What if my baby won’t sleep or cries during a newborn session?

Newborn

February 3, 2026

A guide from a NJ newborn photographer.

If you are expecting a baby or already holding your newborn in your arms and thinking about scheduling a newborn session but worried your baby will not cooperate, this is for you.

“What if my baby won’t sleep during the photo session? What if they cry the whole time? Will the session be a disaster?” First, take a deep breath. As a NJ newborn photographer near Morristown,NJ with a 10 year experience, I can promise you this: This is completely normal. Newborn sessions are designed with real babies in mind, not perfect, sleepy dolls.

Let’s talk about what actually happens when babies don’t sleep or get fussy during their newborn photos.

Newborn boy in a hat in a tiny bed with teddy bear
Newborn girl swaddled photographed in her home in Morristown NJ
newborn baby boy on a brown backdrop photographed in Morristown NJ

Crying and fussiness are part of newborn life.

Newborns are brand new to the world. Everything is unfamiliar :

  • lights
  • sounds
  • being moved
  • hunger
  • gas
  • needing comfort

So if your baby cries during the session, it doesn’t mean you are doing anything wrong. It means… they are just a baby.

As an experienced newborn photographer in NJ, I expect moments of fussiness and I build extra time into every session for exactly that reason.

What if my baby won’t sleep?

This is one of the most common worries I hear from parents in Morris county,NJ. The truth is babies don’t need to sleep the entire session for us to create beautiful images.

Some of the sweetest photos happen when babies are awake:

  • big curious eyes
  • tiny stretches
  • yawns
  • snuggled in parents arms

Awake newborn photos are just as meaningful and often even more personal.

What we do when baby cries during the session?

A professional newborn session is never rushed. If your baby cries ,we pause. Always.

Here are a few things I typically do during newborn session in Morristown and the surrounding areas.:

Feeding breaks. Sometimes baby is simply hungry. In my experience, babies get hungry more often during their session. It’s a hard work to be a model 😉

Diaper changes+comfort breaks. Newborns are unpredictable and that’s expected.

Swaddling. Swaddling helps babies feel secure and calm, and it photographs beautifully.

Gentle soothing techniques. White noise, rocking, warmth-all the cozy things babies love. If you come to my home studio, I promise you you will be sweating because i warm it up to 80 so your baby is warm. I also ask to bring pacifier even if you don’t give it to your baby. It helps to soothe them.

The goal is a calm experience.

Your baby doesn’t have to be “good” for photos

I want every parent to hear this: You do not need to apologize for your baby. Your baby isn;t being difficult. They are being newborn.

As a NJ newborn photographer, my job is to work with your baby exactly as they are-whether they are sleepy, awake, cuddly or need extra comfort.

If you want to encourage sleepiness, here are a few tips:

  • Keep baby awake a little longer before session (but not too much because they will get overstimulated )
  • Feed right before we begin
  • Dress baby in something easy to remove
  • Trust the process
  • DON’T STRESS, because your baby will feel it.

Looking for a newborn photographer in Morris county NJ or nearby counties?

If you are expecting and searching for a newborn photographer in Morristown,NJ or the Morris county area, I would love to connect with you.

My sessions are non stressful , relaxed, and focused on creating timeless images, even when baby needs extra cuddles.

Reach out here to book your newborn session.

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