Gerber Baby Contest Winners: Complete List of Past Gerber Babies

Meet Sonny: The New Gerber Baby 2024 Spreading Smiles Everywhere!

On June 25, 2024, Gerber announced their new baby for 2024, and he's absolutely adorable! Let's dive into the details about this cutie from Arizona and see what makes him so special.

Introducing Sonny McLeod

Meet Akil "Sonny" McLeod, the one-year-old bundle of joy from Goodyear, Arizona. This little guy captured hearts with his bright, sunny smile, and now he's the face of Gerber for the year. Chosen from tens of thousands of adorable submissions, Sonny stood out with his infectious grin and cheerful personality.

A Family Full of Love

Sonny lives with his parents, Dominique and Akil Sr., and his big sister, Sage. They all share a love for community service and spreading kindness. Sonny's mom, Dominique, shared that Sonny's nickname came to her one sunny day when she was pregnant, and it’s been a perfect fit ever since. The family is thrilled and proud that Sonny will represent Gerber, spreading joy and positivity.

What Makes Sonny Shine

Sonny's favorite things include reading his squishy ABC book, playing with toy cars, watching football with his family, and giggling at silly faces. His laughter is contagious, and his presence lights up any room. His parents describe him as a beacon of joy who brings happiness to everyone around him.

The Big Win

As the 2024 Gerber Baby, Sonny and his family have won some amazing prizes. They received a $25,000 cash prize, a year's supply of Gerber products, a new wardrobe from Gerber Childrenswear, and goodies from other top brands. Plus, Gerber is matching the cash prize with a donation to March of Dimes to support maternal and infant health programs. Talk about spreading the love!

A Year in the Spotlight

Throughout 2024, Sonny will be featured on Gerber's social media channels and marketing campaigns. His family is excited about the adventures ahead and the chance to share Sonny's sweet smile with families across the country. This year, for the first time, parents of previous Gerber Babies joined the selection panel, adding their unique perspectives to the judging process.

More Than Just a Title

Winning the Gerber Baby title is about more than just a cute photo. It's about celebrating the small moments and milestones that make up the early years of life. Gerber will also recognize 10 additional babies for their "Inchstone" moments, highlighting big achievements in their first year.

A Legacy of Cute

Sonny joins a long list of adorable Gerber Babies dating back to the contest's start in 2010. Each year, these tiny ambassadors bring smiles and joy to families everywhere. The original Gerber Baby, Ann Turner Cook, first appeared in 1928 and became an enduring symbol of childhood.

So, there you have it! Sonny McLeod, the 2024 Gerber Baby, is ready to light up our lives with his sunny smile and joyful spirit. Here's to a year full of giggles, new adventures, and lots of love!

Congratulations to Sonny and his family! 🌞✨

Gerber's Bright Star: Maddie Mendoza - A Smiley Military Adventure (Gerber Baby 2023)

The annual Gerber Baby Photo Search Competition unveiled its shining star this year, and her name is Madison, affectionately known as Maddie.

Hailing from the picturesque landscapes of Colorado, Maddie's story embodies a captivating mix of charm, resilience, and adventure, making her the perfect embodiment of the Gerber legacy.

In a departure from the norm, this year's Gerber Baby competition brought a fresh twist. Alongside the traditional adorable baby snapshots, Geber invited parents to contribute their own childhood photos, creating a heartwarming collage of generations.

Maddie's journey to triumph began with a "standout" throwback submission, drawing attention not just for her radiant smile but for the heartwarming narrative of love and determination shared by her parents. The stage was set, and Maddie was poised to captivate hearts.

The moment of victory was met with elation as Maddie's mom, Crystal Mendoza, exclaimed, "Oh my gosh!" The excitement was palpable, resonating through the airwaves.

Jun Mendoza, Maddie's dad, an Air Force doctor and lieutenant colonel, echoed the sentiment, declaring, "Wow, that's amazing!" The proud parents stood beside their winning bundle of joy, a happy trio radiating with pride.

Their appearance on the TODAY show, a beacon of morning TV, marked a pivotal moment for the Mendoza family. Their smiles and shared happiness conveyed the essence of their journey. Maddie's coos and giggles echoed her adventurous spirit, affirming her place as a natural charmer.

