If you've just had a baby, or perhaps have a toddler, it may seem like breaking in to the showbiz industry should be the last thing on your mind.  However, the first few years of your child's life are a prime time for getting your foot in the door.  And, surprisingly, the process may be a whole lot easier.

Many parents begin to pursue an entertainment career for their kids because their child expressed an interest, or another adult planted the seed about getting involved in print, tv or film.  With babies, however, the parents must truly be the one to make the decision.

So why get involved in the industry?

Well, for one, babies can work minimally without too much disruption to daily life and bank a fair amount of money for the future.  Did someone say college fund?

Secondly, getting started at an early age could help you decide if a career in showbiz is of interest to your family.  Newborns, infants and toddlers pop up in television "birthing scenes," diaper commercials and print photography and provide an excellent sampling of the way the industry works.

So what steps should you take if you want your baby to begin working?

Photos - you don't have to spend money on expensive photos for your infant.  Simply take a few snapshots that show your child with a clean face, bright eyes and a look that is engaging with the camera.  CIF's Kidstart Program provides info on taking good photos at home.

Representation - the best thing to do is seek representation that specializes in newborns, infants and/or toddlers or look for a print agent.  Also, consider extras casting companies because they're always in need of little ones. Plus, many extras casting companies don't charge their standard sign up fee for babies.

Opportunities - keep up-to-date with the opportunities listed in Children In Film's casting section.  At least once or twice a month someone is seeking babies and if your child fits the description, these opportunities can be a great way to get your feet wet.

Resume - while it may seem difficult to build a resume for someone whose barely got a year of life under their belt, infant resumes are fairly strait forward and list skills like smiling, sitting up and blowing bubbles. Killian Coughlin's profile on CIF is a great example as it provides multiple pictures which appear to have been taken by Mom or Dad, a snappy bio, and a list of skills.

Most importantly, be honest.  Children In Film always recommends that you assess your schedule, lifestyle and commitments before deciding if this industry is for you.  Our KidStart program is a great way to do this as it provides a simple quiz to assess this.

Toni Casala reminds us, "There are strict rules for infant actor employment in California.  Babies age 15 days up to 6 months old are permitted on set for a maximum of two hours with only 20 minutes of actual work time within that two hour period.  Work must be done between 9:30am-2:30pm or 2:30-4:30pm, no exceptions.  Not all states are as strict as California, however.