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Who is ever fully prepared for the arrival of a new baby? The birth of a child totally changes a parent's life in a way that never truly can be appreciated until it occurs. While the addition of this new family member generally is perceived as a joyous event, it also is well-recognized as a major life stressor often comparable in impact to either positive or negative life events such a marriage, an employment change or firing, or even the death of a family member.

When is the “right time” to become pregnant and start a family? Pediatric practitioners advocate for the postponement of parenthood until individuals have sufficiently matured, developed their own identity, and established a stable home environment in which to nurture and adequately provide for the new little person. The often romanticized view of childhood and adolescence as a carefree period of life with limited responsibilities abruptly is transformed for the new teen-parent by the birth of an infant.

Education addressing reproductive responsibility through myriad strategies not only is commendable but also imperative. However, once we are faced with a new baby born to adolescent parents, our focus must be redirected to providing the best care, resources, and support to facilitate the infant's successful growth and development and that of the still-maturing young parents. For adolescents, whose ongoing neurodevelopment continues well beyond their early twenties, the impact of parental responsibility may be overwhelming, bewildering, and even oppressive.¹, ²

It is essential for health care providers to develop an openly collaborative, nurturing, and supportive professional relationship with teen parents to optimize the growth, health, and development of both parent and child. It is through this relationship that we may mentor these young parents and contribute to their own successful educational and personal development.

This month's issue on Teen Parenting by Drs. Lee Beers and Ruth Hollo provides a scholarly review of the evidence available on this topic. The authors present effective strategies that take a positive approach to the care of adolescent parents and their children. Focusing on what is accomplishable and how to get there is key! I hope you find, as I did, that this article enriches your perspective and approach to caring for these young patients of both generations.

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References 

1. Gogtay N, Giedd JN, Lusk L, Hayashi KM, Greenstein D, Vaituzis AC, et al. Dynamic mapping of human cortical development during childhood through early adulthood. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2004;101:8174–8179
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2. Society for Neuroscience. The adolescent brain (Brain Briefings). January 2007 http://www.sfn.org/briefingsaccessed September 15, 2009
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