“I’m worried about my older child.”

One of the #1 concerns parents have about a newborn session is how their older child(ren) will feel on the day of the session.  Welcoming a new baby into a family is exciting and also a big transition for everyone in the household.  Children of all ages experience a lot of emotions as they adjust to having a new sibling.

My primary concern on the day of your session is to ensure your older child(ren) feels engaged in the session process and has fun.  I want the session to be a positive experience that they remember (this makes future photo sessions much easier!). 

-We eliminate the pressure to “perform” on session day. I instead turn the sibling portion of the session into a play-based interaction.  Siblings don’t feel pressured to hold or cuddle the baby if they don’t want to. There are plenty of posing options for kids who would prefer to have some space.

-We prepare parents for what to expect from the session and from sibling photos: having realistic expectations for your child based on their age and temperament means the session is much less stressful for everyone in your family.

-“I’m worried about my older child holding my newborn.” We choose poses that are safe and developmentally appropriate: safety of everyone involved in the session is my #1 priority.

-Sibling photos take place at the start of the session. Siblings then head on their way with one of their parents or another family member. Sitting around waiting is boring and not many children want to sit still for long.

I’m worried about my older child

If you really want photos of your brand new baby with their siblings but are worried about what that process entails for your older child, send me a message. I’m happy to answer your questions!

Ottawa newborn photographer, Sara McConnell Photography contact page is here.