As the proud parents narrated Maddie's early days, a pattern of resilience and determination emerged. Born with a fighting spirit, Maddie defied the odds by shedding her need for supplemental oxygen shortly after birth. This display of independence aligned perfectly with her adventurous nature, a spirit that seemed to guide her from the very beginning.

Maddie's ten-month-old visage radiated joy from her mother's loving embrace. The Gerber judges were enchanted not only by her smile but by her parents' desire to let the world know that their precious Maddie was more than just a pretty face. Her strong spirit and determination are as much a part of her identity as her heartwarming smile.

Maddie's culinary curiosity adds another layer to her dynamic personality. Crystal and Jun shared with pride that their little explorer's palate is as adventurous as her spirit. From sea urchin to kimchi, Maddie has embraced a world of flavors, even if not all of them have become instant favorites.

The Mendoza family carries a rich heritage of military service. Both Crystal and Jun hail from first-generation families from the Philippines, and Maddie's grandparents have proudly served in the U.S. Navy. This legacy of service adds depth to Maddie's role as a representative of military children.

Tarun Malkani, Gerber President, and CEO, choked up with emotion as he delivered the exhilarating news to the Mendoza family. "This is truly the best part of my job," he confessed, acknowledging that while all babies are perfect, Maddie's charm truly captured their hearts. "We’re super proud to have her represent us," he added with genuine pride.

Beyond the title of the 2023 Gerber Baby, Maddie was bestowed the honorable role of "Chief Growing Officer." Her victories came with an array of rewards: a fashionable wardrobe from Gerber's clothing line, a year's supply of Gerber products, and a substantial $25,000 prize. In the spirit of giving, Gerber pledged $25,000 to the March of Dimes' maternal and infant health programs and $5,000 to Operation Homefront, a noble initiative supporting military families.

Maddie's journey this year will see her as the face of Gerber across social media channels and in captivating marketing campaigns. Her cherubic charm will grace screens, reminding everyone of the spirit of innocence and joy that Gerber represents.

As Maddie steps into her role as the 2023 Gerber Baby, she joins a lineage of winners who have each brought their unique stories to the Gerber stage. Ann Turner Cook, the original Gerber Baby, left an indelible mark, her legacy weaving through generations of cherubic faces. Maddie's win extends this legacy of happiness and hope.

With a blend of charm, determination, and an adventurous spirit, Maddie Mendoza shines as Gerber's latest and brightest star. Her story is a testament to the power of family, love, and the endless possibilities that lie ahead.

Gerber Baby 2022: Isa Slish

On May 4, 2022, out of 225,000 entries, Gerber revealed Isa Slish as the 2022 Gerber Baby and the Chief Growing Officer for the year, acting as the taste tester for new Gerber food products.

"Her happiness and shining personality" was said by the judges as the reason for her triumph.

Coming from Oklahoma at just seven months old, Isa Slish is known by her mom as a "crazy happy baby." She enjoys attention, cuddles, and feeling the wind against her face when her dad takes her outside. Her irresistible laughter never fails to charm those around her.

Isa was born with Congenital Femoral Deficiency and Fibular Hemimelia, making her the first Gerber Baby to have a limb difference. "We knew Isa was special, and she has shown us that every day since she came into our lives" Isa's mom, Meredith said in a response.

When Meredith was 18 weeks pregnant, she and her husband knew what condition Isa would be born with. Due to her delayed motor movements, Isa is undergoing physical therapy with the help and support of her parents.

Despite Isa's rare condition, she continues to enjoy interacting with the world around her, laughing and smiling along the way. She spends her time playing with her four-year-old sister and stuffed hippo, listening to soundtracks from her favorite movies.

$25,000 was given to Isa and her family, along with $1,000 worth of clothes from Gerber Childrenswear and Gerber products to last over a year. The money will be set aside for Isa's medical care. In addition, Gerber will also donate $25,000 to March of Dimes' maternal and infant health programs.

