Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Site stuff

Join our Innovation Panel to try new features early and help make Mumsnet better.

MNHQ

Leap day babies - do you have one? Or are you one yourself?

39 replies

RowanMumsnet · 15/01/2016 14:33

Afternoon all

MNHQ here, on the scrounge for your thoughts and experiences on the topic of leap year birthdays (by which we mean babies born actually on February 29th during a leap year).

We were wondering how you explain the concept of astronomical years to young children, whether leap day babies tend to feel special or a bit deprived, how families tackle birthdays in years that aren't leap years, and whether you tend to have extra-special birthdays in leap years... things like that.

(Yes, we have been checking our Year Ahead calendars, and yes, it is a leap year.)

All thoughts welcome
thanks
MNHQ

OP posts:
GloGirl · 15/01/2016 15:33

An adult close to me has a leap year birthday, it keeps the pressure of their normal birthdays and that 'must have fun' fear, and the leap year birthdays are more special.

The most annoying thing apparently is everyone else insisting you are celebrating it on the 'wrong' day. There should be an international standard to stop squabbling. Because, you know, there's nothing else of importance going on in the world right now!

helenahandbag · 15/01/2016 15:36

My dad is leap year birthday. He usually celebrates on 1st March but we make a bigger deal out of his "real" birthday.

A funny fact is he had his tenth "real" birthday the year I turned 10 and his twelfth the year my brother turned 12 Smile

HackerFucker22 · 15/01/2016 15:37

I know an adult leap year baby (mid 30's). He celebrates on 28th usually as he was born just a few hours into the 29th.

He celebrates on the 29th during a leap year. He says it's no big deal in terms celebrating on the "wrong" day... It's no different to a school age child having a party on the closest weekend if their birthday falls in the week.

Leeds2 · 15/01/2016 15:38

There was a Feb 29 birthday boy in DD's primary school class. He always celebrated on 28th Feb, so that it was in the same month as his actual birth date. If it were me, I think I would celebrate afterwards on 1 March, but I do understand this boy's point!

DrPiggle · 15/01/2016 15:45

My eldest was born on the 29th four years ago. So far, she doesn't understand that her actual birth date doesn't happen every year. As parents we are looking forward to having the real day to celebrate this year.

We've celebrated on the 28th so far. We do get people telling us we're wrong, proclaiming with great authority that it should be one or the other. We prefer it to be the same month. When DD get older she'll get to choose herself.

To be honest, I don't see it as that big of a deal. It's just a date. She's still a year older every year and we celebrate that. But then, we tend to be pragmatic about these types of things in general.

My hope is that DD will never see it as a burden, but will just enjoy her birthday every year and her special day every four years. I hope it'll just be a cool thing about her, but not that big of a deal.

ThePug · 15/01/2016 18:16

I'm officially due my first baby on 10th March but am going to be induced at 38 weeks, which puts me around 26th Feb starting off. Knowing that these things can take time (and I might be bumped down the list for an emergency) I'm getting a bit worried about a Feb 29th appearance! My husband thinks it would be great, but I'd prefer not. If baby did happen to be born on 29th, I think we'd celebrate on 28th so it's still in February, although I take the point that the 1st March is in effect the 'replacement' day for 29th Feb in terms of calendar days.

Zippidydoodah · 15/01/2016 19:04

I went to school with a leap year baby, and I remember a group of us telling him he was only two when he turned eight........Blush

wowfudge · 15/01/2016 19:57

I have a relative with a leap day birthday. In non leap years she celebrates on 28th Feb as it's the same month. When her birth was registered the registrar asked her parents if they wanted to put her birth date down on 28th Feb or 1st March! They said the 29th. This was quite some time ago though.

Somethingkindaooh · 15/01/2016 20:48

I am a leap year baby Grin

I was famous when young as i went on the local news about it..

I usually celebrate on 28th feb as i was born in the month of feb not march lol

The 29th has always been a big deal for me as i always get something extra special from my mum on a leap year.. I get super excited (even now I'm getting old)

PotteringAlong · 15/01/2016 21:35

My friend at school was a leap year baby. I thought it was terribly exotic and was really annoyed I was born in January!

