And, with the advent of new technology, their images can be beamed across the globe within seconds of their birth.

Now babies are to take centre stage at two new photography exhibitions in Bradford's National Media Museum that will offer visitors an international and regional insight into these immortal images.

'Baby, Picturing the Ideal Human 1840s - Now' shows babies from the dawn of photography in the 1840s right through to specially commissioned images taken over the past few months.

It brings together photographs from the museum's renowned collection and material from the world's first exhibition covering photography of the western baby that was initiated and curated by Hedy van Erp, pictured left, and Iris Sikking. It appeared to critical acclaim at the Nederlands Fotomuseum, Rotterdam, in 2008. It features rarely-seen images, world famous photographers, prints of the Royal Family and pictures involving celebrity parents.

Bradford has around 5,500 births each year and the 'Bradford Babies' exhibition celebrates the babies of the city's diverse community, past and present.

Among the works featured are pictures from Tim Smith, who has documented the first birthday parties of some of the children born in the city in 2007.

The many faces of babyhood: Culture Page 8.