THE Whitsundays welcomed a beautiful baby boy this week, born on one of the rarest days of all - February 29.

Born to loving parents James Topping and Amy Dobbins, Hughett Christopher James Topping arrived at 9.45am weighing 3374g.

"Hugh is pop," Amy said.

"Who passed away recently," James added.

"Christopher is my father and James is daddy over there," Amy continued.

The newborn wasn't expected to be a leap-day baby.

"He's early," Amy explained.

Through all the excitement of an early delivery and the birth of a healthy baby boy, one question still remained - how to celebrate his birth when it's not a leap year?

"We'll probably celebrate it on the 1st (of March)," Amy said.

"When it comes time for important birthdays like his 18th, he won't be able to get into the pub on the 28th but he will on the 1st."

He will be able to apply for his learner's permit on his birthday however, with his 16th set to fall in a leap year.

Hugh is the couple's second child, but brother Jack isn't a leap-day baby.

"He was an August baby," Amy said.

With roughly a one in 1400 chance of being born on a leap day, the couple said they didn't know of any other babies with the same birthday, other than two twins covered in this week's Whitsunday Times.

"The doctor said he had a mate who was born in a leap year, but that's all," James said.

The couple thanked both their families for their support throughout the pregnancy and birth, Proserpine Hospital staff for their exemplary care and the midwives, all of whom they "couldn't fault".