Babies who have a birthday only once in four years

New arrivals born on Monday will only have a birthday every four years, as leap year bundles of joy.

“In 18 years’ time, when he should be going out for a pint, he can’t because he’ll only be four-and-a-half”, said one proud dad.

Harry William Moorby was born at Royal Preston Hospital at 10.45am on Monday to Laura and Craig Moorby from Ashton, Preston, weighing 9lb 4oz.

Craig, 38, said Harry had been due to be born next week, but was born by a planned Caesarean section yesterday.

He said: “It’s great he was born yesterday, it’s definitely different.

“We will celebrate on February 28 each year, because we’ve got to keep it in the same month.

“Then we’ll have a special celebration every four years.”

Baby Brown was born at 6.23am to Claire, 27, and Joseph, 28, from Wheelton, who were still deciding on a name.

The baby boy, who weighed 7lb 15oz, was due to arrive on February 20, but now has a leap year birthday.

Mum Claire said: “I’ve always said he would come on February 29, just to be awkward.

“I’ve always said it because me and my husband were both born in a leap year, we were born in 1988.

“I kept laughing with my friends saying it would be the 29th, and it was.

“I don’t know yet how we’ll mark it, we are still in a bit of shock that he’s here.”

Also waiting for a name was baby Patel, born on Monday at 12.22pm.

The baby boy weighed 9lb, and was born to parents Ashiya and Tausif Patel.

Amelia-Rose Warren-Atkinson arrived at 9.32am on Monday, weighing 7lb 7oz, to mum Lisa Warren, 23, and dad Brett Atkinson, 21, from Fishwick.

Brett said the couple was “happy and shocked” at their daughter’s arrival.

He said: “We were hoping for her to be born the day before, with it being a leap year, but now we are actually really happy because we’ve been waiting so long to meet our little girl.

“We would rather she wasn’t born on a leap day, but we are happy because she’s really special.

“We will celebrate on the 28th, and every four years we’ll give her a birthday party.”