Anderson Cooper co-parents sons Wyatt and Sebastian with his ex-partner Benjamin Maisani
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(899x479:901x481):format(webp)/anderson-cooper-kids-1-9ea2439cfa3743d2b968f5fd9c6b6ec2.jpg)
Anderson CooperĀ is the proud father of two boys, Wyatt and Sebastian.
āIt feels like my life has actually begun,ā he told PEOPLEĀ about becoming a fatherĀ in June 2020. āThis is a new level of love. Itās unlike anything Iāve experienced.ā
The CNN anchor welcomed his first child, Wyatt Morgan, in 2020. The following week, Cooper announced that he and his ex, Benjamin Maisani, planned on co-parenting. The pair split in 2018 after dating publicly for four years and being involved for nearly a decade, but remained close friends. In 2022, they welcomed a second son together, Sebastian Luke.
While the former couple havenāt gotten back together, they continue to live and parent together. āItās probably an unusual setup,ā Cooper told PEOPLE aboutĀ their co-parenting relationshipĀ in 2021, adding, ābut I knew he would be a great dad and he is.ā
As for the future, Cooper remainsĀ open to having more kids, telling PEOPLE in September 2022, āI love the idea of it ā but thereās nothing planned.ā
For now, heās enjoying every minute of fatherhood. āI want to be the best parent I can be,ā he said.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999x0:1001x2):format(webp)/anderson-cooper-kids-2-a27f6b52ac7247c58c49a2d8b01d79c3.jpg)
In a September 2023 cover story, Cooper told PEOPLE that theseĀ early years of parentingĀ are āthe best time in my life.ā He shared that parenting makes him feel āmoments of such bliss, humor and gentleness and sheer delight that it stuns me.ā
The CNN anchor added that he loves the familyās āroutine.ā
āWe have the diner we go to every morning ā they like the folks who run the diner very much. And they love to swim. I love getting them ready for their afternoon nap and sitting with them and reading and then having them fall asleep in my arms. Thereās nothing better,ā he explained.
Hereās everything to know about Anderson Cooperās two children, Wyatt and Sebastian.
Wyatt Morgan Maisani-Cooper, 4
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(803x0:805x2):format(webp)/anderson-cooper-kids-wyatt-1-3378b0699d994fe09041a48ec60fdd70.jpg)
Cooper welcomed his first child, Wyatt Morgan Maisani-Cooper, via surrogate on April 27, 2020. Three days later, he shared the news in a heartfelt Instagram post as well as on his CNN show, Anderson Cooper 360°.
In his announcement, Cooper explained that his son was named after his late father, Wyatt Emory Cooper, who died when he was 10 years old. āI hope I can be as good a dad as he was,ā he said before adding that his sonās middle name, Morgan, is a family name on his motherās side.
He also shared that Wyatt weighed 7.2 pounds at birth and āis sweet, and soft, and healthy and I am beyond happy.ā
During an appearance onĀ The Late Show with Stephen ColbertĀ the following week, Cooper shared that he would beĀ co-parenting with his ex, Maisani, who was with him in the delivery room for the birth. āEven though weāre not together anymore ⦠heās my family, and I want him to be Wyattās family as well.ā
Cooper further explained the unconventional decision in an interview with PEOPLE. āI knew what it was like growing up without a dad,ā he shared. āIf there was ever something that happened to me, I would want Wyatt to beĀ surrounded by love.ā
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(804x0:806x2):format(webp)/anderson-cooper-kids-wyatt-2-5ff4ca25aefc4bcfaf877acbdd6859ed.jpg)
In a laterĀ interview with Howard Stern, Cooper reiterated that sentiment, saying, āIf more people love my son and are in his life, Iām all for that.ā He went on to add, āMy ex is a great guy, and I think itās good to have two parents if you can.ā
Appearing on the cover ofĀ PEOPLEās first-ever Pride issueĀ in 2020, Cooper opened up about becoming a father, calling it āa dream come true.ā He added, āIām more tired than Iāve ever been, but I wouldnāt change it for the world.ā
The following year, Maisani told PEOPLE that Wyatt āgroundedā his former partner. āHeās happy and relaxedĀ in a way heās never been before,ā Maisani added of Cooper.
At 13 months old,Ā Wyatt took his first steps. However, Cooper was in Israel for work at the time and missed the major milestone. āIt was my first work trip forĀ 60 MinutesĀ and I was doing an interview and I get this text from Wyattās other dad, Benjamin, and he said, āHe just walked,ā ā Cooper recalled onĀ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
āMy reaction was fury,ā the CNN host joked, adding, āI got really pissed at Benjamin.ā As for 13-month-old Wyatt, Cooper admitted the little one āwalks like a drunken sailor.ā
In 2022, Cooper announced that Maisani was in the process of formallyĀ adopting WyattĀ and that his name would be legally changed to Wyatt Morgan Maisani-Cooper.
āWeāre a family,ā he said of the decision. āWyatt calls me āDaddyā and Benjamin āPapa.ā ā
Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper, 3
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999x0:1001x2):format(webp)/anderson-cooper-kids-sebastian-1-41c90c60464545c692aa19a02fdbf5a0.jpg)
On Feb. 10, 2022, Cooper and Maisani welcomed a second child together,Ā Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper.
The following day, he announced the news on Anderson Cooper 360°.
āHe was 6.8 pounds at birth and he was healthy and happy and even his occasional hiccups, are to me, adorable,ā he said before thanking the surrogate for all the āsacrificesā she and her family made.
He shared with fellow CNN news anchor John Berman that having a second child was less frightening and he was ādefinitely calmer than I was the first time.ā Cooper also said that Wyatt was āthrilledā about having a younger brother, adding that the then-22-month-old helped build Sebastianās crib.
Following the birth of his second son, CooperĀ took time off workĀ to stay at home and be with his kids. OnĀ Live with Kelly and Ryan,Ā he shared that it was the longest vacation he had ever taken.
āIāve never taken three weeks off before and itās just been so amazing,ā he said.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(799x0:801x2):format(webp)/anderson-cooper-kids-sebastian-2-454d32312c554a148bfa3e207ca28b53.jpg)
For Sebastianās first birthday, Cooper shared a video onĀ InstagramĀ of Sebastian playing with a music box that used to belong to his deceased mother.
āHe loves listening to an old music box that belonged to my mom,ā Cooper wrote in the caption. āSebastian is sweet and strong and smart and loves his big brother Wyatt a lot. They fill my heart with joy and love in a way I never imagined possible.ā
Cooper told PEOPLE in September 2022 that he isĀ open to having more kidsĀ down the line, though he noted āthereās nothing plannedā at the time.
āYou forget how quickly they change and to see Sebastian and Wyatt together, thatās really an amazing thing,ā he continued.
In the meantime, Cooper is enjoying being a father ā a lifelong goal he didnāt think he could see to fruition.
āAll my life, Iāve dreamed of having children,ā he once shared. āIt puts everything in perspective and expands you in ways that are wonderful and magical.ā