Tips on Baby Pageants By Deborah Whistler, eHow Contributor updated: February 22, 2011

Clothing for "glitz" baby beauty contests can be expensive.

Beauty pageants have been part of the cultural landscape in the U.S. since the 1920s; pageants for babies and children came on the scene in the 1960s. Today, babies can compete in a large variety of pageants. Local baby beauty competitions are smaller in scale and often sponsored by department and children's stores, photographers, modeling agencies and county and state fairs. More structured pageants --- which are often highly competitive --- are also available. These commercial beauty pageants are big business and can be a costly proposition. There are things to consider before entering your baby in beauty contests.

1. Fees

   • Most local baby contests are relatively cheap or free. But be aware that those sponsored by child modeling agencies and photographers are often designed to lure customers in to sell them professional services. There are many commercial pageants that charge entry fees. Often there will be a general entry fee, then additional fees are charged for each level of competition. Depending on the competition, the fees can be hundreds of dollars. If you are planning to enter a baby beauty competition just for fun, be cautious of hidden fees and don't get pressured into buying professional photos or other expensive services offered.

   Time and More Money

   • To be competitive in "glitz" baby beauty contests requires special clothes, makeup and hair styling that can be extremely expensive. Formal wear can range in price from $1,500 to $12,000. You will also have to invest in special apparel if you choose to enter bathing suit and sportswear portions of the contest. Even small babies often wear hairpieces and wigs or their parents will hire professional pageant hairdressers to prepare the children for competition. Some apply false eyelashes and retain the services of professional makeup artists to doll up their children. If you need to travel for competition, you will need to factor in costs of travel, food and lodging at the pageant.

   How Babies are Judged

   • Babies are judged differently, based on the competition. Points are usually scored on each portion of the competition, so to win any of the overall prizes you will have to enter most if not all of the different segments of the contest. Some of the criteria considered in judging a pageant are personality, looks, confidence and talent. Clothing, hair and makeup play a big part in judging in most glitz competitions, especially for very young children, so your investment and expertise in these areas are important if you want to be competitive.