BTW, one good way for her to hold her son to best advantage is to place one arm under him and to use the other hand to cradle his head. When he is a little older, there are many more posing opportunities.
Years ago, when I earned my living as a portrait photographer, a significant portion of my subjects were infants and small children. There are techniques for posing them and capturing smiles that vary based upon age and their capabilities. I learned the basics from a couple of old photographers. Unfortunately, it's easier to explain techniques by demonstration than by explanation. A video might help. Perhaps one exists on the net somewhere.
