The website Babyoftheyear.org is a real and legitimate competition, but it’s often referred to as a “scam” by some people due to its business model, which can be seen as exploitative or misleading.
It’s not a scam in the traditional sense of a fake competition designed to steal money outright, but its practices have led to widespread complaints.
Here’s a breakdown of why people consider it a scam and how it actually works:
Reliability & Trustworthiness
ScamDoc rates the site’s trust score as “Poor” (25%), citing concerns like hidden domain ownership, a recently registered domain, and short lifespan.
Scamolytics (Scamminder) also flags the site as likely a scam: issues include lack of transparency, no detailed terms, vague sponsorship claims, and an unusually high $25K prize.
ScamAdviser, however, gives a higher trust score (~71), but still warns that legitimacy can’t be guaranteed.
Red Flags & Concerns
Transparency Issues: There’s minimal information about the organizers, judging process, sponsor involvement, or winners—common for legit contests.
Fundraising Focus: The contest is hosted by Colossal, a professional fundraiser, and any donations benefit the charity DTCare. Yet details about fund use are sparse.
Pay-to-Win Voting: Free votes are allowed daily, but paid votes can heavily influence results, raising fairness concerns.
Media Misrepresentation: The site implies involvement by Good Housekeeping and Jessica Alba, but Good Housekeeping confirmed they only ran an ad, not in charge of the contest itself.
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How the Competition Actually Works
Free to Enter:
- You can submit your baby’s photo and information for free.
Two Types of Votes:
- Free Daily Vote: You can vote for a baby once every 24 hours without charge.
- Donation Votes: You can buy packages of votes, with all of the money (minus the company’s cut) going to a designated charity.
The Winner:
- The baby with the most votes at the end of the final round wins the grand prize, which is typically a cash prize and a feature in a magazine like Variety or Good Housekeeping.
Community Feedback—Real Parents Weigh In
Reddit users express doubt:
“They literally send that ‘you’re a finalist’ notification to everyone who applies.”
“More of a money-making scheme. Fairness is questionable.”
“You have to buy votes to win… total scam.”
“My mom donated $40 before learning votes were paid—felt exploitative.”
Additional concerns include inability to delete a child’s profile and privacy risks from publicizing children’s photos.
Overview Table
| Factor | Observations |
|---|---|
| Transparency | Low—unclear organizers, scarce contest details |
| Voting System | Pay-to-win model skews fairness |
| Charity Connection | Exists but lacks detailed reporting |
| Media Claims | Misleading affiliations with reputable brands |
| Parental Concerns | Numerous posts describe feeling misled or uncomfortable |
| Privacy Risk | Public sharing may expose children to unwanted attention |
Final Verdict
While not a classic “scam,” babyoftheyear.org has multiple troubling aspects:
The structure emphasizes fundraising over fair competition.
Important details—like voting processes and financial transparency—are murky.
Media and celebrity ties appear more promotional than substantive.
Several parents report feeling misled about voting and privacy implications.
What You Can Do
Approach with caution—especially before signing up or submitting photos.
Read the fine print about image rights and donation use.
Avoid posting sensitive info or photos publicly.
Treat any request for paid votes with skepticism.
Rely on known, reputable contests when seeking safe experiences.
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