It's the day that comes only once every four years, but Rebecca Minty is fairly certain annual celebrations will still be needed to mark the unusual birthday of her third son.
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Born about 8.45am on Saturday, the as-yet unnamed baby boy was one of five born on the morning of the leap day at the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children.
The baby boy, born a few days before he was due, was very calm as his parents, Ms Minty and Jim Leitch, of Farrer, marvelled alongside sons Elliott, 6, and Zachary, 8.
"We were kind of joking earlier on that it would be a leap-year baby," Ms Minty said, who, in the early hours on Saturday morning, quickly realised that would definitely be the case.
Now there are all sorts of things for the family to think about: To celebrate on February 28 or March 1 for the three years in between a leap year? (That's even a question which came up last year in the ACT Supreme Court, Ms Minty said.) Will computer systems always accept February 29 as a valid birthday? Which day will the newborn be eligible for his driver's licence?
Admittedly, that third concern is still quite a few years away.
"We had not thought of any of that. What else do we need to think about, while we're at it?" Ms Minty said on Saturday afternoon.
But, of course, none of those quibbling matters take away from the fact the family's newest member achieved some remarkable odds to be born on the calendar's rarest day.
READ MORE: The complicated truth about the leap year
People have a 1-in-1461 chance of being a leapling, as those born on February 29 are known. Less than 1 per cent have the birthday.
"I was joking that it will make it easier. I won't have to organise baby birthday parties, kids birthday parties. But I don't think I'm going to get away with that," Ms Minty said.
"What do you think boys, do you think we can only give him a party every four years?"
Zachary and Elliott didn't miss a beat, responding in unison with a "no".
"That would be a bit unfair, wouldn't it?" Ms Minty said. "Maybe we'll just give him a festival."
With four years between birthdays, the baby won't celebrate his technical 18th birthday until 2092, 74 years from now. That certainly makes the prospect of skipping annual celebrations seem very unfair. The festival option certainly sounds like a good one.
The newborn baby boy's brothers were already very attentive.
Their affection could, occasionally, verge towards tickling, however. Naturally, there'll be years of that to come, when their brother is a little bit bigger.
As for the name, the baby's elder brothers have tried out plenty of world-famous footballers as suggestions.
"We sort of thought a little bit about some names, but not really," Ms Minty said. "We've also been through every professional football player, from Barcelona and from Liverpool.
"But most of those are not - we've ruled them out, haven't we, boys?" Ms Minty said to some hints of disapproval.
But the newborn's brothers still had plenty of other suggestions.
"You know Daddy has to agree as well," Ms Minty reminded them as their baby brother slept quietly.
Jasper Lindell
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
