If you’re looking for baby photoshoot ideas at home, I’ve got another one for you.
One of the most meaningful (and manageable) traditions I’ve kept is taking monthly milestone photos during my babies’ first year. I started this years ago with my oldest daughter, Alexa. I didn’t have a plan or any photography experience—just my phone and a desire to freeze time, one month at a time.
There was no theme, but the photos still turned out beautifully, and I’m so glad I have them.
With my second daughter, Hailee, I found a rhythm. I used the same white fuzzy blanket and a soft purple one each month to create monthly photos with a simple, cozy theme.
My DIY skills got better, but the heart behind it stayed the same: capturing the magic of those fleeting baby days.
By the time Vanessa, my youngest, arrived, I decided to add a new twist—her special teddy bear named Bubsy. Each month, I took her photo with Bubsy and dressed her in a pink outfit to keep a soft, cohesive theme throughout the year. It quickly became one of my favorite baby photo traditions.
Of course, it wasn’t always easy. I wasn’t always on time, and Vanessa didn’t always cooperate, like her sisters before her. But that’s real life, right?
Motherhood is messy, babies are unpredictable, and milestone photos rarely go as planned. While it was often chaotic, I’m so glad I stuck with it because these photos, they’re priceless.
Keep scrolling to see each monthly milestone photo we took at home, with outfit ideas, setup tips, and a whole lot of personality.
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What We Used:
- This soft white blanket was our go-to photo backdrop. It’s cozy, neutral, and photographs beautifully.
- Vanessa’s teddy bear, Bubsy, was her sweet sidekick all year long. Use him to get the same look in you monthly baby photos.
- I did my best to link to Vanessa’s outfits throughout the post — if you’re looking for cute milestone looks, be sure to check those out as you scroll!
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Monthly Baby Photos With Teddy Bear
1 Month: Sleepy Snuggles
Vanessa was just one month old in this photo, and like most newborns, she was happiest when sound asleep. I dressed her in a soft floral sleeper and gently nestled her against Bubsy, her teddy bear, on a white fuzzy blanket.
If you’re trying this shot at home, keep the lighting soft (near a window works great), and snap the photo while baby is napping for those peaceful, dreamy vibes. This is one of the simplest baby photoshoot ideas at home—and one of the sweetest to look back on.
2 Months: Bright-Eyed Beauty
At two months old, Vanessa was much more alert, and this was one of the first times we caught those wide, curious eyes on camera.
I dressed her in a soft pink Kyte Baby bubble romper to stick with our color theme and laid her beside Bubsy on the same fuzzy white blanket. If you’re trying this type of baby photoshoot at home, keep baby fed and rested, then snap away during that sweet “quiet alert” window when they’re calm but awake.
Simple setups like this are perfect for milestone photos and show that with a little natural light and a consistent background, you don’t need anything fancy to create beautiful memories.
3 Months: Sitting Pretty (Sort of)
At three months, Vanessa had just enough head control to be propped up, which made this photo feel like such a milestone. I dressed her in a coral-pink romper to stay on theme and gently positioned her and Bubsy on the soft white blanket with some extra support underneath.
If you’re exploring baby photoshoot ideas at home, this is a great stage to start experimenting with seated poses—just be sure to stay close and keep safety first. Her serious little face cracks me up now, but that’s the fun of documenting each month—capturing who they really were in that moment.
4 Months: Cozy and Curious
By month four, Vanessa was starting to explore her hands and surroundings, and Bubsy quickly became part of that discovery. I dressed her in a ribbed pink romper (our go-to color theme) and laid her down on our soft white blanket with Bubsy as a cuddly headrest.
If you’re looking for baby photoshoot ideas at home during this stage, try taking an overhead shot while your baby is relaxed and playing. It gives a sweet, natural perspective that works especially well on a bed or soft blanket. This was the month I realized photos didn’t have to be posed to be perfect—they just had to feel real.
5 Months: Happy Tummy Time
At five months, Vanessa was all about tummy time and loved lifting herself up to see the world—and the camera! I dressed her in a soft pink Kyte Baby sleeper and created a little prop-up spot by placing a pillow on the couch and draping our white blanket over it, with Bubsy right beside her.
If you’re working on baby photoshoot ideas at home during this stage, using a couch setup like this gives great support and makes it easy to capture that proud little push-up pose. It was a simple trick that gave us one of the happiest photos of the whole year.
