With so many proud parents in the world, no wonder baby photo contests are so popular.  Of course there is usually only one winner and we all want our little darling to be it.  Here are a few tips on how to submit photos to be judged for baby photo contests.  Here is what the judges are looking for.

Can the judges see the baby’s face?  If not, then how can they judge your baby or toddler’s appearance?  If you have taken your cutie to a picture studio, chances are they have several shots of your child looking at a prop of some sort.  These are no doubt cute pictures, but opt for the shot of your child looking at the camera.  Close up facial shots are eye catching.  Your baby is indeed a cutie, let the judges see that.

It seems obvious that everyone sets that standard themselves. Being a great dad isn't achieving one set of measures, or even ensuring that your child confirms you're a great dad whenever prompted.

Being a great dad is an every day climb up the mountain, or a thousand-task test of parenting skills: patience, generosity, creativity, intelligence, wisdom. What works one day is a failure the next. Not all of us can stay at home with our kids, attend every concert and performance, or even make macaroni and cheese. Unlike moms, who seem to have more prescribed roles by society in this area, we blunder about trying to maintain our manhood, while aiming to be good and present parents. But, what does that entail?

Your picture-perfect view of new parenthood probably involves mom and dad staring lovingly over a crib as the baby sleeps. However, you, especially as a dad, may want to evaluate sleeping options and here's why:

1. The baby-in-crib alone is a relatively recent and distinctly American practice. If you think about it, before multi-room dwellings and back to caveman days, families used to sleep together for warmth and safety. Most of the rest of the world "co-sleeps" and finds it completely natural to do so.