2026 Gerber Photo Search: Behind the Baby!
FAQs
GENERAL GERBER PHOTO SEARCH QUESTIONS
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, and a new category sponsored by Get’ems! from Gerber for children
3-to-5 years old, 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:
- Baby’s name and birth date
- One (1) photo of your baby that shows an everyday moment, such as a wide-eyed reaction to the first bites of a new food, wobbly first steps, a walk in the park, or any scene that shows your baby’s natural emotion and personality in a clear, expressive way.
- One (1) written submission, no more than 200 words, that shares the story behind the moment captured in the photo. The submission should share why the moment is special, how it reflects the joys of parenthood and why the moment deserves to be celebrated.
Families nationwide are invited to submit their baby or toddler for a chance to win the 2026 Gerber
Photo Search: Behind the Baby. There are two eligible entry groups:
- Babies up to 3 years old (0-36 months)
- Eligible for the $50,000 grand prize
- Gerber Childrenswear “Grow With Us” wardrobe valued at $2,000
- Kids ages 3 to 5-years old (37-60 months)
- Eligible for a new $10,000 prize category sponsored by Get’ems! from Gerber, a wholesome snack line for kids
- $500 from Gerber Childrenswear
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 submitting their 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!
All babies are considered equally. We look at a wide representation of babies from all communities,
and this year is no different
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 of the everyday moment. Please visit photosearch.gerber.com for a full
list of guidelines and criteria.
Each entry must include one photo of the child and one brief written submission that shares the story
of the everyday moment. Please visit photosearch.gerber.com for a full list of guidelines and criteria.
Our large team of Gerber employees and volunteers will 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 contacted from 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.
Eligible entries will be reviewed during the entry period and for a time after it closes. All entries are
given equal consideration regardless of when they were submitted in the entry period.
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!
The 2026 Gerber Photo Search Grand Prize Winner 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.
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 Columbia or 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.
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.
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.
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.
- The Gerber Photo Search Grand Prize winner (ages 0–3) will receive the Gerber Childrenswear “Grow With Us” Wardrobe, valued at approximately $2,000. The wardrobe is fulfilled as four separate promotional discount codes, each worth about $500, delivered via email seasonally over a 12-month period to help your child’s wardrobe grow along with them. Codes will be activated around April 1, July 1, October 1, and January 1 and can be redeemed on gerberchildrenswear.com for eligible merchandise. The codes do not expire, are non- transferable, and cannot be combined with other offers unless stated otherwise.
- The Get’ems! winner (ages 3-5) will receive a promotional code with an approximate retail value of $500, redeemable on gerberchildrenswear.com, subject to terms and conditions provided at issuance. The code is non-transferable, may not be substituted or redeemed for cash and any unused balance will be forfeited.
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.
PARENT-FRIENDLY PURSUIT QUESTIONS
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.
