If you have access to a baby and a coffee mug, why not combine the two and shrink your baby down to drinkable size?
That's the gist of the latest Internet trend. Baby mugging, it's called, involves placing a child on the floor, holding a mug in the foreground, and shooting a photo that gives the illusion that the baby is popping out of a mug.
Cute and easy, the trend has lit up Facebook and Instagram pages in North America, and even crept into the United Kingdom.
It all started months ago as a way for one parent blogger to bring some levity during the sadness of the Boston Bombings. In her original post, Ilana Wiles of New York wrote on her Mommy Shorts blog: I talked to a few friends who said people are looking for a reason to smile today. I hope that's true…If you want a simple smile, I'm posting babies in mugs."
Then Wiles posted photos of her 3-year old daughter, Mazzy, and infant daughter, Harlow, popping out of mugs. They morphed into a phenomenon, which also includes toddler mugging and pet mugging.
On her site, Wiles gives tips for parents who want to mug their own child.
It says: "Baby Mugging' is actually holding a mug in front of your baby, so that it completely obscures their body and snapping a photo. That's it. No photoshop necessary."
So, mug away. Next up: Baby bearding?