Parents’ abuse kills off public voting on popular Bonds Baby Search competition

“Hideous”, “weird” and “ugly duckling” were some of the horrendous comments left by nasty parents on the Bonds Baby Search. The popular competition has hit back at trolls by making one massive change.

The Bonds Baby Search competition has stopped public voting of babies after years of parents attacking the appearance of other people’s babies and pestering their family and friends for votes.

The national search for cute bubs will have daily winners picked randomly by Bonds staff only, removing a people’s choice voting category.

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The move is expected to stop parents from leaving nasty comments about other babies in a bid to give their own offspring a better chance of winning. 

For the first time also “fur-babies” — dogs and cats — will have their own category.

Ugly commenters turned on babies with with Down syndrome, like Parker Abianac, 3. Picture: Jamie Hanson

The competition, which has been running for 16 years, turned ugly in 2011 when a picture of a Eurasian baby was tagged “Bonds Australia, not Asia” and another child was called an “ugly duckling”.

In 2014 some parents turned on finalist babies — which included two children with Down syndrome — calling them “plain and weird” and “hideous”. Others said there were babies who were “a lot better looking than the ones chosen”.

Past competitions, which have attracted more than 60,000 entries and 250,000 popular votes, have also been marred by parents accusing the judges of being biased and attacking each other for being “pathetic” and “acting like spoilt children”.

Pippa Taylor with her daughter, Lilli, who was sledged by trolls. Picture: Jeff Camden

Bonds officials continually had to remind parents to be positive and respectful.

Emily Small, Bonds’ head of marketing, said the changes will make the competition a more “inclusive celebration of babies and fur-babies”.

“Due to the overwhelming volume of entries Bonds Baby Search receives every year, we want to give back to the Australian public and celebrate more babies,” she said.

“By removing public voting, Bonds is judging Baby Search again, and will be selecting daily winners, giving away more prizes to celebrate more babies.”

Jessica Roberts will enter her daughter, Scarlett, 4in the competition. Picture: Nicki Connolly

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Beaumaris mother-of-three Jessica Roberts, 28, will be entering her daughter Scarlett, 4, and son Jagger, 19 months, in the competition this year for the first time.

“I liked that it was not open to public voting. I don’t like the idea of my children being out there for everyone else to comment on,” she said.

The revamped competition will on February 7 and children up to the age of four can be entered.

Prizes worth up to $40,000 can be won, including birthday parties, clothing, toys and a year’s supply of pet food.