Michigan babies born in the very first minutes and hours of 2026 are getting a big welcome.
Local hospitals announced the very first births of the year, a nod to “Baby New Year,” a long-held symbol of a new calendar year, representing rebirth.
Arriving just a few minutes into the new year, at 12:03 a.m., was Julia Elizabeth Flemming at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital in Clinton Township. The daughter of Stacy and Daniel Flemming of Warren, Julia weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces. She joins big sisters Isabelle and Margo.
In Detroit, baby Jakai was born at 12:34 a.m. at the Detroit Medical Center Hutzel Women’s Hospital, to his mother Rakiah and father Jarmel. Baby Jakai weighed 8 pounds and 2 ounces at birth, measuring 20.5 inches long.
At Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital, baby Alayna was born at 12:15 a.m., weighing 8 pounds and 4 ounces, measuring 20.5 inches long. Parents Ashley and Andrew Dunbar hail from Rochester Hills. Alayna waited considerably longer than expected to be born: Her due date was Dec. 21.
At the University of Michigan’s Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital in Ann Arbor the first baby of the new year was a girl born at 12:50 a.m. to Natasha Radke and Shane Dukes, of Brighton. The girl’s first name hasn’t been chosen yet, and she was due on Dec. 31, so very close to on schedule.
At Trinity Health Ann Arbor, the first baby of the year arrived at 2:13 a.m. on January 1. Baby Gill, a girl whose first name is still being decided, weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces, and is the daughter and first child of Harjot and Dick Gill of Superior Township.
At Trinity Health Livonia, the first baby made his debut at 3:30 a.m. on January 1. Baby Crouch, a boy whose first name is still being decided, weighed in at 6 pounds, 12 ounces. His parents are Chelsea and Parker Crouch of Livonia.
At Trinity Health Oakland, the first baby of the year arrived at 5:06 a.m. on January 1. Baby Kashton, 8 pounds, 9 ounces, is the son of Kaylee Crane and Jereme Hayes of Pontiac.
Contact Lily Altavena: laltavena@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan’s very first babies of 2026 make their debut
Reporting by Lily Altavena and Keith Matheny, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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