Gerber, a trusted partner for parents for more than 95 years, has officially opened the call for entries to its 2026 Gerber Photo Search: Behind the Baby, unveiling a reimagined search that honors both babies and their parents who make everyday moments special. Gerber is inviting parents nationwide to take part in the 2026 Photo Search by sharing those unforgettable real-life moments that capture the joys of parenthood. Parents and babies (up to 3 years old) have a chance to be named the 2026 Gerber Baby and win $50,000, plus a special Gerber Childrenswear “Grow With Us” wardrobe valued at $2,000, with the goal of helping families keep up with their growing little one during every season throughout the year. Also new this year, Gerber is introducing a new $10,000 prize category specifically created for kids 3 to 5-years old sponsored by Get’ems!® from Gerber®, a line of wholesome snacks for kids 3+ made with real fruits, veggies, or whole grains in fun flavors like pizza and apple cinnamon. Parents with kids 3 to 5-years old have the chance to win this new category, plus $500 from Gerber Childrenswear. From a giggle at the checkout line to the triumph of getting shoes on the right feet, or even that messy mealtime magic, parents are behind every we-made-it milestone for their babies, and Gerber is thrilled to celebrate parents with this year’s Photo Search to recognize just how much they do.

In 1928, Gerber held a contest to find a face to represent its baby food advertising campaign. Artist Dorothy Hope Smith entered her simple charcoal sketch of a tousle-haired, bright-eyed cherub of a baby with endearing pursed lips. In her entry, Smith noted that she would finish the sketch if she won. Her drawing competed with elaborate oil paintings, but the judges fell in love with the baby face Smith drew, and when they chose it as the winner, they insisted that the simple illustration remain a sketch. The image of this happy, healthy baby soon became the face that launched the brand, a face recognized across the globe. The Gerber Photo Search, as families today have come to know and love, was launched in 2010. Since then, this program has built on the legacy and celebration of families and babies from all backgrounds. As the world has evolved to support modern day parenting, our 2026 Photo Search reflects that and Gerber’s Parent-Friendly Pursuit by honoring babies from all backgrounds and spotlighting the parents that raise them.

Gerber is reimagining its Photo Search to celebrate the parents behind every little moment. This year’s Photo Search shines a light on the real, joyful and unseen experiences of parenthood. With a refreshed theme, increased prizes, a new category sponsored by Get’ems! from Gerber for children 3-to-5 years old and, Gerber is giving parents the recognition they deserve and furthering its mission to create a world that’s more parent-friendly.

The Gerber 2026 Photo Search theme is “Behind the Baby,” celebrating not just babies but the parents behind the messy and magical everyday moments. The focus is on the stories, efforts and everyday moments that often go unseen but are central to parenthood.

Parents have always been at the center of Gerber’s mission. This year’s focus reflects Gerber’s broader effort to help create a more parent-friendly world by acknowledging the often unseen reality of parenthood. The search shines a light on the heartfelt, in-between moments that make parenthood special.

Parents can nominate their baby or toddler at photosearch.gerber.com to upload:

Families nationwide are invited to submittheir baby or toddler for a chance to win the 2026 Gerber Photo Search: Behind the Baby. There are two eligible entry groups:

To see full rules including all eligibility requirements, please review the Gerber Photo Search Rules found here: photosearch.gerber.com/rules. 

There is a maximum of one entry per eligible child or set of multiples, meaning twins or triplets should be submitted in the same entry. If you have more than one eligible child and they are different ages, you can submit a separate entry for each one, just make sure you use a different email address for each entry. Please note, while a family can submit more than one eligible child for each age group, there can only be one winner per family.

Yes, after submittingtheir entry, parents will receive a confirmation email acknowledging receipt of their entry.

For any issues submitting your entry, please give us a call at 1-800-4-GERBER or fill out a submission on our website for assistance.

Once submitted, entries cannot be edited.We recommend reviewing all rules and details before submitting to make sure your entry is complete. You can view the full rules here:photosearch.gerber.com/rules.

Only one (1) photo of the child is allowed per entry . Parents should not be featured in the submission photo.If selected as a winner, families will be asked to share a family photo to celebrate their real, everyday parenting moments.

Please make sure your little ones are fully clothed! Entries will not be accepted with children that are not fully clothed, including bathtime and diaper photos. Also, please make sure to avoid featuring any third-party trademarks, logos or artwork with your entry.

