Babies born to older fathers at a higher risk of certain health issues, a new study has showed.

Men who become dads past the age of 45 are more like to have babies who are premature. Researchers at Stanford University in California found that babies of older dads were born 20.2g lighter on average that those born to dads aged 25 to 34. These babies were born on average 0.12 weeks earlier and had a 14 higher chance of low birth weight. They were also 14 per cent more likely to be admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit and were more likely to need breathing support and to be on antibiotics. The mums of older fathers' babies also had a greater risk of diabetes in pregnancy. The research covered over 40 million births in the US between 2007 and 2016. The study's authors concluded that men starting their families younger would make a difference in their offspring's health. "A significant number of these negative birth outcomes were estimated to be prevented if older fathers had elected to have children before the age of 45 years," their report reads," researcher Dr Michael Eisenberg said. "The risks associated with advancing paternal age should be included in discussions regarding family planning and reproductive counselling."