6 Months: Giggles Galore
Vanessa hit the six-month mark with the biggest smile and the wiggliest energy. I dressed her in a cozy knit pink outfit and sat her up on our white blanket with Bubsy—though she was way more interested in grabbing him than posing.
If you’re trying baby photoshoot ideas at home at this age, seated photos are gold—but be ready to snap quickly before baby topples over or gets distracted. This is the phase where personality starts shining through, and the outtakes are often just as priceless as the perfect shot.
7 Months: Cuddly Chaos
By seven months, Vanessa had one goal during photoshoots—grab Bubsy and squish his face. I dressed her in pink overalls layered over a printed onesie, then sat her upright on our white blanket with Bubsy front and center (for better or worse!).
At this age, babies love to reach and explore, so if you’re trying baby photoshoot ideas at home, expect the stuffed animal to become a prop and a toy. This photo cracks me up every time—it’s a perfect snapshot of her growing curiosity and very busy little hands.
8 Months: Standing Tall (With a Little Help)
At eight months, Vanessa was already standing with support—earlier than either of her sisters—and looking so proud of herself. I dressed her in a soft pink floral outfit and helped her steady herself against the back of the couch, with Bubsy sitting loyally nearby.
If you’re looking for baby photoshoot ideas at home during this stage, using the couch for balance is a great way to safely capture new skills like standing. Babies grow fast, and photos like this freeze those little milestones before they turn into full-on toddlers.
9 Months: On the Move
Vanessa was well into the crawling stage by nine months, which made this monthly photo a race against the clock. I dressed her in a soft pink outfit and bow, sat her next to Bubsy, and quickly climbed up on a stool to get this overhead shot.
She was so intrigued by me towering above her that it bought me just enough time to snap a keeper. If you’re looking for simple baby photoshoot inspiration at home, try changing your angle—overhead shots can be a fun way to capture movement and keep your curious little one in the frame.
10 Months: Bow and Bubsy
Vanessa was full of personality at ten months, and she was finally more interested in snuggling Bubsy than squishing him. I dressed her in a ruffled dusty rose outfit and her signature bow, then sat her up with her bear for a quick photo before she was off crawling again.
At this age, short and sweet is the name of the game—if you’re planning DIY baby photo ideas at home, set the scene before you bring baby in to save yourself the scramble. Somehow, this photo only took a few tries, and it’s one I’ll always love for how perfectly it captured her silly, sweet side.
Month 11: Nap-Time Magic
By eleven months, I was running out of pose ideas and needed something different—so I decided to capture Vanessa mid-nap.
I tucked our fuzzy blanket into her crib, left the curtains open for soft natural light, and waited (nervously) for her to fall asleep before sneaking Bubsy into position beside her.
It wasn’t our usual routine, and she fought her nap more than usual, but thankfully everything came together and I got this sweet, peaceful moment. If you’re looking for creative baby milestone photo ideas at home, don’t be afraid to try something new—sometimes the unplanned shots are the most precious ones of all.
Month 12: One Whole Year
I can’t believe this is the last monthly photo I’ll ever take of one of my babies. Vanessa turned one—a busy, curious, on-the-go toddler—and this shot was hard to get.
Every time I tried to pose her with Bubsy, she ran straight for me or tried to grab my phone. I finally turned on a cartoon, snuck Bubsy into place, and made a silly noise to get her to glance my way.
It wasn’t the photo I imagined, but somewhere in the chaos it hit me—this was it. The end of an era. And while I’m honestly relieved to be done chasing the perfect shot every month, I’m even more grateful to have these memories to look back on. Because they grow up so fast. Too fast.
Final Thoughts on Baby Photoshoot Ideas at Home
Looking back on these monthly milestone photos with Vanessa and her teddy bear, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude—and maybe just a little relief. It wasn’t always easy. Some months were chaotic, some shots didn’t go as planned, and more than once I was days behind schedule. But in the end, I’m so glad I stuck with it.
This little tradition has become one of my most treasured keepsakes. It’s not just because of the cute outfits and poses, but because each photo holds a memory. A stage. A feeling. If you’re searching for baby photoshoot ideas at home, I hope this gives you the inspiration (and permission!) to keep it simple, stay consistent, and embrace the real moments—even the messy ones.
Whether you’re snapping a quick shot on your phone or planning a full DIY setup, the most important thing is that you’re capturing your baby’s story. And trust me, you’ll be so glad you did.
Have you tried monthly milestone photos with your baby? I’d love to hear about your own traditions in the comments.
