Meet Sonny, the Arizona toddler selected as 2024 Gerber Baby

Akil McLeod, aka Sonny, is the 2024 Gerber Baby. The selection committee was captivated by Sonny’s portrait and the heartwarming account of the joyous energy he bestows upon his family.

The 14th annual Photo Search winner, who just celebrated his first birthday, lives in Arizona with his parents, Dominque and Akil McLeod Sr., as well as his older sister, Sage. On the Gerber website, it is stated that Sonny enjoys playing with his toy vehicles, reading his squishy ABC book, and watching football with his family. He can’t help but laugh when others make funny faces at him or when he plays peek-a-boo with his sister.

As part of his role as the 2024 Gerber Baby, Sonny will collaborate with the pioneer in early childhood nutrition to further its goal of assisting babies worldwide in continuing to grow with love.

Dominque, Sonny’s mom, stated, “Every day it’s an honor to watch Sonny conquer so many tiny achievements, from giggles, to trying new foods, to standing up and everything in between. He’s a light in our lives and brings joy to everyone around him. We couldn’t have asked for a better way to celebrate his first birthday than to be chosen as the 2024 Gerber Baby. We look forward to all the adventures in the year ahead collaborating with Gerber to share his sweet smile with families across the country.” 

During an appearance on the “Today” show, Dominque revealed to the co-hosts that she entered her son in the competition but kept it a secret from everyone, including her husband Akil Sr.

“I thought, well, what are the odds, right?” she reflected.

Akil Sr., however, expressed his excitement at his son’s status as a finalist and his real possibility of winning. Enthusiastic about doing good deeds, Sonny’s family gives their time and effort to community organizations. Their humanitarian values inspire them to teach their two children to be kind, respectful of others, resilient, and to set a good example.

Chandra Kumar, President of Nestlé Infant Nutrition, said in a statement, “After 14 incredible years of Photo Search, this year, we are grateful our former Gerber Baby families could join us in selecting Sonny as our 2024 Gerber Baby. Sonny immediately captured our hearts with his joyful smile and his family’s inspiring demonstration of what it means to grow with love.”

“Inspired by the tens of thousands of photos submitted each year, Gerber Photo Search offers us a unique opportunity to connect with the families of today and reinforces the importance of our mission to help babies grow up healthy and happy.”  

Along with a diverse group of Gerber employees, this year marked the first time parents of past Gerber Babies had ever served on the selection panel.

Sonny has been chosen as the 2024 Gerber Baby, but Gerber is celebrating more babies than ever before by revealing ten more as the winners of Inchstone Moments, which will be shared on the company’s social media accounts.

Photo Search, which debuted more than a decade ago, was inspired by thousands of photos sent in by parents who recognized their child in Gerber’s iconic baby logo. As the winner of this year’s Photo Search, Sonny will represent Gerber as the 2024 Baby, appearing in the company’s marketing campaigns and on its social media platforms all year long.

Sonny and his family have also won a brand-new wardrobe from Gerber Childrenswear, free Gerber products for a year, a $25,000 cash reward, and gifts from Brooklinen, Canon, UPPABaby, Little Tikes, Motherhood Maternity, and ezpz! Gerber will match Sonny’s cash prize with a donation to March of Dimes’ maternal and newborn health initiatives.