As the calendar flipped to 2026, Chicago-area hospitals bustled with excitement, marking the arrival of the first babies of the new year. According to ABC 7 Chicago, Sinai Chicago Hospital celebrated the birth of Brandon Alexander Whittington, the son of Shaniqua Jones and Brandon Antwon Whittington, who made his debut six minutes and 41 seconds into 2026, weighing in at a healthy 7 pounds 13 ounces and stretching over 20 inches long.
Meanwhile, UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Bolingbrook didn't take too long to join the new year's festivity, at 1:46 a.m. Ana and Serghei Mindru of Yorkville welcomed their baby boy, Matthew, a bundle of joy weighing six pounds, 13 ounces, and extending to 19.5 inches from head to toe, becoming the couple's first child, CBS News Chicago reported.
Not to be outdone, Advocate Healthcare celebrated their first 2026 birth at Christ Medical Center where Olivia Gorney and Ryan LaCount of Chicago were introduced to their baby girl Winona LaCount, this little one tipped the scales at 10 pounds and 6 ounces and measured 22.5 inches long, her birth was announced at 12:50 a.m., marking a robust start to the year,
The first boy gracing Advocate Christ Medical Center with his presence was Noah Robert Garcia, born at 3:43 a.m., he was lovingly welcomed by parents Gino Garcia and Samantha Scuito of Joliet, Noah weighed a snug 7 pounds, 3 ounces and spanned 20 inches, while the parents are currently keeping baby photos private, CBS News Chicago noted in their coverage.
As 2026 begins, these newborns and their families offer a fresh beacon of hope and joy for the Chicago community. Congratulations to all the parents on their new arrivals, and may the new year bring happiness and health to all.