HumanSlowCooker · 15/01/2016 21:36

My daughter is a leapling and I'm quite excited about her first actual birthday this year!! We celebrate on 1st March as I think that's the date that you legally turn a year older for things like drinking/driving etc.
We haven't really explained the concept to her yet as at 4 I'm not sure she would really get it!!!

MeticulouslyMessy · 15/01/2016 21:37

Any Gilbert & Sullivan fans out there? Leap year birthday is a major plot turning point in Pirates of Penzance.

ProcrastinatorGeneral · 15/01/2016 22:07

My form tutor at school had a leap birthday. We had a ball the year he turned 11. We had banners, balloons, badges, and cake. It was a whole-form effort and was fantastic. I remember it fondly. I hope the form he had for his thirteenth respected the awesomeness of the occasion and did the job properly:o

BikeRunSki · 15/01/2016 22:15

I came on to say that my form tutor at secondary school was born in 29 Feb! I wonder if it I had the same teacher at Pricrastinator?

Noodledoodledoo · 16/01/2016 07:54

My husband is a leap year birthday. He is 10 this year! I joke to my secondary students about it and some of them really struggle to understand lots think if he doesn't have a birthday he doesn't get older!

He celebrates on 28th same as previous it's the right month.

helenahandbag · 16/01/2016 08:42

It's interesting that so many people celebrate on 28th February. I'd never thought about it being 'in the right month' - my dad celebrates on 1st March because his birthday hasn't 'happened' yet on the 28th.

ShoeJunkie · 16/01/2016 08:53

DS1 is a leap year baby - it's his first 'proper' birthday this year (so both DS are turning 1!).
At the moment he doesn't really seems to understand the concept though.
We alway celebrate on 28th Feb as we reasoned that his birthday would always be on the last day of Feb that way.
I also found out that the year he turns 18 he will not be officially an adult until 1st March.

Finola1step · 16/01/2016 08:57

My Grandad had a leap year birthday. He celebrated his birthday on Feb 28th. But I do remember him telling us he was 17 and then 18. It was all very funny as a kid.

Somethingkindaooh · 16/01/2016 09:00

I was saying to my dd there will come a day when she has had more real birthdays than me..she was very confused!

SoThatHappened · 16/01/2016 11:27

My friend celebrates on 28th February as she said she was born on the last day of the month in February. Makes sense I guess. She really wasnt born in March

CatThiefKeith · 16/01/2016 11:36

A friend of mine is celebrating her 'sweet sixteen' with a huge party this year. She normally celebrates on the 28th Feb, but tends to go all our for her actual birthday when it's a leap year.

Andrewofgg · 16/01/2016 11:39

Slightly o/t but I remember that in 1974 (a common year) there was a general election on 28 February and the question arose whether those who were on the register as attainers having been born on 29 February 1956 could vote. Returning officers in different constituencies took different views, whichever government department was concerned did not take a view and it was never tested in court. And now that elections are fixed to be in May, it never will be!

stealtheatingtunnocks · 16/01/2016 11:44

I've got one! DD is about to turn "3", with great pomp and circumstance.

She was 6 before she really understood the significance, and delights in all the wrong aged cards she gets sent every 4 years.

We're in Scotland, and the school cut off date is... 29th Feb. So, she couldn't be any younger in her year. Of course, we could have deferred her, but I had 3 kids under 4, so it was best she went to school before I became an alcoholic. Meant she was a whopping 18 months younger than the oldest kid in the year (who was extra deferred due to SENs) - but, she's been absolutely fine in school.

Celebrate on 28th for same reasons as PP - Feb birthday, innit?

Primary 4 used her in their space topic to explain what leap years are. She bloody loved that - but, she likes a bit of attention.

She was due on the 12th Feb. I suspect she hung on to get that wee bit of attention.

stealtheatingtunnocks · 16/01/2016 11:45

Also, she tells her friends that she doesn't get a party or a present unless it's a leap year. "Mum says it's not my birthday"

Funny kid.

Somethingkindaooh · 16/01/2016 12:11

stealth

My dad only buys me a present on my actual leap year birthdays.. Obvs my mum does it usually on a non birthday year but it's his funny thing.