Wondering when and how you should start putting money away for your child's college education? Here are some tips.

http://www.babycenter.com/0_saving-for-college-a-guide-for-parents_348.bc

I think you should start when you get pregnant!
But my youngest is three and we still haven't started his, and my eldest only has a few thousand in his account & he graduates this year (fortunately, his father is Mr. Moneybags & has agreed to pay, or he'd be out of luck!).

We started the PACT plan when I our first was born, then we'll start the next child when his is paid off this year. After all three we will continue to put that money in a mutual fund for books, etc.
PACT is excellent because it locks in a the tuition rate for that year and we all know how tuition is steadily climbing. It also makes you disciplined to pay every month through the coupon book. They have different payment plans.
I love knowing that when my 5 year old goes to college,we only had to paid the tuition rate of the year 2003 and we can make more money in a mutual fund that will pay for extras and then the kids can have the rest.