Hadley Polfus, born in October 2022, had been at the top of her group for the majority of the week but was bumped down to second just before voting closed Thursday night.

While she did not make it to the quarterfinals in that round, she will remain in the contest vying for a Wild Card spot. Voting for the Wild Card round ends at 7 p.m. Pacific time Sunday. To learn more about the contest, go online to https://toddleroftheyear.org/.

Hadley began the competition against 40 other toddlers, then made it to the top 20, then the top 10.

This national competition benefits the Toys for Tots program and partners with Hasbro, among other sponsors.

Hadley Polfus(Courtesy of the Polfus family)

The Toddler of the Year’s website states the winning toddler “will take home $25,000, star in a national ad campaign, lead the Hollywood Christmas Parade, and go on a trip to a Peppa Pig theme park!”

Mike and Kaitlyn Polfus submitted Hadley for the competition in July.

“I was on the internet one night, on Facebook, and it popped up and I figured, you know, why not? I entered her picture in there, and she started doing pretty good. It was fun for the whole family; they get excited about it,” Mike Polfus said.

The family filed photos of Hadley on the website, along with details about their daughter such as her personality, favorite activities and how the prize money would affect their family.

On her profile, Hadley’s parents wrote, “Hadley is so smart and funny! She has been our easiest child. In the last 3 weeks, she told us, ‘I’m potty training now!’ And is completely trained! She’s so determined and refuses to be left out from anything her older siblings are doing.”

Hadley Polfus (Courtesy of the Polfus family)

The Polfus’ other children are Otis, 7, and Scout, 5.

Hadley’s grandfather, Paul Polfus, has also made donations to the Toddler of the Year competition to boost his granddaughter in her competition.

The public can vote once per day or make a donation, with each dollar counting as one vote.

If Hadley wins the Wild Card round, she would move on to the national quarterfinals. Voting for each round is one week long.

Mike Polfus said the community has heavily supported Hadley in the competition.

Hadley Polfus (Courtesy of the Polfus family)

Hadley is excited about the contest, he added. “She calls herself Toddler of the Year,” he said. “She’ll ask if people will vote for her.”

To vote for Hadley, go to https://toddleroftheyear.org/2025/hadley-98c1?fbclid=IwY2xjawMUDTdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHqMZR6oMW98DqRTyQdpssE3im0s_JpJ1W7lAm4up0Uq6wz_klJn-Ka8kXlWh_aem_BNWbx_liLYb_Un3NbIa8hA.

Hadley Polfus (Courtesy of the Polfus family)