Bonds Baby Search finals heat up

MORE than 65,500 proud parents across the nation hope their bundle of joy has a face much more than one only a mother could love.

TO their mothers, each baby is the most beautiful child in the world.

And this year's Bonds Baby Search attracted a record 65,500 proud parents, who swamped the competition with candid shots of their adorable infants splashing in baths, in the park, wearing funny hats or crawling down the hall.

Featuring double the number of entries from 2012, interest in the competition was so intense that more than 20 high-capacity servers were needed to support the website.

Online voting was also frenzied, with more than 8800 votes a minute cast on the first day. An average of 83,000 visitors checked out photos of the babies each day.

Quirky Kid Clinic's principal child psychologist Kimberley O'Brien said parents see themselves and their partner in their child.

"iPhones are readily available and mums must be snapping pictures of their babies so much more than in the past," she said.

"And having the support of your family to vote for your baby as the most beautiful is a nice way to bring the family together."

After more than 295,000 votes were cast, 18-month-old Lyla Nitschke was selected as a finalist.

Mum Rochelle entered an unposed photograph of her beautiful blue-eyed toddler.

"I just took a photograph of her sitting on the back steps with a sippy cup.

"Most people comment on how happy she is. She has just started dancing and loves going to the park. She also loves reading books and playing with Play-Doh," Mrs Nitschke said.

The 17 winners, who will have the chance to star in the next Bonds Baby campaign, will be announced tomorrow.