From their button noses to their gummy grins, babies are a work of art. And if you think like most parents do, nobody's baby is cuter than yours! Maybe it hit you at a shopping mall, while you glanced over the participants of a local photography contest. Or maybe the revelation came to you while enjoying some prime time television: Your kid could do that. There's no doubt about it. But, how do you go about getting your baby into show business?

Of course, you'll need someone who knows the business to guide you through the technicalities. This person is called an agent or a manager, and you can find one by getting a copy of The Academy Players Directory Reference Supplement. "[The directory] is put out by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences," explains Richard Jay Ward, a personal manager in Hollywood, Calif. "It is free and published three times a year." Copies are available at the Academy office, or by writing to them at 8949 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA. 90211.

Once you have a list of possible agents, you need to make contact. If the agent is within driving distance, your best bet is a personal visit. Another alternative is to mail, or deliver, a professional, 8x10, black and white head shot. Whatever you decide, don't just cold-call -- do your research first. "Parents should contact reputable agencies for their individual procedures," says Cynthia Burke, director of Caryn Model & Talent Agency, in Minneapolis, Minn. "For consideration at Caryn Model & Talent Agency, parents need to send us a 5x7 or an 8x10 nonreturnable photograph void of distractions such as hats, sunglasses, etc."

Regardless of the method of initial communication, signing on with an agent shouldn't be too complicated. Rachel Bain, the mother of twin toddlers who star in a CBS television sitcom, learned this first hand. "It was actually way easier than I had expected," Bain says. "We had heard of Academy Kids Management from my Mothers of Twins Club, and my husband was really pushing for us to go check it out. We took a drive down to Hollywood, and signed [the boys] up. [The agency] took a couple of pictures of them, gave us a contract and that was it."

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