Actually when it comes to dealing with babies I very much prefer ball pythons or boas over colubrids. The BP's and boas may nip or hiss when you try to handle them, but they usually chill out quickly. OTOH the colubrids musk and become little coiled springs that jump out of your hand - often before you can react.

IMO a good beginner snake is a juvenile (not baby) King that has been handled enough so it no longer sees you as Godzilla when you pick it up. They still have a lot of growing to do, their food responses are awesome, they're not expensive, their husbandry requirements are easy to meet, and they come in a nice array of patterns.