Surrey infant vies for 2026 Baby of the Year title

Six-month-old Surrey resident Aren Khazaee is competing for the 2026 Baby of the Year title. The winner will receive $25,000, appear in a national advertising campaign with The Honest Company and be featured in a Variety magazine advertorial.

Aren’s mother, Maryam Bayatsarmadi, described him as a joyful, curious and highly social child who is trying new foods, practising crawling, enjoying music and conversations with his parents, and has recently begun teething. Bayatsarmadi and Aren’s father, Milad Khazaee, initially entered the competition as a fun experience, but say support from family, friends and the community has grown.

The contest winner is determined through multiple rounds of public voting. Supporters may cast one free vote each day or vote by donation. The Group Phase closes at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, after which competitors advance in a tournament-style format according to their rankings. As of Tuesday, Sept. 22, Aren ranked fourth among 44 contestants in his group.

Bayatsarmadi said votes from the 低陆平原 would mean a great deal to the family, as Aren’s extended family is in Iran and he does not have the local family voting network available to some other entrants. The family says the prize would support Aren’s education and other opportunities while helping build a strong foundation for his dreams.

Funds raised through the competition also support California-based nonprofit Baby2Baby, which says it provides children in need across the United States with diapers, clothing and other basic necessities. More information and voting are available at https://babyoftheyear.org/2026/aren-6e74