"While the world around us seeks to embrace individuality and uniqueness," Isa's mom, Meredith said on TODAY, "we hope that awareness for limb differences will lead to greater inclusion for children like Isa."

But Erin beats the odds and did conceived with Zane. Now, Zane beats the odds of over 90,000 entries and won the title Gerber "Spokebaby" for 2021.

Gerber Baby 2021: Zane Kahin

His mom once was unsure that she could conceive naturally but....

Here he is the winner of the 2021 Gerber baby contest!

Zane's parent Erin and Mike was once doubtful that Erin could conceive naturally due to her undergoing treatment for breast cancer. At the age of 27, she has had a double mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation.

But Erin beats the odds and did conceived with Zane. Now, Zane beats the odds of over 90,000 entries and won the title Gerber "Spokebaby" for 2021.

As "chief taste tester", Zane will get to taste and review new Gerber's baby food products. This is a very important role as it will provide feedback for the Gerber executive team to understand babies need for the future. Plus, Zane will get to be CEO for a day.

A Little More About Zane

"Zane is our little comedian — he loves to crack himself up and even wakes up laughing," Erin told NBC's "Today" show.

"Photo search is a moment that brings families together in celebration year after year, and the Gerber family is delighted to welcome Zane as this year's Gerber spokesbaby and first-ever chief growing officer," Mohini Joshi, vice president of marketing at Gerber, said in a statement.

"By recognizing that every baby is a Gerber baby, we celebrate the diversity of families, whether that’s where we’re from, who our parents are or the circumstances in which baby came into the world."

Gerber Baby 2020: Magnolia Earl

Just in time for her birthday tomorrow...

Today (May 8, 2020), Gerber announced the winner of the Photo Search 2020. Congratulation to Gerber baby Magnolia from Ross, California.

And a happy birthday!

Just a year ago May 9, 2019 Magnolia Earl was born and was adopted by the Earl family.

Like all the other Gerber baby before her, she will be featured on Gerber’s social media channels and marketing campaigns throughout the year.

The Photo Search contest started 3 months ago with over 327,000 entries submitted through the Gerber's website. At photosearch.gerber.com parents was able to upload pictures, videos and share stories of their little ones.

But of all the entries only one was able to captured the hearts of the panel of judges "with her joyful expression, playful smile and warm, engaging gaze".

Here's what the president and CEO of Gerber, Bill Partyka said in a press release about baby Magnolia and family.

"Our Gerber family of farmers, factory workers, employees and customers are all united in our pursuit to do everything and anything for baby. We believe every baby is a Gerber baby and standing behind our babies has never mattered more than it does now.

At a time when we are yearning for connection and unity, Magnolia and her family remind us of the many things that bring us together: our desire to love and be loved, our need to find belonging, and our recognition that family goes way beyond biology."

Magnolia's mother, Courtney Earl also shared their story.

"Magnolia has brought so much joy to everyone she meets. Her personality is beyond happy and joyful.

On May 9th, 2019 we received a call from the Adoption Agency that there was an expectant mom that was in labor and wanted to talk to us! We pulled off the highway, got a chance to connect with her amazing birth parents, and a few hours later, this sweet baby girl was born. Adoption is incredibly special to our family’s story. Winning Photo Search is an opportunity to tell Magnolia’s story and shed light on all the beautiful and different ways families are made."

Magnolia has two older sisters who are also adopted. Whitney is 12 and Charlotte is 8. They enjoy playing together. Especially, when it comes to "splashing in the kiddie pool and dancing to the Baby Shark song".

Gerber Baby 2019: Kairi Yang

"When we first found out Kairi won, we were speechless and couldn't believe it. We are beyond thrilled that our sweet Kairi is Gerber's 2019 Spokesbaby," said Kairi's mom, Ying Vue.

The grand prize winner of the Gerber Photo Search 2018 was announced on Tuesday, February 26, 2019. Kairi Yang was named 2019 Gerber Baby.

The 15 months old baby from Hickory, North Carolina beats 544,000 entries and took the title as the new Gerber baby contest winner. It was a big win for a $50,000 cash prize that was awarded to her and her parents.

She will also get to be featured on Gerber's social media channels and more.

