EXCLUSIVE: Simon Cowell's baby boy to be born on February 28 in the Big Apple - and he's already booked one of the best hospitals in the city for girlfriend Lauren Silverman

PUBLISHED: 17:08 EST, 13 November 2013 | UPDATED: 18:36 EST, 13 November 2013

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Simon Cowell's baby boy will be born on February 28 in New York City, MailOnline can reveal.

The X Factor star's girlfriend Lauren Silverman, 36, wants to give birth on the East Coast to be closer to her mother, Carole Sandland, who will travel from her home in Florida to help out with the newborn.

Carole has been by her daughter's side ever since the news of her pregnancy broke in July - while the New York socialite was still married to ex-husband Andrew Silverman, with whom she has an eight-year-old son

And she has been keeping her daughter company while Cowell, 54, films in Los Angeles - as well as looking after her grandson when Lauren travels to LA.

Domesticated: Simon Cowell and pregnant girlfriend Lauren Silverman leave a Whole Foods in Los Angeles last month - a sight most fans thought they would never see. Their baby boy is due on February 28

Not quitting JUST yet: Simon Cowell clutches a packet of his favourite Kool Menthol cigarettes while out with Lauren Silverman in Los Angeles on Tuesday night

A source told MailOnline that Lauren and Cowell had booked one of Manhattan's best hospitals for February 28.

The couple are already sharing a $25,000-a-month apartment in Manhattan, which will have more than enough room for their son - and Cowell is already practicing his parenting skills by looking after his new puppies, Yorkshire terriers Squiddly and Diddly.

The music millionaire last week came under fire after being pictured lighting up a cigarette next to Lauren. Pictures of him puffing away prompted health charity Action on Smoking and Health to warn all pregnant women to avoid passive smoke because of the increased risks of congenital abnormalities

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And he admitted he had 'lied' about quitting smoking, adding:'There are a lot of boring things that happen when you have a baby.

'[You have to get rid of] sharp edges, cigarettes, alcohol … then there's [baby-proofing] the toilet. But I'll have a smoking room!'

He praised Lauren for giving him advice on his Fox show The X Factor while talking to reporters last week, saying: 'She is really interested. We work on some ideas together and it is good.

'She really gets into the song choices. She came up for a very good idea for [one of my acts,] Alex & Sierra, which I think they might do next week.'

With X Factor ending on December 19 and the baby due on February 28, Cowell is now looking forward to his annual three-week jaunt to the Caribbean before heading back to work on Britain's Got Talent.

Practice makes perfect: Simon Cowell and his puppies Squiddly and Diddly. He bought the Yorkshire Terriers ahead of the birth of his son

Animal instincts: Dad-to-be Cowell is trying out fatherhood with Sqiuddly and Diddly- and giving fans constant Twitter updates

Cowell added: 'I was just texting with [One Direction's] Louis Tomlinson last night because his mom is pregnant and is going to have the baby the same time as Lauren. So it's like, who is going to go first? I think I am going to win.'

Meanwhile, he revealed that the baby could be named after him while talking to ex-love and Extra host Terri Seymour, saying: My number one choice is Simon because I like the name.

He revealed that his second favourite name is Eric, after his father, who passed away in 1999.

Cowell said: 'His birthday is going to be very close to my dad’s birthday,' adding that his father would be proud and amazed if he were here.

The X Factor judge said he would like to adopt the same parenting style with which he was raised.

Romantic meal: Simon and his six months pregnant girlfriend were seen leaving Boa Steakhouse in West Hollywood on Tuesday

'Be cool about it, and don’t worry about things to much… the way my brother and I were brought up, it was kind of relaxed. There were no self-help books.'

And went on to say that he was looking forward to having his son follow in his footsteps, and would like to teach him how to run the business.

Though they are not engaged, the couple are reportedly in talks about marriage already, with friends suggesting he might pop the question in the next few months.

‘Let's put it this way, I wouldn't expect her to be a single mother,’ he said when asked if the couple are planning a trip down the aisle any time soon. However, his spokeswoman denied reports by US Weekly he had already bought an engagement ring - and declined to comment on the baby's birthdate.