Senior Dads with New Borns

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." - C.S. Lewis 

I have grandchildren from my wonderful daughters. Blessed and fortunate I am. What I do not have are grandchildren with my family name. I have brothers whose sons carry forward the family name. Genes from me will go forward into future generations, my family name from my loins will not. I have thought of it occasionally over the years. My daughter once suggested that her son carry our family name, not the name of her husband. It could not happen for obvious reasons. It showed my daughter had empathy for me. Does it matter? In the bigger scheme of things, not at all. From my perspective, yes, it is something I wish I had.

Senior Dads More Common

Older men, seniors, are becoming fathers again in their 60s, 70s, and 80s. It is a relatively new trend due to technologies such as invitro-fertilisation and the ability of fit, healthy older men, to retain their natural virility. Society is more tolerant of trends that go outside of what was previously considered mainstream. Men in general are more conscious of the value of maintaining good health and fitness not just in their 20s and 30s, but for their entire lifetime. It of course leads to being able to father children in their senior years.

Kiwis who are senior dads.

According to Ricardo Simich, columnist for the New Zealand Herald, former Labour Party leader David Shearer, 67, welcomed a baby before Christmas with his 44-year-old English partner. And last week, long-time Newstalk ZB political journalist Barry Soper, 74, welcomed a baby daughter, his second child with ZB Drive host Heather du Plessis-Allan, 39, his wife of more than 15 years. 

Celebrities who are senior dads.

• In 2016, Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger became a father again, at the ripe old age of 73 years. 

• Al Pacino in 2023 became a father again at the age of 83.

• Robert De Niro also in 2023 became a father again at the age of 79.

Health

Stanford University School of Medicine, after a 10-year study of older fathers in the United States linked their babies with risk factors of low birth weight and seizures. 

Micheal Eisenberg, MD Associate Professor Urology reported; Data from more than 40 million births to “fathers of an advanced paternal age” which roughly equates to older than 35, were at higher risk for adverse birth outcomes, such as lower weight, seizures and need for ventilation immediately after birth. Generally speaking, the older the fathers age, the greater the risk. For example, men who were 45 or older were 14 percent more likely to have a child born prematurely, and men 50 or older were 28 percent more likely to have a child that required admission to the neonatal intensive care. Eisenberg points out these numbers aren't reason to drastically change any life plans, as the risks are still relatively low.

Summary

Senior dads in their 60s, 70s and 80s have babies for a variety of reasons. They are financially secure with a younger partner who together are happy to be parents. Men who form new relationships in their senior years are willingly to be fathers again. 

They are stable of good health and fitness and will have a support network around them. Emotionally and mentally senior fathers are well prepared for the joys and risks of fatherhood. 

I say good luck to them, their wives, partners and their babies.