Among children of teenage mothers the probability of developmental problems and physical risks is increased$by the mother's physical and social youthfulness and lack of life experience and skills. Some problems of these children stem from adolescent parents' own struggles with tasks unique to their stage of life. Lack of information regarding prenatal care and parenting may be more common among teen parents and may thus result in more developmental difficulties for the infant. Some infant and child problems reported are not directly the result of teen pregnancy per se but may occur as a by-product of interference with life opportunities (such as educational advancement for the mother) which have had to be terminated or limited during pregnancy and after childbirth. In addition, the social milieu in which teenage parents usually live may affect their child's development. Interventions made with the teenage mother and her child should be broad-based, taking into account the entire family context; optimally, they should also be built into the community's social support system. (RH)