Is your child the next Gerber baby?

Oct. 04--Gerber is looking for its next "Spokesbaby."

The Nestlé-owned baby nutrition company kicked off its ninth annual photo search competition for its 2019 campaign.

People can submit photos of their baby on Instagram using the hashtag #GerberPhotoSearch2018

The winning photo will be featured in the company's social media channels throughout the year. The grand prize is $50,000.

"Every year, for our annual Photo Search, we choose the baby who exemplifies Gerber's long-standing heritage of recognizing that every baby is a Gerber baby," said Gerber president and chief executive officer Bill Partyka.

The contest, which started Oct. 1st, is open through Oct. 20.

For the rules, visit www.gerber.com/photo-search-2018

Last year's winner was Lucas Warren of Georgia who became the first Gerber baby with Down syndrome. He was selected from more than 140,000 entries.

Partyka said he was chosen "because of his expressiveness and his contagious smile."

The original Gerber baby came from the company's first contest in 1928. Artist Dorothy Hope Smith submitted a charcoal sketch of a baby with pursed lips, according to Gerber.

Endeared by the sketch, the judges picked it as the winner. The sketch was that of retired English teacher Ann Turner Cook whose neighbor drew her portrait for the contest. That sketch continues to be associated with the brand.

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