Here's the photo that captured the judges' hearts: Kairi winning photo

She's a cutie isn't she? Look at those big dark eyes.

Here's what the president and CEO of Gerber, Bill Partyka said in a press release.

"As soon as we saw her photo, we fell in love with Kairi’s expressive eyes and angelic face, looking toward the future and being excited for all that it holds.

We believe that every baby is a Gerber baby, and this year, are thrilled to recognize Kairi as the new face of Gerber. It’s been an incredible year celebrating our 2018 Spokesbaby Lucas Warren and his family, and we are excited to see the world fall in love all over again with our newest Spokesbaby."

Kairi is the first Hmong descent to won the Gerber baby contest. Her mother, Ying Vue in an interview with Today said, "Kairi will grow up knowing how to read and write in Hmong, so that she can speak with her grandparents."

They are a very traditional cultured family even though they are living in America. The family is very close. Kairi is living with her mom and dad Peter Yang, also her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

The race to be crowned 2019 Gerber Spokesbaby started in October 1, 2018. The way to enter the baby photo contest was to upload your baby photos to Instagram with the hashtag #GerberPhotoSearch2018. You might upload up to 10 photos, a total of 10 entries.

The deadline to submit photos was October 20, 2018. Then it was the judging period. And finally Gerber announced the winner in 2019.

Congratulation Kairi and family!

Gerber Baby 2018: Lucas Warren

(Feb. 7, 2018) — The 2018 Gerber Baby was finally announced. This year was just a few days later than we anticipated. But nevertheless, we've now learned of the new Gerber baby winner.

And his name is — drumroll please — the winner of the 2017 Gerber Baby Contest is Lucas Warren from Dalton, Georgia.

There were also 12 INCREMENTAL PRIZES (Runners-Up) too for the 2017 contest. And these are the prizes.

Lucas' parents are super happy and emotional when talking about our 2017 Gerber baby contest winner. At 18 months old Lucas earned for his parents a cool $50,000 cash — could be use for his future, of course.

You're be seeing more of baby Lucas soon because he will be feature in Gerber marketing campaign.

Learn more about the next Gerber contest and how you can enter your baby.

Made History — The First Down Syndrome Gerber Baby

Lucas made another Gerber history because he is the first Down syndrome baby to wins the Gerber Photo Search contest. Don't let the special needs part fooled you.

According to mom (Cortney Warren) in an interview with Today says she's never met someone who didn't meet her son, Lucas, and smile.

Bill Partyka, CEO and president of Gerber, says Lucas's smile and happy expression captured the hearts of the Gerber team.

"Every year, we choose the baby who best exemplifies Gerber's longstanding heritage of recognizing that every baby is a Gerber baby," said Partyka. "This year, Lucas is the perfect fit."

"We're hoping this will impact everyone — that it will shed a little bit of light on the special needs community and help more individuals with special needs be accepted and not limited," dad Jason Warren said. "They have the potential to change the world, just like everybody else."

Just like all the other Gerber babies, Lucas is making headlines all over the news media outlets and breaking the internet.

A Little Details on the Gerber Baby Contest

Lucas won the title for Gerber Baby 2018 but it was a long journey to get there. The contest actually started in 2017. Yes, the Gerber baby contest 2017 started back in mid September. The submission period ended toward the end of October. Then follow by a judging period.

Babies ages 0-48 months are all welcome to enter the contest — given that you're a US legal resident.

There are two photo themes "Giggles and Wiggles" and "Best Dressed Baby" and you can submit a total of up to 10 entries.

There was more than 140,000 entrants wanted to be the 2018 Gerber Spokebaby but Lucas won the judges with that adorable smile.

A Little Too PR?

We might be opening a can of worms here. But after following the Gerber baby contest for years, well, since it first launched back in 2010 — we felt this was a little too PR maybe?

No doubt Lucas is a cutie but do you think it's a little too much PR on Gerber part? It seems like that's what it's all about PR for Gerber, not so much about the actual contest.

Sure, there was:

• The first Asian Gerber Baby
• The first Hispanic Gerber Baby
• The first Twin Gerber babies
• Also Black Baby

But this one topped it all, the first Down syndrome baby to won the Gerber baby contest.

