Stop! Newborn Safety! What all new parents need to consider…

Lisa Luyten Baby, Newborn, Photographers

And should expect from their newborn photographer… Newborn Safety is paramount!

New Mums, you have this tiny tiny new person in your life. You’ve carried them 9 months, you’ve protected them all that time. Safe and cosy on the inside.

Now baby is out and safely in your arms earthside, any time you worry about them, you ask for advice. For feeding, for weight, for skin, for your own support. You ask for advice. A good portion of that is professional advice – a doctor, nurse, lactation consultant, a paediatrician. Why? Because you want the best for your baby so they are safe, and you are caring for them the best way possible, always looking out for their well being.

Adelaide Newborn Photographer image of newborn baby girl, as captured by Lisa from Adelaide Newborn Photography — **THIS PHOTO IS A COMPOSITE – BABY GIRL WAS NEVER LEFT NEXT TO HER FUR SIBLING (see end of post)**

When choosing a newborn photographer would you consider “newborn safety” as top priority?

Most people probably hadn’t thought about it. Or even realise they need to. But with such a large number of photographers to choose from and with no formal qualifications needed to call themselves a “professional newborn photographer”, how do you know that you are choosing one who operates safely? One that makes it an ongoing priority to invest in and practice safely in such a specialised field?

No photographer should put a newborn baby at risk, and no parent would allow that if they knew it was happening. All newborn photographers, whether a newbie or even one who has been around for a long time; ALL should put baby’s safety first. Not just copy a pose they may have seen on Pinterest or Facebook from another photographer, without understanding how to do it safely. Don’t assume that just because someone has a Facebook page and calls themselves a newborn photographer, or even if they are popular and have been doing it for a number of years, that they are always safe.

No, I am not a doctor, or a nurse but because I am trusted with your newborn babies, most under the age of 2 weeks, I make it my absolute priority to put their safety first.

Safely, is the only way.

Since starting out as as a newborn photographer, I have always made it a priority to ensure I was acting safely, undertaking both online and in-person training and also following other safety conscious newborn photographers, like Kelly Brown and Sandra Moffat, who created Stand in Baby Sandra has a website focused on newborn safety and is a newborn photographer who is extremely passionate about newborn safety. Sandra has neonatal nurses to assess posing, positions and offers support to the newborn photography industry. This particular blog on baby head positions is very informative, and gives you a good idea that babies need to be positioned safely and shows how easily baby’s breathing can be compromised.

Recently I have seen a few newborn photography videos that have concerned me.

Photographers that are in the industry that really should know better. These videos show newborns in positions that they should not be in, most certainly not without any support. A baby having to support themselves resting on a ball, a baby on a hanging prop, a baby having difficulty breathing whilst being posed upright (also not supported) and a baby in a froggy pose, being left to rest their head on their arms with no support.

A pose that MUST be done as a composite – Froggy

I could go into depth on each one, but in this blog I will only focus on the “Froggy pose” (it is not a pose that I do but one that I see newborn babies put into unsafely).

In a “froggy” pose, without someone holding baby’s head for the first shot and baby’s hands for the second, is unsafe. This pose, again whilst not one I do at all, if it is done, this is how it should be done (see image below). As a composite. This is where two photos are put together as one. If you hear a photographer saying the baby was a “rockstar” they did this on their own. Stop. Question them. This is not safe.

Newborn babies heads are oversized, their tiny arms cannot support this position, and its not one that can be held for long because its not good for their neck or their airway. The baby is also asleep, so if baby wakes he will startle and fall. Spotter or none, why take that risk?

newborn froggy safe version newborn safety

Froggy pose done safely.

Key Newborn Safety Tips

Generally your newborn photographer should ensure the following, and be able to verify they do this:

stays close to baby for the entire session, or asks a parent or assistant to spot if they have to move to get props/lenses
keeps camera strap around their neck whilst shooting from above
won’t stand on anything near the baby that could fall or break
makes parents aware that they may need to assist during the session
baby’s are warm and comfortable
won’t force a baby into a pose the baby clearly is uncomfortable with
no glass props, no using props that could fall or break
no hanging babies – these are always done as a composite
use composites for poses like cocoon, froggie, head on hands, and potato, as its much safer to edit out hands holding baby
composites are used when pets are involved (dogs can startle with flashes)
parents are always close during sibling photos
have their required vaccinations up to date
are insured

You should always be able to trust your newborn photographer will practice newborn safety, if you are not sure – seek reassurance, or even a second opinion (you’d do the same with a doctor). Ask them about their training and backgrounds. Their response should not be just a standard “I have done this for x number of years and no baby has ever been hurt doing it this way”. The same applies during your session, if you are not comfortable with something the photographer is doing, trust your instinct. Question them, or ask them to stop. Why? Because it just takes one to be injured and that is it, one baby, one family’s lives may never be the same again.

Don’t let this stop you getting amazing newborn photos. There are many wonderful photographers, who will make sure you have the most beautiful newborn photos, and done safely. You never get this time again, capture these memories of your baby. You just need to make sure safety is at the top of your list.

One of my favourite safe poses…

One of my absolute favourite poses is always done with babies over a bean bag, even though it looks like Dad’s holding baby up in the air. Certainly one I take pride in doing because, it shows beautifully how tiny babies are safe in Daddy’s arms. And are they? They sure are.

newborn safety beanbag pose newborn safety beanbag pose completed B&w

So are you choosing a safe newborn photographer?

If you are expecting a new baby into your life, or know someone who is, share this blog with them. You can make an informed decision when choosing your newborn photographer. You will then being ensuring you are choosing one you will be able to trust with your precious newborn baby. That tiny treasure you’ve spent 9 months growing and perfecting. Life’s true miracle. Your baby.

If you want to know more, or have any questions you want to ask to help you choose a photographer, please contact me.

And the composite with baby and her fur sister?

Adelaide Newborn Photographer image of newborn baby girl with fur sibling, as captured by Lisa from Adelaide Newborn Photography