Have you ever noticed that it seems like everyone has a birthday toward the end of summer?
Well…. Late summer has historically been one of the busiest times of year for new arrivals, with August frequently ranking at or near the top for U.S. births. In 2024 alone, 3,628,934 babies were born in the United States – about a 1% increase from the year before.
So if you’re expecting a late-summer or early-fall baby, apparently you’re in very good company.
And as a newborn photographer, I can usually tell when we’re heading into one of those busy stretches, too. My newborn calendar begins filling with due dates, while my inbox starts filling with parents realizing that baby is suddenly going to be here very soon.
Whether you’re expecting during a busy baby month or welcoming a little one in the middle of winter, there are a few things that are much easier to take care of before your due date arrives.
And I’m not just talking about buying diapers and assembling the crib.
Here are a few things you may want to add to your before-baby checklist.
Your Before-Baby Checklist
1. Install the car seat before you think you need to.
This is probably already on your list, but it’s one of those jobs you don’t want to leave until the last minute. Babies are very good at ignoring calendars.
2. Pack a small postpartum basket for yourself.
We spend so much time preparing everything baby might need that it’s easy to forget Mom. Put the things you’ll want regularly in one easy-to-reach place so you’re not searching for them during those first days home.
3. Think beyond newborn-size clothing.
Those tiny outfits are irresistible, but some babies barely wear newborn sizing – or skip it entirely. Having a few 0–3 month basics washed and ready can save you an emergency order later.
4. Decide how you’ll handle meals during the first couple of weeks.
Whether that’s freezer meals, meal delivery, gift cards, or accepting every casserole someone offers you, make feeding yourself as easy as possible.
5. Make a short list of the little things you want to remember.
This is one I think we overlook.
Before everything gets busy, make a tiny list in your phone of the things you don’t want to forget.
Maybe it’s:
- Taking one last photograph of your belly before leaving for the hospital
- Photographing the finished nursery
- Saving baby’s hospital bracelet
- Writing down what your older child says when they first meet the baby
- Taking a photograph of baby coming home
- Writing down baby’s birth story while the little details are still fresh
They don’t have to be beautiful photographs.
They don’t even have to be shared with anyone.
They’re simply pieces of your family’s story that may mean much more to you someday than you realize right now.
6. Reserve your newborn photographer.
This is one that sometimes surprises expecting parents.
You don’t need to wait until your baby is born to book newborn photos.
In fact, I recommend reserving your newborn photographer while you’re still pregnant.
For my newborn clients, I reserve space on my calendar based on your due date. Once baby actually arrives, you simply let me know and we’ll choose the session date from there.
That allows me to leave flexibility in my schedule for babies who arrive early, late, or exactly when expected—which, after more than a decade of photographing newborns, I’ve learned is impossible to predict.
It also means that once your baby arrives, finding a photographer isn’t something you need to add to your list.
It’s already taken care of.
If you’re expecting in the Dayton area, you can learn more about the newborn experience at Jennifer Mae Photography
When Should You Book Newborn Photos?
If newborn photography is something you know you want, I recommend reaching out during pregnancy rather than waiting until after delivery.
My newborn calendar is intentionally limited because each due date needs some flexibility around it. This becomes especially important during busier stretches of the year when several babies may be due within a few weeks of one another.
And if you’re reading this with a baby already in your arms?
Don’t automatically assume you’re too late.
Traditional newborn sessions are typically photographed during those early weeks, but babies don’t suddenly stop being worth documenting because they’ve passed a certain number of days.
I’ve even shared what an older newborn photography session with a one-month-old baby can look like.
One More Thing to Do Before Baby Arrives: Be in a Photograph
This one isn’t exactly a checklist item.
But I think it’s worth mentioning.
Take the picture.
The belly in the mirror. Your partner assembling the crib. Your older child talking to your belly. The nursery that you’ve spent months putting together.
It doesn’t need to be professional. It doesn’t need to be perfectly lit.
You’re documenting the before.
Because there will be a very distinct line in your family’s story between life before this little person arrived and everything that came after.
And someday, even the ordinary parts of waiting for them may be something you want to remember.
Expecting a Baby in Dayton, Ohio?
Whether your baby is due during the late-summer baby boom or in the middle of February, planning ahead can make those first weeks feel just a little easier.
My natural-light newborn studio is located in Centerville, Ohio, and I photograph newborn families throughout the Dayton area.
If newborn photography is one of the things you’d like to have taken care of before your baby arrives, you can reserve your due date during pregnancy and we’ll worry about the actual session date once we know when your little one decides to make their arrival.
Because if there’s one thing babies are particularly good at, it’s making their own plans. 🤍