Gerber Baby 2017: Riley Shines

On 01/26/2017 Gerber announced the new face of Gerber. Meet Riley from Lewis Center, Ohio — the 2016 Gerber baby contest winner. At only 7 month old with his "infectious laugh and big, gummy smile" according his mother, Kristen Shines, he just made his parent $50,000 richer.

Kristen said that it will help start a college fund for Riley.

There were also 6 Milestone Category (Runners-Up) for the 2016 contest. And these are the winners and prizes.

Devin Shines didn't think that they can win and even laugh at his wife because there were so many baby photos entered but little Shines shined.

Look at this photograph of Riley that shined and captured the judges attention to win the Gerber Spokesbaby 2017 title.

Riley Shines not quite ready to speak yet but now crowned as the Gerber Spokesbaby 2017. Congratulations Riley!

Here's Riley making headlines and capturing the hearts of Americans.

There were also 6 Milestone Category (Runners-Up) for the 2015 contest. And these are the winners and prizes.

The 2015 Gerber Baby Contest started with a big bang on September 8, 2015 where parents and guardians rushed to submit their baby photos before the submission deadline of October 23, 2015.

Then from October 28 through November 24, 2015 people voted for the Gerber Baby Contest Milestone Categories. All winners were then announced on January 27, 2016 where only one grand prize winner was picked by a panel of judges.

Here's the 2016 Gerber Baby that was making headlines in early 2016.

Rachael, Isla's mother shared with PEOPLE that Isla is the happiest little baby, always smiling. And that exact smile on the photograph was literally on her face in real life the whole time.

Out of more than 170,300 entries that were competing for the title, Gerber Spokesbaby 2016, in the Gerber Baby Contest 2015, a little 7 months old baby from Troy, Michigan was picked by the panel of judges to be the winner.

Baby Isla is the first Asian-American baby to have won the Gerber Baby Contest and represent Gerber for 2016 until she passes the title on to the Gerber Baby Contest 2016 winner.

Baby Isla at 7 months old didn't have much to say but cute giggles. On January 27, 2016, Gerber announced her as the new Gerber Spokes Baby 2016.

Isla's parents, Grayson and Rachael, received a cool $50,000 in the form of a check. Isla's mom compared it to hitting the jackpot. $50,000 is not quite the Powerball Jackpot but it's good enough.

Isla also got $1,500 in clothes from Gerber childrenswear and got to appear in Gerber ads and commercials.

Interested in Gerber Baby Modeling? Maybe your child can win the next Gerber Baby Contest.

Isla most likely will be modeling for Gerber for at least a year, but will that turn into a career for her future? In a CNNMoney interview her parents said, "We don't have any immediate plans to get her into modeling, but who knows..."

In Gerber's official press release, senior marketing manager, Bernadette Tortorella, revealed why Isla was selected to be the winner. "While we received so many incredible entries, the judges all fell in love with Isla's cheeky smile and awesome hair. We are so thrilled to be celebrating our sixth annual Photo Search Winner!"

Congratulation Gerber Baby 2016 — Isla!

Gerber baby contest 2015 didn't end with just a grand prize winner. There was six runner-ups who won the different Milestone categories which were chosen by normal people. The Milestone Category Winners each received $3,500 cash and $750 in clothing from Gerber childrenswear.

2014 Gerber Baby Contest Milestone category winners received $5,000 each.

Videos of the 2016 Gerber Baby Isla

There were also 6 Milestone Category (Runners-Up) for the 2014 contest. And these are the winners and prizes.

The results are in and Gerber got a new baby for the 2015 Gerber Baby title. There was over 180,000 entries but only one baby can be the "Gerber Baby"

This year Gerber 2015 Spokesbaby the winner of 2014 "Be Our Baby" Gerber baby photo contest is a 7-month-old baby name Grace from East Petersburg, Pennsylvania.

Say hellotoBaby Grace!

Gerber baby Grace making headlines. It's all part of being a Gerber baby.

Here's what Grace and her parents will be getting: $50,000 cash, one full year of Gerber baby foods and finally an opportunity in the future to appear as the 2015 Spokesbaby in Gerber advertisement.

