Robert De Niro shares what it’s like parenting a baby in his 80s
At the spry age of 79, Robert De Niro became a father for the seventh time when his baby daughter Gia was born in 2023.
In a new update, the Oscar-winning actor shared that he has been spending time watching children’s shows with Gia, who is almost two.
In an appearance on The Scott Mills Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2 today, De Niro, 81, said he has been enjoying The Wiggles and Ms Rachel with Gia.
Asked whether the film star ever "just [sits] down and [watches] TV", De Niro told Mills: "Now I watch with my little girl, The Wiggles and Ms Rachel."
Mills shared a couple more TV recommendations for both de Niro and Gia to enjoy, including Bluey and Hey Duggee, which De Niro appeared to take notes on.
De Niro first revealed that he had become a father again in an interview with ET Canada in May 2023. He shares Gia with his girlfriend Tiffany Chen, 45.
His other children include Drena and Raphael, who he shares with his first wife Diahnne Abbott; Julian and Aaron, twins he shares with former partner Toukie Smith; Elliot and Helen, who he shares with former wife Grace Hightower.
Here’s everything De Niro has said about becoming a father again in later life.
'Great joy'
Speaking to People last February, De Niro spoke of the joy that Gina brings him.
"She’s such an adorable baby. So sweet. [When I] look at her, everything else goes away. So it’s a great joy and relief to just be with her in the moment," he said.
He also spoke about how his other children, and grandchildren, have welcomed Gina into the family - despite their relationship being quite different than the norm.
"The kids all get a big kick out of her. The grandkids even. She’s their aunt - [and] they’re about to be teenagers!"
When Gia was eight months old, de Niro became emotional while speaking about the joys of being an older parent in an interview with AARP.
He said: "Everything that I’m consumed with or worried about just goes away when I look at her. It’s wondrous. When she gets older - who knows?
"But that very sweet way she has of looking at you, taking you in, thinking and watching and observing. I want to be around for as long as I can to enjoy it and enjoy her."
On (not) changing nappies
The one parenting chore De Niro skirts around is nappy-changing, he revealed in an interview with The Sunday Times.
When asked about it, he said: "No, no, but I used to." The Taxi Driver star added that this was because he is an "early riser". "I spend my mornings watching Ms Rachel with her, and I give her her bottle."
'I’ve never been a cool father'
Upon revealing he had become a new father at age 79, De Niro reflected on his parenting while promoting his 2023 film About My Father.
He told ET Canada: "I don’t think I’ve ever been a cool father. I’m OK. My kids disagree with me at times, they’re respectful."
Referring to his daughter Helen who was born in 2011, the Killers of the Flower Moon star continued: "My daughter is 11 and she gives me grief sometimes and I argue with her and adore her."
Switching focus to Gia, he added: "With my youngest now there will be more to come but that’s, you know, that’s what it is."
De Niro said he sometimes has to be "stern" with his children but does not "like" to be. "I mean, there’s no way around it with kids. I don’t like to have to lay down the law and stuff like that. But you just have no choice.
"And any parent, I think, would say the same thing. You always want to do the right thing by the children and give them the benefit of the doubt but sometimes you can’t."
On celebrating Gia’s first birthday
Gia celebrated her first birthday last year, and de Niro spoke about how much happiness she brings during an interview with ET about the Tribeca Film Festival.
"She had a little cake, it was very nice, sweet," he said. "Well, she’s pure joy, there’s nothing about her, there’s no judgement, there’s no anything, she just is what she is and it’s just pure joy for god’s sakes."
'Mysterious'
In an interview with the Guardian shortly after announcing Gia’s arrival, De Niro was asked about a previous statement he made about parenthood. He said: "It’s always good and mysterious and you don’t know what the hell is going to happen."
Asked if he still agreed with his statement, De Niro said: "Of course it’s [still] true! It’s true for everybody.
"It doesn’t get easier. It is what it is. It’s OK. I mean, I don’t do the heavy lifting. I’m there, I support my girlfriend. But she does the work. And we have help, which is so important."
Asked what he enjoys about fatherhood, De Niro said: "All of it. With a baby it’s different to with my 11-year-old. My adult children. My grandchildren. It’s all different."
Read more about parenting:
How long it takes for single parents to fall in love again (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read)
I'm A Parenting Expert, This Is Why It's So Exhausting Raising Kids Right Now (HuffPost, 4-min read)
Parents could save £300 a year on baby formula amid high prices, says watchdog (PA Media, 3-min read)
