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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Or am I the only one who thinks there's something 'wrong' about entering beautiful baby contests?

39 replies

MrsThierryHenry · 27/05/2008 14:56

I feel rather uncomfortable about the idea of comparing pictures of each other's babies and saying this one's more beautiful than that one, etc. Of course we all (or almost all) think our bambinos are utterly gorgeous, but why would you have a sanctioned public setting in which you compare infants' beauty?

You'd never tell a parent that you thought their child was thicker than yours, so why would you do basically that when it comes to their looks?

OP posts:
3andnomore · 27/05/2008 15:00

TBH, I think those contests are reasonable harmless....it's more about who knows the most people to vote for you anyway....now Beautypagaents (sp?) are a completely different matter...now they are disturbing...

MsSparkle · 27/05/2008 15:00

When i entered my dd in the local paper comp, it was just a bit of light hearted fun. I imagine there are people who take it way too seriously but there you go.

PrettyCandles · 27/05/2008 15:07

But you're not being asked to tell someone that their child is uglier than yours, quite the opposite, you're asked to give someone a major compliment, by telling them that you think their child is the most beautiful.

At this age it's harmless fun, and an opportunity for people to admire chidlren, and to have their own children admired. It's natural to admire beauty, especially in our LOs. It's quite different from the 'beauty contests' that require children to dress-up, make-up, and pose like tiny adults. That, IMO, is sick.

Piffle · 27/05/2008 15:10

I'm always amazed at the lack of truly beautiful babies in the contests

edam · 27/05/2008 15:12

My father won a bonny baby competition back in 1946 - my dear departed grandmother was STILL getting the picture out in the 1990s! Can't see that it has affected his life in any way - he didn't grow up to be terribly vain, or obsessed with appearance, quite the reverse.

Saymyname · 27/05/2008 15:16

I'm with you OP, I hate them.

niceglasses · 27/05/2008 15:21

In the 21st century the world has lost its sense of humour and replaced it with mad PCness or ubermorality or something. Discuss.

Its harmless. If you don't like it, don't do it or engage with it.

lilolilmanchester · 27/05/2008 15:23

I won one once!!! I didn't enter mine, not my "thing", but really doesn't bother me if others choose to.

RosaLuxembourg · 27/05/2008 15:33

I had to squeeze past an ENORMOUS queue of mums with babies at our local supermarket recently as the local newspaper is currently running one of these comps. Most of the babies were redfaced and howling and really, really not looking their best. Mums were looking harassed but hopeful. I tried not to snurk. Really though, one baby looks very much like the next one, does it not?

southeastastra · 27/05/2008 15:36

i entered one when my 6 year old was a baby, he was by far the best looking and still didn't win.

i imagine the competitions are fixed, like the eurovision song contest .

lazarou · 27/05/2008 15:37

No point in entering unless your family is huge and they can all vote for yours. That's all it is, nothing to do with the best looking baby

niceglasses · 27/05/2008 15:42

Who is reminded of Father Ted's 'Lovely Girls' competiton then? Or the hairy babys fathered by Pat Mustard?

lazarou · 27/05/2008 15:44

Yes Niceglasses! 'Doesn't Mary have a lovely bottom?'

madmuggle · 27/05/2008 15:47

I love the local one. Bloody good excuse to buy the paper and sit for a wee while laughing at silly names

4andnotout · 27/05/2008 15:52

In our local one the babies are liberally draped in gold jewellery The names are always fun to read too, im sure most of them have been made up after a night on the tiles
I would love to put my dd's in such a contest but if they didn't win i would only get arsey!

sarah293 · 27/05/2008 16:02

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4andnotout · 27/05/2008 16:04

riven that is disgusting! She is still beautiful so why couldn't she be included?! Did you complain?

sarah293 · 27/05/2008 16:06

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4andnotout · 27/05/2008 16:08

Oh im quite arsey so i love a good complaint

sarah293 · 27/05/2008 16:09

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jellyforbrains · 27/05/2008 16:15

at that happening Riven.

They are definitely a popularity thing though. My friend entered her baby once and I voted for him (he is cute but would never have done it if I didn't know his mum).

I do look at the one our local paper does but mostly to snigger at the names - DH thinks I am horrible for doing that .

Original poster
MrsThierryHenry · 27/05/2008 21:03

at niceglasses' first comment - I was asking for others' opinions, not standing on a moral soapbox. I think you got things somewhat out of proportion there, m'dear.

PMSL at 4and's 'gold jewellery' comment! Where do you live, Dagenham?!

Riven, I too am shocked and outraged on behalf of you and your DD. Even more than I was at niceglasses!

OP posts:
PrincessPeaHead · 27/05/2008 21:32

my MIL to her horror had to judge a bonniest baby competition at her local agricultural show in about 1974 (she thought she was going to judge flower displays but there you go). She said that in the end she awarded the prize to the plainest one because she thought the whole thing was invidious and knew that all the other mothers would go away thinking that their babies were the prettiest, but the mother of the plain child would be simply delighted (as indeed she was)...

findtheriver · 27/05/2008 21:34

Seriously odd idea. I would imagine anyone entering their child has a serious lack of self belief. If you know your own child is the most beautiful in the world (as we all do!) why would you want to do this??

MsDemeanor · 27/05/2008 21:38

The incomparable genius of PG Wodehouse on the subject:

You say you're judging this Bonny Babies thing?"
"Yes, but that doesn't get me anywhere. I can't ask Purkiss for another fiver."
"You don't have to. As I see it, the matter is quite simple. Your primary object is to divert your wife's mind from gold cuff links and pawn shops - to give her, in other words, something else to think about. Very well. Enter that little gargoyle of yours and award hinm the first prize, and she will be so delighted that gold cuff links will fade out of her mind. I guarantee this. I am not a mother myself, but I understand a mother's heart from soup to nuts. In her pride at the young plugugly's triumph everything else will be forgotten."
Bingo stared. It seemed to him that the other's brain, that brain whose subtle scheming had so often chiselled fellow members of the Drones out of half-crowns and even larger sums, must have blown a fuse.
"But Oofy, old man, reflect. If I judge a Bonny Babies contest and raise the hand of my personal baby with the words 'The winnah!', I shall be roughly handled, if not lynched. These mothers are tough stuff. You were there when Freddie Wigeon was telling us about what happened to him at Cannes."
Oofy clicked his tongue impatiently.