Gabrielle, Grace's mother revealed in a statement that this winning shot was of one of the 5 photos she took of Grace that day.

She also said, "She must have taken her hands out of her mouth and posed them like that for a split second because I didn't even realize how cute she was posing until after I was completely done taking pictures and looking back at what I had just taken!"

Well, Grace does look like she literally posing for this. She's so adorable!

So adorable that the marketing specialist at Gerber, Cassie Savage has this to say about Grace winning photo.

"While many of the entry photos this year met our criteria, Grace's captivating charm stole the judges' hearts."

Here are some rules and details for the 2014 contest:

• Starts: The 2014 Gerber "Be Our Baby" Photo Search begins October 6, 2014 at 12:01 AM ET.
• Deadline: The 2014 Gerber Photo Search submission period ends November 12, 2014 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
• Is it possible to vote for the winners?
  Yes, voting are for milestone categories only. Grand prize will be select by a panel of judges.
• When voting begins?
  2014 Gerber baby contest voting period starting at 12:01 AM ET on November 17, 2014 and ending at 11:59 PM ET on December 14, 2014.
• How to enter and submit a photo?
  To enter, visit www.gerber.com/photosearch and follow the instructions provided and submit your child(ren)'s photo.
• Can residents outside of U.S. eligible to enter the Gerber contest?
  All legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia that is at least 18 years of age and legal guardian of the child(ren) in the photo.
• Photo formats:
  No, only files in .jpg, .png, or .bmp format can be submit to this baby photo contest.
• File size:
  Your photo file size can be no more than 5 MB.
• Photo taken:
  Photo must be no older than 30 days of the time submitted. Child(ren) in photo must be appropriately dressed. Only one child per photo unless twins.
• Prizes:
  The 2014 Gerber baby contest will awards a total of 7 winners. One Grand Prize winner and 6 Milestone Category winners.

Those are the basic 2014 Gerber baby contest rules. You can read the Gerber official rules to learn more.

Levi and Paxton is the first and so far the only twin to have won the famous Gerber baby contest. The 2013 Gerber photo search had more than 156,000 entries.

Even though this year we have actually 2 winners but the grand prize is still the same as usual $50,000 plus other prizes as well. They were featured in Gerber's advertisements.

Gerber photo search 2013 was the last one that hosted by Facebook. As the year before parents and guardians would upload their photography of their baby to Gerber's Facebook fan page.

Gerber's panel of judges will select the grand prize winner of the photo contest and milestone winners are to be voted by fans.

There were also 6 Milestone Category (Runners-Up) that year. And these are the winners and prizes.

"Our baby looks just like the Gerber baby, but we still can't believe the photo of our baby won the Grand Prize!" said Sara Montoya, the mother of Mary Jane who won them the Gerber baby contest.

And she continues, "Like parents everywhere, we think our baby is cute, but to have this honor is something we'll cherish for forever. To us, winning $50,000 is like winning a million dollars!"

With 308,000 entered by only one can be the Gerber baby. On November 6, 2012 Gerber announced Mary Jane Montoya from Fresno California their winner of the 2012 Gerber Generation Photo Search.

Here's the quick process of how the contest work at the time. Parents and guardians enter photos of their children by uploading it to Gerber's Facebook page.

There are six milestone winners was voted by fans and a panel of Gerber judges picked the grand price winner.

There were also 6 Milestone Category (Runners-Up) that year. And these are the winners and prizes.

Milestone Category Prize (Runners-Up) that year.

Milestone Category Prize (Runners-Up) that year.

Learn more about the original Gerber baby »

Free Signup To Get Gerber Baby Contest Winner Updates

Each year we add a new Gerber baby to this list. Will your child be the next Gerber baby that get added to this Gerber babies list?

To take part in this free baby photo contest event is easy. Just wait until the contest starts and follow the rules to enter.

The contest usually start sometime in the fall and winners will be announce in the beginning of following year. It happens only once a year so don't miss the contest deadline.

If you like for us to email you of when the Gerber baby contest starts or when the next winner announced then feel free to subscribe below.