No, only one single photo per entry is permitted.

Great question! You or an immediate family member must take your little one’s photo during the entry period. You may not use photos taken by individuals outside of your family, including professional photographers. If one of the baby’s parents is a professional photographer, we ask that you own the rights to the photo and that there aren’t any watermarks or other text.

Yes! All babies are considered equally. We look at a wide representation of babies from all communities, and this year is no different!

Thanks for reaching out – we’re sorry the reminder email didn’t reach you. The submission deadline is April 12 at 11:59 p.m. EDT so you still have time to enter your child. You can start your entry now at photosearch.gerber.com.

If they missed the deadline to enter: We’re so sorry the reminder email didn’t reach you. Unfortunately, the entry deadline for this year’s Photo Search has passed, and we’re unable to accept new submissions at this time. We know how exciting it is to share your little one’s special moments, and we hope you’ll join us again for future Photo Search opportunities.

If your child’s full name does not fit the character limit in the entry field, you can include their full name in the written submission. This will not impact your entry when it is reviewed for consideration.

The winner’s pictures will be used across Gerber’s marketing and advertising channels in the future. Parents will be notified if their photos are selected for use.

Winners will be invited to travel to New York in late April for a special appearance announcing the results. If your baby is selected, Gerber will cover the cost of and coordinate all necessary travel details directly with your family.

Each entry must include one photo of the child and one brief written submission that shares the story ofthe  everyday moment. Please visit photosearch.gerber.com for a full list of guidelines and criteria.

Our largeteam of Gerber employees and volunteerswill carefully evaluate each entry, making sure not to miss a single smile. It’s important that we give each submission the fair chance it deserves, so we start reviewing entries as soon as they come in to allow as much time as possible before our announcement. 

There will be one 2026 Gerber Photo Search Grand Prize winner, and one Get’ems! winner (kid aged 3 to 5 years old).

Potential winners will be contactedfrom a member of the Gerber team, only via emails ending with @us.nestle.com or verified Gerber social handles. We will never ask for payment or credit card info. To verify a message, call 1-800-4-GERBER or reply to the contest confirmation email thread.

Winners will be notified and revealed to the world in late Spring either April or May.

After the winner is selected, we’ll share more about them on Gerber.com and our social media channels!

As soon as winners are selected and all required paperwork and tax forms are complete,winner funds will be distributed so that families can begin to embrace all that being a Gerber Baby entails.

Prizes will be awarded directly to the child’s parent or guardian.

Please visit the link here:photosearch.gerber.com/rules

Yes, the Grand Prize winner and Get’ems! winner (kid aged 3 to 5 years old) will be publicly announced, including national and local news along with Gerber’s social media channels. In addition to the winners, Photo Search entries may be used in our future marketing and advertising content. However, we always do our best to notify parents when we plan to use their photos in marketing materials.

For the first time in Photo Search history, Gerber is adding a new category, specifically for kids ages 3 to 5 to celebrate real family moments behind babyhood. Get’ems! from Gerber, the new wholesome snack line for kids 3+ , made with real ingredients like apple, pumpkin or quinoa, makes this new category a natural fit.

As outlined in the Photo Search rules and guidelines, the contest is open to individuals who are legal residents of one of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico, and is not open to non-U.S. residents who are living here temporarily. This Gerber Photo Search is intended for our United States market, and some of our international partners have their own Gerber Photo Search campaigns. 

Potential winners will be required to complete and return standard eligibility and verification documents, including a Declaration of Eligibility, a Publicity and Liability Release, a W-9 form, and an authorization to conduct a background check for the baby’s parents or guardians. These materials must be signed and returned within five business days of receipt.Potential winners will also be asked to provide a copy of their baby’s birth certificate to confirm age eligibility, along with their phone number and email address for contact purposes.

The contest is open only to individuals who are legal residents of the fifty (50) United States,the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico and who are physically located and residing in the 50 United States, District of Columbiaor Puerto Rico at the time of entry.We welcome all families including military families that meet all Photo Search entry requirements to enter. 

Entry photos and application data will never be shared in any way with third parties not outlined in the rules. Members of our selection committee are also vetted and are Gerber/Nestlé USA employees. This data is retained only throughout the judging process, which concludes by the end of May 2026, and will then be deleted.

