'New Year's Miracle:' The First Of 2026 Babies Welcomed At Northwell

MANHASSET, NY — The first babies born on New Year's Day have been welcomed at Northwell hospitals.

Rocky Cocchiarella was the first to be born on January 1 at Northwell's North Shore University Hospital. She was welcomed at 1:55 a.m. and weighed 6 lbs and 13 ounces, and measured 20 inches long.

Parents and Sea Cliff residents Bailey Perry (mom) and Dante Cocchiarella (dad) said they were excited to welcome their "New Year's miracle" to the world.

Perry was also born at NSUH and said it reminded her of The Lion King's 'circle of life.'

"I feel good," Perry said. "It's baby number one. We didn't know if it was going to be a boy or a girl, and it just felt so fitting because I was born at North Shore. So, it was just really amazing and incredible on New Year's to have this full circle moment."

At Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Glen Oaks, the first baby of 2026 was delivered.

Ana Elena Gutierrez-Tavares and Luis Gutierrez welcomed their first child, Mateo, at 2:30 a.m. He weighed 10 lbs. and measured a bit more than 22 inches long.

Ana's cousin and LIJ Medical Center delivery nurse, Elizabeth Marin, assisted in the delivery of Mateo.

Assisting in the delivery was Ana’s cousin and LIJ Medical Center delivery nurse Elizabeth Marin.

Northwell Health said that approximately 30,000 babies are born each year at Northwell hospitals.