Meet The SG60 Babies Of National Day 2025
They are the nation’s sweetest birthday gifts
By Estelle Low -
As Singapore marks its 60th birthday, a special group of little ones made their own milestone arrivals on 9 August 2025. From Mount Elizabeth Novena to Thomson Medical and KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, these newborns share a unique birthday with the nation — and with each other.
SG60 Baby Selene: A moon-and-stars arrival at midnight (12.04am)
Just four minutes past midnight on 9 August 2025, a little star made her debut at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital. Weighing 2.92kg, baby Selene Lau Xing Yi is the second child of Lau Jin Hui and his Thai wife Emile Penpanassak, both 32.
The couple weren’t expecting their daughter to arrive on such a momentous day. Selene’s due date was 20 August, but a week earlier, during a routine check-up, Emile was found to have low haemoglobin levels, which left her feeling unusually tired and unwell. On 8 August, their gynae Dr Lim May Li recommended an induction.
“Labour started around 8pm to 8.30pm, and the delivery was smooth with no complications,” says Jin Hui. “Dr Lim did an excellent job, and we’re grateful for how calm and reassuring the whole process felt.”
Selene is the couple’s second child, joining big brother Skyler, who was born on 4 August 2024 — giving the family two birthdays just days apart from National Day. “We planned for our second child so that Skyler could have a sibling close in age,” says Jin Hui. “We hope they’ll grow up experiencing milestones together and become lifelong best friends.”
Her name was chosen with care and poetry. Selene means “moon” in Greek, while her Chinese name, Xing Yi, translates to “falling stars”, creating a celestial pairing of moon and stars. “We want our daughter to be a bright and joyful person who brings happiness and harmony,” Jin Hui shares.
For Jin Hui, having a daughter born on National Day — and Singapore’s milestone SG60 celebration — adds extra meaning. “It’s really special. I wish for Singapore to stay strong, united, and continue to flourish, so my daughter can grow up in a safe, loving home where she can dream big and achieve what she wants. And I wish all the other little ones born on this special day a life filled with health, happiness, and love.”
SG60 Baby Janric: An anticipated Leo with a blended name (12.52am)
At Thomson Medical Centre, the first SG60 National Day baby arrived at 12.52am.
Proud parents Angie Sia, 31, and Jacky Hu, 36, welcomed baby boy Janric, weighing 2.78kg. Delivered by Dr Janice Tung, the birth held special familiarity: Angie works as a clinic assistant in Dr Tung’s practice.
At 38 weeks of pregnancy, Angie’s slightly elevated blood pressure during a routine check-up prompted Dr Tung to recommend admission two weeks before her due date. The natural, epidural-free delivery went smoothly, helped by the fact that baby Janric was smaller than her previous newborns.
Jacky, a broker, had been hoping for a Leo baby, but the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. “Having him on National Day, and on Singapore’s 60th birthday, feels like such an honour,” Angie says. “It’s a connection we’ll always treasure.”
For the couple, the hopes for their son are simple yet profound — that Janric will grow up happy, healthy, and with a strong sense of purpose, serving his nation with pride.
His name holds deep personal meaning, too. “Janric” blends the ‘J’ from Jacky and ‘An’ from Angie — a symbol of their shared essence. “It felt like the perfect choice,” says Angie. Janric has two older brothers aged seven and five.
SG60 Baby Declan: A National Day debut for first-time parents (4.42am)
Over at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Declan Tay made his arrival at 4.42am on 9 August 2025, weighing 2.5kg and instantly becoming the pride and joy of first-time parents Lau Ni Yin, 28, and Tay Chun Arn, 31.
Both civil servants, Ni Yin and Chun Arn first crossed paths in 2017 through a community service project while studying psychology and economics at the National University of Singapore. After years of courtship, they married in March 2024, and got a resale HDB flat in Punggol a month later.
“When we started to renovate our new home, we thought it was time to plan for a baby so we could create a warm home for them,” Ni Yin says.
Declan was due on 13 August, but labour began in the early hours of 8 August. Ni Yin was admitted to the hospital that morning, and by the wee hours of National Day, her cervix had dilated from 4cm to 10cm within an hour.
Chun Arn recalls being both anxious and emotional. “I was so nervous I kept researching online. When the baby was born, I was so excited I couldn’t help but tear.”
In previous years, the couple’s National Day tradition was watching the parade and fireworks together. This year onwards, they have a far more personal reason to celebrate. “We won’t even have to take special leave for his birthday in future,” Ni Yin jokes. “I love children and hope to have more, no matter if they’re boys or girls, as long as they’re healthy.”
SG60 Baby Uwais: A swift and surprising second arrival (4.48am)
Just six minutes after baby Declan’s arrival at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, another SG60 baby made his entrance. At 4.48am on 9 August 2025, Muhammad Uwais Iman Bin Muhammad Hanif was born to Norshahidah Binte Mohd Salleh, 33, and Muhammad Hanif Bin Ramli, 32, weighing 3.19kg.
The couple — a housewife and a creative freelancer — were expecting their second child on 15 August, so Uwais’ arrival came as a joyful surprise. Contractions began for Norshahidah at around 6pm on 8 August, and by the time she reached the hospital at 3am, the birth was merely two hours away.
“It was so much faster than my first delivery, but the pain was more intense,” she recalls. Despite the exhaustion, she describes the moment as exciting, nerve-wracking, and unforgettable. “We’re just so grateful and happy to finally see him.”
Looking back on her journey with their firstborn, now three years old, Norshahidah admits motherhood hasn’t been easy. “The most challenging part has been learning to give my best to him,” she shares. “Those countless sleepless nights spent trying to decipher his cries, worrying that I’m not doing enough, have been tough. There were times I felt mentally and physically drained, struggling to meet his needs.
As a first-time mum, it was a steep learning curve, and the fear of not getting it right can be overwhelming. But despite the hardships, I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything. Watching my son grow and having him by my side makes every struggle worth it.”
For the couple, Uwais’ birth carries deep meaning — not only because he shares his birthday with Singapore’s 60th National Day, but also because it marks the start of another chapter in their parenting journey. “After everything we’ve been through with our first child, his arrival means so much to us as we begin this new adventure as a family,” says Norshahidah.