’t to create a “perfect” baby for your photoshoot. It is simply to make the experience as comfortable as possible for your newborn and for you.
In the 48 hours before your session:
- Continue your normal, balanced diet.
- Stay well hydrated.
- Limit excessive caffeine, especially if your baby seems sensitive to it.
- Avoid only foods you already know seem to bother your baby.
- Don’t introduce unnecessary dietary restrictions.
- Bring everything you normally use for feeding and comforting your baby.
- Be prepared to feed your baby as needed throughout the session.
And most importantly — don’t stress if your baby is awake, hungry, needs to be changed or wants to be held.
We will follow your baby’s lead.
Every newborn session is different, and plenty of time is built into the experience for feeding, soothing and cuddling. Those little breaks are simply part of photographing a brand-new baby.
This article provides general newborn-session preparation information and is not medical or nutritional advice. If you have concerns about breastfeeding, your diet, food sensitivities, reflux, allergies or your baby’s digestive health, please consult your pediatrician or a qualified lactation professional.