Baby of the Year brings together proud parents nationwide to share their little miracles and raise awareness for a worthy cause. This year, Colossal’s online fundraising campaign raised $17.7 million to support DTCare which grants funds to Baby2Baby, a non-profit organization that provides children living in poverty with diapers, formula, clothing and the basic necessities that every child deserves.
Meet Luca, the adorable champion who charmed his way to becoming the 2025 Baby of the Year! This expressive baby boy is being raised bi-coastally in Southern California and Florida by his devoted parents, Collin and Carolina. Collin is a serial entrepreneur from Charleston and Carolina is a first-generation Nicaraguan from Los Angeles who traded tech sales for full-time motherhood. Together, they bring a unique perspective to parenthood.
As first-time parents, these two are doing everything with great intention, from figuring out Luca’s diet and routine to making the most of their time together. Putting health at the forefront of their active, busy lives, Carolina will tell you that the gut is really the heart of health consciousness. “Giving your baby foods that strengthen their gut means they are less likely to have digestive issues; they will have healthy food reactions and a strong immune system,” she says. “Luca has not been sick in a year, and I was able to clear his eczema this way.”
One life hack that helps Carolina stay focused on family is meal prepping. By freezing large batches of her health-focused recipes, she saves precious time in the kitchen, making room for the moments that matter most. She says, “As a parent, a lot of the ‘free time’ you used to have pretty much becomes non-existent. But it’s important to find the time to take care of yourself and to continue to cultivate your relationship with your partner.”
Luca just celebrated his first birthday with a monkey-themed party, perfect for this brave, banana-loving explorer who is climbing higher by the day! At this stage, there is a lot to celebrate; saying (or screaming) his first word “Dada!”, playing with their dog Osita, dancing to music, exploring his home and giving kisses that occasionally include a gentle bite. Mom says, “Every time he eats, he makes little sounds like it is the best thing in the world.” Luca’s zest for living serves as a great reminder to enjoy the little things and take a bite of life!
The Cuteness Continues
While everyone is a winner in our hearts, these tiny tots took the top spots in the competition.
Augustus S.
Hailing from a small town in Oklahoma, Augustus has never met a stranger; only friends he doesn’t know yet! This little guy has a big personality and loves to show it off, waving at everyone, even passing cars. Some of his favorite activities include climbing, headbanging to music and going up on dad’s shoulders.
You might wonder, how did Gus get to be so outgoing? One reason might be his mom’s “can do” attitude and encouragement to bring your kids along for the ride. “Do everything you normally would do in life with your baby — within reason.” She says, “Your baby will adapt and get to live the life you have enjoyed and you can do it together. If you do this from the get-go, it gets easier, quicker, and you will have such a resilient and go-with-the-flow baby. I promise; you won’t regret it.” With that personality and smile, Gus is surely going places!
Follow @tanny_girl_ to see more of Gus and his family.
Photography: @everlastingmemoriesbymercedez
Indre Buechler
Emilia M.
With her quiet magic, Emilia is the puzzle piece that completes her family in Charlotte, North Carolina. The youngest of four, she’s growing up surrounded by much older siblings in their teens and early twenties, who fill the home with vibrant energy. Add six dogs and two cats to the mix, and life is delightfully lively. At the center of it all is Emi, whose gentle energy seems to steady the room.
Emilia’s mother Verónica, a compassionate therapist, says, “Her presence brings an easy warmth and happiness wherever she goes, making every space feel lighter.” Calm, content and rarely fussy, Emilia draws people in with love, laughter and adorable dance moves. She loves to learn, and her dad, Robert, relishes opportunities to teach her new things. By simply being herself, Emilia’s brought hearts closer together, transforming a blended family into one that feels undeniably whole; proof that the smallest humans can make the biggest impact.
Perla Bisono Photography
Skye C.
The moment Skye’s parents, Jennifer and John, realized they were pregnant with her, they were smitten. Though the path into parenthood wasn’t easy (jaundice and multiple hospital visits tested them early), they say it has been their most rewarding and transformative experience. “Parenting has taught us to cherish time before it flies by,” Jennifer shares. “One day you’re holding a baby the size of your forearm, and in a blink, she’s standing tall at your hip.”
Leading with a connect-first approach, Skye’s parents meet her where she’s at, modeling emotional regulation, valuing progress over perfection and celebrating every milestone. Skye knows sign language, lip-syncs to songs and mirrors dances with ease, revealing a remarkable ability to observe, communicate, and express herself at such a young age. As a family, they sing, dance and practice expressive reading together; connecting, being silly and building skills along the way. The progress speaks for itself!
Follow on Instagram @skyeeloisecruz
Macey H.
Chicago, Illinois
Favorite things: dancing to music, bananas, “Finding Nemo” and “Go, Dog. Go!”
Ajani N.
Woodbridge, Virginia
Favorite things: cars, airplanes, cuddles, Ms. Rachel and “Danny Go!”
Brody B.
Clayton, North Carolina
Favorite things: “101 Dalmatians,” “Bob’s Burgers” and “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom”
Tiny Blossoms Studio
Camden A.
San Francisco, California
Favorite things: soccer, basketball, bedtime stories, lullabies and all kinds of food
Championing Change for Children in Need
Colossal and Baby2Baby leadership teams
As a nationally registered professional fundraiser, Colossal powers competitions designed to inspire people to advocate for themselves and those in need. Baby of the Year unites thousands of parents and tiny tots alike to vie for the title while raising awareness and funds for Baby2Baby. Through Colossal’s charity grantmaking partner, DTCare, the Baby of the Year initiative has delivered more than $42 million in support of families and children in need over the past two years.
Baby2Baby is a non-profit organization that provides children in need with diapers, formula, clothing, and the basic necessities that every child deserves, serving more than one million children across all 50 states. In the last 14 years, Baby2Baby has distributed over half a billion items to children in homeless shelters, domestic violence programs, foster care, hospitals and school districts as well as children who have lost everything in the wake of disaster.
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