Opinions on Entering Cute Baby Contests

[becka]

I am really struggling with this so that is probably my answer but I was curious about what the rest of you think about these types of things.

I was reading Baby Talk (a subsidiary of Parents) magazine last night and they are running their annual cute baby contest. You send in a recent picture of your baby and then they choose 5 finalists to go to NYC for a photo shoot and then they choose one "winner" for a future magazine cover.

I am obviously biased and no one is going to tell you that they don't think your baby is cute but DS seems to get so many comments and he is such a cutie. Anyway, I was toying with the idea of just sending in his picture for it but the more I thought about it the more I started to feel like I was exploiting him.

I really would not care if he wins - it would just be more for fun and if he did actually by some miracle win then it would be a fun story and keepsake for later years. I have no intentions of this being a big thing and I am not looking for him to have a career or anything like that.

I guess I am just more concerned because we have some relatives that have taken these things to extremes. They get so worked up about these contests and they are IMHO just being really selfish. They want to win money, titles, etc. for themselves and don't really seem to care about the kids.

What are your opinions?

 

[snoopy]

I don't think entering a contest for fun is exploiting him. And he is a cutie, I think you should do it!

 

[CamColt]

With a doll like Nathan, how can you not? Seriously, I would look at it as a fun thing and if he makes the magazine then, cool! And to be honest, I think he has a good shot.
Good luck.

 

[WilmaBud]

I went through the same thought process with my son when he was a baby. People always told me how gorgeous he was. So, I was thinking about submitting his picture for a contest. But I decided not to because I decided I didn't want anyone else "judging" him. I thought he was perfect the way he was, and I decided it didn't matter what anyone else thought. That being said, I don't think you'll be exploiting him if you enter his picture just for fun. He IS adorable, by the way.

 

[KiminChicago]

I struggled with the same thing with my DD (age 3). Some friends whose children do some modeling keep telling me that I should look into it with Sarah. Then we got an entry form for a beauty pageant that was being held in our area. After talking it over with my DH, we decided that we would enter the contest and just see what happened.

We didn't get her any special dresses or anything because the entry said that the children weren't going to be judged on what they wore, however, once we got to where the pageant was being held, we realized that there are a lot of serious pageant moms out there. After it was all over, Sarah told us that she had fun, but she didn't want us to enter her in any more pageants. That told us right there that modeling wasn't for her and we won't push her. She was happy that she got a little trophy for participating, and she's still our little cutie.

I don't know how old your son is but I would say that as long as you keep your expectations in check and don't make your child continue if he's not having fun himself, give it a shot. Who knows, if he really likes it, you could have the next big child star and if not, what have you lost by sending his picture in to a contest?

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I have too thought about this issue with DD. I haev entered her in one contest at The Picture People. They had weekly winners. Then each store had a winner from all of the weekly winners. Then the store winner was entered into the company contest.

DD won for the week she got her picture taken. We received a free framed and matted 8x10 and her picture was displayed in the store window for that week. She did not win after that. Really I forgot all about the contest until I got the call that she had won. They also displayed smaller pictures of other children who had gotten their picture taken that week and there were so many cute ones! I don't know how they decided!

I also thought about entering DD in the search for Gap models. But, for some reason, I just didn't feel right about it.

I don't think it is exploitation as long as it is not taken to an extreme. You sound like me. Just want to do it for fun and see what happens!

Good Luck! Nathan is Cute!

 

[Cindy B]

Well, you are talking about some different issues.

I had people come up to my son all the time when he was younger, saying what curls (he has gorgeous curly hair), and how sweet and all that.

It wasn't until a neighbor who did modeling told me to contact her agent. In Cleveland, he was bigger than his size (wearing 4T, yes 4T at a year old)so they couldn't use him for fit/print models since they like them to be about the same size as age.. or close thereabouts... (he would look pretty weird, in a print ad with all the other kids being the smallest one)


So when we moved back to Philly, got in contact with another agent, and yes, after a consult fee, he did get a job. He got one paying job at the New York Times Magazine with a color full page picture.

But I can say, there are scams out there... check carefully. One agency that we did look at and seriously consider was baiting and switching so to speak. They would take an application fee... and then never hear anything again. No casting calls, no follow up, no nothing. Turns out the company was not what they represented to others to be, and therefore folded.

Be very very careful, and do research on companies. Be thick skinnned as well, as some people will say things like "His nose is too wide," or "His head is too big", or blunt out "We don't like him". .. realize its a business, and a certain look they are acheiving.

As for the pagents, that is different than say print models. It is two different arenas, systems.

As for picking a picture, and doing it, it is up to you. It was a fun thing for us.. saying he was a paid model. Its a neat picture, and my son is embarassed about it now.

Remember what types of pictures they want, clear shots of head, (not hats/towels, etc). No flasy outfits (excessive bows/ruffles), and other things.

 

[becka]

Thanks for the info Cindy but I have ZERO interest in going down that path.

This is just a cute baby contest for a magazine and if I do decide to enter him I am not going to have special pictures made I will just use one of the ones we already have. I am just thinking of doing this for fun and to see what happens...it isn't worth my time taking special pics, etc.

Thanks for the opinions...

 

[disykat]

IMO entering a picture is kind of like doing America's Funniest Videos or Cute Pet tricks etc. - I wouldn't compare it to pagents at all or even modeling. I'd say go for it. I have the cutest picture of my oldest in which he happened to be wearing Osh Kosh overalls. About a year later I saw a contest Osh Kosh was holding and I still regret not entering it. (Not like I lose sleep over it - I just thought of it when I saw your post) I just figured the picture was too old.

Who doesn't like to show off their kids pictures? That is very different than putting them on the pagent circuit!

PS - Nathan's a cutie - I think he's got a shot!

 

[Keli]

I would send Nathan's picture in if I were you. I don't think you are exploiting your son (after all, exactly what would you get from this? A certificate or something?) but it would make a cute addition to his baby book.

 

[Buckalew]

I'm not for baby contests or pagents etc.

But, I have to say, Becka, that he truly is a beautiful baby. His pictures look like those cute ones you see in magazines!!

 

[SeaShelley]

Becka, my .02 is to submit his photo....he's adorable and if he does win something, you've got a great addition for his baby book!!! If not, you've lost nothing!

I am VERY anti-baby pageant!! I don't believe a child should be allowed to enter a pageant until they are 16 or older. These are just money makers for the organizers and extremely exploitive to the children. Pageant moms are a breed unto themselves.....really don't get me started on this subject!!