Alsip Couple Surprised By 'Leap Day' Baby Born A Month Early

ALSIP, IL — Baby AJ was so eager to join the world that he leaped into it a month early and will now have a special birthday that only comes around every four years.

Mom, Kristyn Rein, and dad, Alfred James Poelinitz III, of Alsip, welcomed their little leapling at 8:10 a.m. Feb. 29..

Alfred “AJ” James Poelintz IV, weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces, and measured 19 inches long. He was the second leapling born Thursday at Advocate Christ Medical Center.

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Mom was surprised and had just read a social media post on Leap Day babies. Kristyn thinks it’s special and is already considering when to celebrate AJ’s birthday on off years. She’s thinking Feb. 28.

Leap Day babies are pretty rare. It is estimated that only about five million, or around 0.07 percent of the total population, have a February 29 birthday.

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It is estimated that only about five million, or around 0.07 percent of the total population, have a February 29 birthday. The chance of being born on Leap Day is one in 1,461, less likely than flipping a coin and coming up “heads” ten times in a row.


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