Top Four Tots
The Toddler of the Year competition brought families and supporters together to celebrate the
unforgettable personalities of kids ages 2 and 3 while raising awareness and donations for an important cause. The 2026 campaign raised over $4.5 million to support Toys for Tots®, bringing the competition’s total since 2025 to $18,129,316, delivered in partnership with DTCare.
Please join us in celebrating our top four tots, who are starring in their very own billboards across the country!
2026 Toddler of the Year
Sarah
Favorite Way to Play: Swinging, bouncing, spinning, sensory toys
Favorite Food: Anything sweet
Message to the World: Never give up!
Meet Sarah, the Official 2026 Toddler of the Year! Living with her mother, Amber Traxler, in St. Cloud, Minnesota, Sarah is a thriving little girl with many adoring fans. At 3 and a half, she continues to surpass expectations while living with Thanatophoric Dysplasia type 1 (TD1), a rare genetic condition affecting bone and lung development.
With her sweet spirit and fierce determination, Sarah keeps redefining what’s possible for her. Amber calls her joy “Sarah-tonin”—a dose of happiness delivered through kisses and the way she lights up with love.
Amber is passionate about raising awareness of TD1, as data on it is very limited and outdated. Parents who receive this diagnosis are all provided the same answer from physicians: it is fatal. Faced with this prognosis, Amber held on to hope—and Sarah’s life now offers encouragement to families navigating the same journey.
Their message: You don’t have to walk this journey alone. If your child has TD1, or you’ve received a prenatal diagnosis, contact The Paisley Foundation for support, connection, and hope from other families of TD1 survivors.
2026 Finalist
Madelyn
Favorite Way to Play: Soccer, dolls, and playing with her brother
Favorite Food: Pancakes
Message to the World: Be kind to everyone, especially animals!
Madelyn, a.k.a. Maddie Belle, lights up a room like sunshine in toddler form! She has a loving, generous spirit and always looks out for others. Growing up in Kentucky, Maddie Belle is family-oriented and loves being a big sister. Her mom, Brittany, says that when she gets something, she always makes sure her little brother has some too. This love extends to the family's pets: Lucy, a Goldendoodle, and Callie, a little Chiweenie, who sometimes fills in as Madelyn’s “baby doll.” A true animal lover, she is also passionate about looking after her chickens. Growing up in Kentucky, Maddie Belle spreads love everywhere she goes.
Photography by Amy Barber
2026 Finalist
Mattie
Favorite Way to Play: Dancing, drumming, soccer, painting, dinosaurs
Favorite Food: “Yellow rice” (Spanish rice) and "rainbow ice cream"
Message to the World: Show compassion and spread love!
Mattie loves and dazzles everyone she meets. Born with a rare liver disease diagnosed too late, she spent much of her first year in critical care. Against all odds, she survived a liver transplant like a true, tiny warrior, losing five fingers on her left hand. She is learning to embrace this difference on her own terms. Turning four this December, Mattie still faces challenges, but she meets them with courage and her own sparkle.
Mattie’s parents are raising awareness of Mattie’s Law, which expands newborn screening for liver disease. Their advocacy has prompted several Florida hospitals to update screening protocols, bringing them closer to their life-saving goal of diagnosing every baby with biliary atresia before discharge.
2026 Finalist
Amira
Favorite Way to Play: Building with blocks and magnetic tiles
Favorite Food: Spaghetti, ramen, enchiladas, and kimchi
Message to the World: I AM BEAUTIFUL, AND YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL TOO!
Amira is a playful, smart “boss baby” with a loving heart and her own mind. She enjoys playing with other kids, building with blocks and magnetic tiles, and listening to stories. She is currently learning Korean and can already speak a little! Her sweet, thoughtful nature shines through once her initial shyness fades. Her mom, Holly, says that her daughter teaches others how to be sweet and is a blessing to everyone who knows her. Growing up in Southern California, Amira knows what she wants and loves doing things herself like a true, confident queen.