Sunshine Coast cutest baby winner 2023: Kennedy Alderson

After more than 80 nominations, 135 votes and a whole lot of cuteness, the winner of the Sunshine Coast’s cutest baby competition for 2023 has been crowned.

Sunshine Coast's cutest baby for 2023 so far: Kennedy Alderson. Photos: Chrisie @sundaymay.photo on Instagram

The winner of the 2023 Sunshine Coast’s cutest baby competition has been announced.

While each baby is beautiful in their own unique way, it’s time to crown which little one who has stolen the most hearts.

In first place, with a whopping 26 per cent of votes was baby Kennedy!

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Mum Rachel Alderson said although she was biased, she was “totally besotted” with her daughter.

Kennedy Rose Alderson was born at the Buderim Private Hospital at 8.34am on March 2, 2023, weighing 3.4kg (7lb, 6oz) and measuring 49.5cm. She was delivered by Dr George Bogiatzis.

Kennedy Alderson with mum Rachel Alderson. Photo: Contributed

She is the first daughter to Mrs Alderson and her husband Luke, who were married in 2022, and the first grandchild to both of the their parents.

She is also the first girl born on Mr Alderson’s side of the family for several generations.

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Mrs Alderson said Kennedy, nicknamed “Kenny”, went unnamed for four days after she was born.

Kennedy’s maternal grandparents are Irish, Mrs Alderson said, and despite telling her family she was not going to name their baby a traditional Irish name, it was her mother, Kennedy’s grandmother, who suggested her name.

Sunshine Coast's cutest baby 2023 winner: Kennedy Alderson. Photo: Supplied

“In the end, my mum was like ‘I’ve got a name but I don’t think you guys are going to like it’,” she said.

Kennedy is an Irish surname, Mrs Alderson said, which means “chief of the clan” or “leader”.

“My husband was like ‘that’s such a good meaning, we want a strong female’,” she said.

Mrs Alderson said baby Kennedy was now starting to smile and laugh, and loved the water.

The photo Mrs Alderson used to nominate her daughter was from her first bath, she said.

“She’s just a very generally happy bub … she’s a dream so far,” she said.

In second place with 14 per cent of votes was baby Lane, and third place was a tie between baby Lola and twins Toby and Fletcher; both with 10 per cent of votes.

State government data revealed the Sunshine Coast University Hospital welcomed 3305 new arrivals in 2022, while Buderim Private Hospital recorded 673 births.

Gympie Hospital (308), Nambour General Hospital (33) and Sunshine Coast University Private Hospital (10) all recorded their share of births in 2022 as well.

Congratulations to everyone who was nominated.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast cutest baby winner 2023: Kennedy Alderson