This year’s Photo Search is rooted in celebrating the real, everyday moments of parenthood. While the entry process focuses on highlighting the child, once a winner is selected, we will share a family photo so we can highlight the fullstory behind the moment. As part of Gerber’s commitment to creating a more parent-friendly world, we believe it’s important to honor the winning baby alongside the parents who make those meaningful moments possible.

If your baby is a winner, their name will be announced as part of the Photo Search announcement. For all other entries, names will remain private and will not be shared publicly.

As a company that has supported babies and their parents for 95+ years, we know that the safety and privacy of children are top priorities for families. Ensuring the safety and privacy of all submissions during the Photo Search process is of the utmost importance, and we are committed to providing a safe and positive experience for all participants. Entry photos and application data will never be shared in any way with third parties not outlined in the rules. Members of our selection committee are also vetted and are Gerber/Nestlé USA employees.This data is retained only throughout the judging process, which concludes by the end of May 2026, and will then be deleted.

Entries are thoughtfully reviewed by a panel of judges who evaluate each submission based on the story behind the moment, the expressiveness of the child in a real, everyday moment and the cohesiveness of the photo and written submission.

A panel of Gerber/Nestlé USA employees will review all entries. The judging system weighs each entry based on a series of requirements outlined in the official rules. In the event of a tie, the panel of judges will re-evaluate the finalists against these criteria to thoughtfully select the winner.

Both the photo and written submission are equally weighted during the judging process.

The winner will be announced once all entries have been reviewed to ensure there is ample time to evaluate each entry. For more details on when and where the winner will be announced, follow Gerber social channels.

No. In the event the site is impaired in any way near the deadline, as stated in the official rules Gerber in its sole discretion may end the contest and award the winner among the eligible entries received up to the time of the impairment. 

Each submission is reviewed carefully by our judges, however, there is no appeals process. While we can only choose one winner per category, we celebrate all babies and the real moments behind each entry.

Gerber will never use the name or likeness of a baby or family without permission from the family.

Yes! The Gerber Photo Search Grand Prize winner (ages 0-3) will receive $50,000 plus the Gerber Childrenswear “Grow With Us” wardrobe valued at $2,000. The Get’ems! winner(ages 3-5) will receive $10,000 plus $500 from Gerber Childrenswear. 

This prize from Gerber Childrenswear is designed as a special seasonal gift experience to help families keep up with their growing little ones through every new season, milestone and growth spurt. The prize is not a full year of free clothing, rather an opportunity for the winner family to refresh their child’s closet each season this year. It is non-transferable and cannot be substituted or redeemed for cash or a cash equivalent.

We have been hard at work in 2025, making updates to the Photo Search, ensuring it reflects the needs and wants of today’s families and is more parent-friendly than ever. This year’s Photo Search invites families to share the real parenting moments behind their baby (e.g. wobbly first steps, first bites, dance parties in the kitchen, etc.), with increased winnings, a new prize category and opportunities to celebrate parents with the recognition they deserve.

We were so happy to see the inchstone moments that were submitted in 2024! This year, we took a fresh look at Photo Search to ensure it reflects the needs and wants of today’s families and is more parent-friendly than ever. This year’s Photo Search invites families to share the real parenting moments behind their baby (e.g. wobbly first steps, first bites, dance parties in the kitchen, etc.), with increased winnings, a new prize category and opportunities to celebrate parents with the recognition they deserve.

The Gerber 2026 Photo Search theme is “Behind the Baby,” which focuses on the stories, efforts and moments that often go unseen but are central to parenthood.The goal of the photocomponent of submissions isto ensure that parents have the chance to enter photos of truly everyday moments. Parents also have the chance to highlight their role in these moments in the written submission. Additionally, winners will have the opportunity to share a family photo including the baby and their parents following the selection process.

Holding the Photo Search is part of our mission to celebrate families and create a more parent-friendly world. While we continue this tradition, our commitment to quality and safety remains unwavering.

We want all parents and caregivers who apply to Photo Search to feel seen and heard. After hosting the Photo Search for over a decade, we have learned a lot and received valuable feedback from participants. We continue to implement changes to reflect the needs and wants of today’s families and have reimagined the Photo Search to award parents with the recognition they deserve. This year’s Photo Search invites families to share real parenting moments withtheir baby (e.g. wobbly first steps, first bites, dance parties in the kitchen, etc.), with increased winnings, a new prize category and opportunities to celebrate parents with the recognition they deserve.

