Born into COVID-19: This is the class of 2020 | Browse the galleries

Billy, Sadie, Hunter and Daisy, Leo, Luca and Maya – these are among babies born in 2020, bringing great joy to families in a challenging year. Check our gallery of beautiful babies.

Dion Lohf, born April 28, 2020 at Calvary North Adelaide Hospital. Picture: Bliss Baby Photography.

The South Australian parents of this gorgeous class of 2020 have great hopes for their special bundle of joys born into a year that will be marked as one of the most challenging in history.

The Sunday Mail has received an overwhelming response to our call for readers to tell us about their precious new additions to the family – some who arrived at the height of our state’s first COVID-19 lockdown

Their parents explain living through unprecedented stress and isolation, when access to services and goods (nappies included), and face-to-face support from family and friends, was restricted and – at times – completely absent.

Despite these challenges, there is hope, love and resilience for these babies and dreams of simple pleasures in 2021, like attending play group, sharing a first birthday with loved ones and meeting interstate and overseas relatives.

“Covid has been a blessing for me as I can’t imagine how much I would of missed if I had to go back to work and the ‘normal day to day’,” said Matt Newman.

Matt and Tess Newman, from Findon, welcomed baby Oliver Martyn in February.

“We want him to have a normal childhood where he can play, have fun and meet new children in a normal environment, where kids can be kids”.

Holly Allen and Shannon Baxter, from Andrews Farm, welcomed Isabella Lily in August.

Due to strict health regulations, Isabella’s brother and sister could not visit her in hospital, and when home, her parents worried about the health implications of the virus on a newborn’s immune system.

Their dream for Isabella is simple: “In 2021, we hope that play groups and mothers groups re-open so Isabella is able to socialise with other babies her age, and we hope that we are able to go out into the community without being fearful of health issues.”

For Yumiko Bruse, from Kensington Park, her greatest desire for twins Hiro and Sola (born November 8) is to be able to meet their grandparents.

“Healthy and happy life is my wish but the biggest hope in 2021 is to have the first long waited meeting with my parents in Japan and the twins if the circumstances allow,” she said.

Hannah McLean, from Kingswood said baby Hazel Dawn (born December 13) has brought the family “pure elation, joy and happiness”, recently shared with intestate family they’ve not seen for 12 months after borders reopened.

“In 2021, as a new parent I hope that I can foster a kind, safe, happy and free environment for Hazel to flourish in, and grow, where she will be loved, and able to celebrate her first year milestones surrounded by her family and friends, without restrictions or worries,” she said.

SA BABIES OF 2020 - PHOTO GALLERY PART 1

SA BABIES OF 2020 - PHOTO GALLERY PART 2