(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The birth of any baby usually creates huge excitement among family and friends no matter what time of the year it is. Whether a doting grandparent, or a first-time mother, all eyes are on that little bundle of joy.
But there's one baby that usually has the whole world watching, all because of their cleverly timed entrance into the world - the New Year's baby.
As if branded a mini celebrity before even taking its first breath in the real world, the New Year's baby is given its 15 minutes of fame before barely even completing 15 seconds on earth.
At the beginning of this year, Dubai welcomed its first baby of 2014 at 12.53am at Latifa Hospital. According to hospital authorities when speaking to Khaleej Times at the time, the baby was a healthy Emirati boy, and though he grabbed the 2014 title for first baby of the year, the race is on to see who claims it this New Year.
Although local news outlets tend to make a big deal out of the first baby born in each hospital, Eveline Sleeboom, founder of the online hub for new and expectant parents, Marhababy, says the excitement for each family is virtually the same as any other day.
"Every birth of a baby is very special and something that new parents will never forget. But I can imagine that giving birth and witnessing the first day of a new life on the first day of the new year could make it extra special."
And with big hype usually comes big giveaways, with baby stores and hospitals around Dubai gifting baby-friendly goods to help mothers and fathers, both old and new, transition into parenthood that little bit easier.
From car seats to gift certificates and brand new strollers to designer clothes, the media attention certainly has its perks for these new arrivals and for the first time since launching Marhababy, Sleeboom says it will be treating the New Year's babies - and mothers - in style.
"Marhababy would like to offer these parents a special edition Marhababy Box. Every mum who is pregnant, or who has a baby or toddler can order a free Marhababy Box but we'd like to offer something extra festive for these parents. A surprise if you will."
But with new-found fame comes misfortune, and although it may not be as extreme as being chased down by the paparazzi, future birthday celebrating could become tricky, Sleeboom says.
"In the future, it could pose a challenge to the parents to find a good date to celebrate the child's birthday, and the child might feel that his birthday is a bit 'diluted' in the midst of all the festivities."
But it's not all bad.
"On the other hand: there are not many people who can say that the whole world launches fireworks on their birthday," she says.
Vintage New Year baby
Thirty-two-year-old New Year baby, Christian Chung, got his first taste of fame back in the 1980s - and it was all down to his perfectly timed birth.
Christian Chung with his baby. -Supplied photo
"I was born 1982 in Chester, UK. I was on the front page of the local newspaper as I was the first of seven born on that day. I love my birthday being on New Year's Day but tend to do the celebrating on New Year's Eve/New Years day crossover for obvious reasons."
Now living in Dubai, Chung says the upsides of being a New Year's baby definitely outweigh the downsides.
"Benefits include: hardly ever working on my birthday. Everyone around is in an amazing mood celebrating, and it's easy to get everyone out to celebrate my birthday."
But, as a child, he said the prospect of no Christmas or birthday for another whole year due to them being so close together was always pretty hard to handle.
Fresh from welcoming his own new arrival into the world just one week ago, Chung is looking forward to the fact that in 2032, he can jointly celebrate his 50th birthday with his now newborn, who'll be turning 18 the same year.
"I didn't even think about that till just now," he says.
So, as we say goodbye to 2014 and hello to 2015, the wait is on to see who'll grab that New Year baby title. Watch this space.
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