After hosting the Photo Search for over a decade, we have learned a lot and received valuable feedback from participants. We continue to implement changes to reflect the needs and wants of today’s families, and we are reimagining the Photo Search to award parents with the recognition they deserve. This year’s Photo Search invites families to share the real parenting moments behind their baby(e.g. wobbly first steps, first bites, dance parties in the kitchen, etc.), with increased winnings, a new prize category and opportunities to celebrate parents with the recognition they deserve.

We have been hard at work making updates to the Photo Search, ensuring it reflects the needs and wants of today’s families and is more parent-friendly than ever before. This year’s Photo Search invites families to share the real parenting moments behind their baby, with increased winnings, a new prize category and opportunities to celebrate parents with the recognition they deserve.

Our goal is to continue to celebrate babies from all backgrounds and highlight unique stories of families that will have an impact for generations to come. This year, we have made updates to the entry and selection process, including sharing additional information about contest guidelines within the submission form.

We carefully evaluate each entry and consider all submissions equally. Our goal is to continue to celebrate babies from all backgrounds and highlight unique stories of families that will have an impact for generations to come. 

No. [Winners] were chosen because [insert description of winners (e.g., Sonny was chosen for his sweet smile and his parents’ entry about how he brings sunshine to even the cloudiest of days)]. Our goal is to continue to celebrate babies from all backgrounds and highlight unique stories of families that will have an impact for generations to come.

We carefully evaluate each entry and consider all submissions equally. Our goal is to continue to celebrate babies from all backgrounds and highlight unique stories of families that will have an impact for generations to come.

We carefully evaluate each entry and consider all submissions equally. Our goal is to continue to celebrate babies from all backgrounds and highlight unique stories of families that will have an impact for generations to come.

We carefully evaluate each entry and consider all submissions equally. Our goal is to continue to celebrate babies from all backgrounds and highlight unique stories of families that will have an impact for generations to come.

At Gerber, we strive to be inclusive in everything we do. We are proud of the platform our community gives us with Photo Search, and our goal is to continue to celebrate babies from all backgrounds and highlight unique stories of families that will have an impact for generations to come.

The Gerber 2026 Photo Search theme is “Behind the Baby,” which emphasizes parents as much as their children and focuses on the stories, efforts and everyday moments that often go unseen but are central to parenthood. Our selection committee carefully reviews all aspects of each entry and aims to highlight unique stories of families that will have an impact for generations to come. 

We have been hard at work making updates to the Photo Search, ensuring it reflects the needs and wants of today’s families and is more parent-friendly than ever. This year, we have made updates to the entry and selection process, including sharing additional information about contest guidelines within the submission form and ensuring that our selection committee is made up of dedicatedGerber employees from different backgrounds.

Our selection committee is made up of a team of dedicated Gerber employees.

Yes. Our selection committee carefully reviews every entry by hand, providing each submission with the fair chance it deserves.

No, Gerber does not use AI to review or select winners. All entries for Gerber Photo Search 2026 are carefully evaluated by a team of dedicated Gerber employees.

Gerber does not use AI to review submissions. All entries are evaluated manually by a team of dedicated Gerber employees to ensure authenticity and fairness.

No, Gerber does not use facial recognition or biometric processing to select winners. All entries for Gerber Photo Search 2026 are carefully evaluated by a team of dedicated Gerber employees to ensure authenticity and fairness.

Entry photos and application data will never be shared with third parties in any waythat is not outlined in the rules. The rules explain that entry photos may be used in future marketing and advertising content, including on Gerber's social media pages (a recent example is our post announcing Photo Search 2024). If we do choose to use your photo, we will notify you via the email address you used for entry.

We carefully evaluate each entry and consider all submissions equally. Our goal is to continue to celebrate babies from all backgrounds and highlight unique stories of families that will have an impact for generations to come.

As a company that has supported babies and their parents for over 95 years, we know that the safety and privacy of children are top priorities for families, especially in the age of social media. Ensuring the safety and privacy of all submissions during the Photo Search process is of the utmost importance, and we are committed to providing a safe and positive experience for all participants. We have rules in place related to safety and privacy, ensuring that entry contentremains private until winners are chosen and notifying participants before using their photos.Additionally,we closely monitor social media commentary to help keep Gerber Babies and their families safe.

