The first baby of the new year at Northwell’s North Shore University Hospital arrived at 1:55 a.m. on Jan. 1. Rocky Cocchiarella weighed 6 pounds, 13 ounces, and measured 20 inches.

Sea Cliff residents Bailey Perry and Dante Cocchiarella described their daughter’s arrival as a “New Year’s miracle.” For Bailey, the moment was especially meaningful, she was also born at North Shore University Hospital.

“It just felt so fitting because I was born at North Shore,” Bailey said. “So it was really amazing and incredible on New Year’s to have this full circle moment.”

Bailey likened the experience to the iconic “circle of life” theme from The Lion King, calling Rocky’s birth their “Lion King moment.”

“I feel good. It’s baby number one,” she added. “We didn’t know if it was going to be a boy or a girl, and it just made the moment even more special.”

Hospital officials congratulated the family on welcoming the first baby of 2026.