The health and safety of little ones and their families is our top priority. We are committed to providing a safe and positive experience for all participants. We closely monitor social media, and we reserve the right to remove content that violates our community guidelines.

This Gerber Photo Search is intended for our United States market. Some of our international partners have their own Gerber Photo Search campaigns, so we recommended checking in with your respective Gerber market to see when their next campaign is.

As outlined in the Photo Search rules and guidelines, the contest is open to individuals who are legal residents of one of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico. This Gerber Photo Search is intended for our United States market, and some of our international partners have their own Gerber Photo Search campaigns. 

As outlined in the Photo Search rules and guidelines, the contest is open to individuals who are legal residents of one of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico. If a submission is selected as a semifinalist, we request that the applicant review and sign a legally binding document that certifies that the submission meets all eligibility requirements. 

We know that it can be disappointing when a child is not selected as a winner. We receive hundreds of thousands of entries, and while we cannot provide feedback on individual entries, we can assure you that we carefully evaluatedeachsubmission. 

Yes, we conduct background checks on Gerber Photo Search winners to ensure the integrity and safety of the selection process and address potential issues related to child safety and privacy. 

We conduct a standard U.S. background check on Gerber Photo Search winners to ensure the integrity and safety of the selection process and address potential issues related to child safety and privacy. [Insert additional information about background check software/service if needed].

We carefully evaluate each entry to ensure it abides by the Photo Search rules and guidelines. Semi-finalists must sign an affidavit confirming eligibility and that the photo was captured during the entry period. We reserve the right to request original image files with EXIF metadata. Per the contest rules, entries may result in disqualification, revocation of title[and prize recoupment].

If someone has misrepresented your child as their own, please contact our Parents Resource Center at 1-800-4-GERBER so we can help. 

Gerber has long supported March of Dimes and expanded our partnership two years ago to our Photo Search. While we are not working with March of Dimes for this year’s Photo Search, we continue to support the organization in other ways. 

The health and safety of little ones and their families is our top priority. We are committed to providing a safe and positive experience for all participants. We closely monitor social media, and we reserve the right to remove content that violates our community guidelines. 

We carefully evaluate each entry to ensure it abides by the Photo Search rules and guidelines. Semi-finalists must sign an affidavit confirming eligibility and that the photo was captured during the entry period. We reserve the right to request original image files with EXIF metadata. Per the contest rules, entries may result in disqualification, revocation of title [and prize recoupment]. 

For the first time in Photo Search history, Gerber is adding a new category specifically for kids ages 3 to 5 to celebrate real family moments behind babyhood. We created this new category after receiving feedback about opportunities for older children and following the launch of Get’ems! from Gerber, the new wholesome snack line for kids 3+,which makes this new category a natural fit.

Gerber believes that the best way to nourish little ones is to​make a better world for their parents.​ As part of the Parent-Friendly Pursuit, Gerber is committed to lightening parents’ loads, advocating for parents, building support networks, and more. To learn more, please visit parents.gerber.com and @gerber on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Gerber has been on a mission to make mealtime easier for parents for nearly 100 years. In 1927, our founder, Dorothy Gerber, invented baby food to deliver nutritious food for littles and lighten the load for parents. Since then, Gerber has nurtured over 250 million babies. We are committed to keeping Dorothy’s legacy alive by showing up for parents and creating a parent-friendly world.​

The Gerber Photo Search is part of our ongoing Parent-Friendly Pursuit, a commitment to making the world a better, more supportive place for parents. This year, we’re celebrating parents to recognize all that they do.

The Gerber Photo Search is just one way Gerber is committed to making the world a better place for parents. To learn more about the Parent-Friendly Pursuit by Gerber and see the ways in which Gerber creating meaningful change, visit https://parents.gerber.com and check out the brand’s new campaign “Sorry!” that is focused on improving the support systems built for parents.  

Visit Gerber.com and follow @gerber on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to explore our variety of products, like purees, Lil' Crunchies®, Yogurt Melts® and puffs. To learn more about Get’ems! from Gerber, visit getems.com or follow along on social @getems on Facebook and Instagram.