I hope they have a good support base, they will need all the help they can get.

13-15 I think is to young, they may regret it in the future, but its not always true, i think if you are ready to have kids and can care for them and support them and you want them then that fine, age 16 is still young but usually teens are more mature and like i said if you are ready and can support them then go ahead but if your just out their for sex then use birth control to make sure you dont ruin a childs life by having one and not wanting them!

13,14,15 - YUK. wayyyy to young. 16 is way to young also. but the legal age for sex is 16. they really should rethink that.

Teenagers fight for their freedom and the right to be their own Boss, whenever they get a chance. Having a baby will give them neither.

Too young. I generally wish them the best of luck because when/if they decide to take full responsiblity for that child they wont have alot of time to take care of themselves. At that age they are selfish, but havign a baby is pretty selfless. I had alot of teenage mother friends growingup, not only is it stressful for them but everyone around them (more times then not they lost friend because they friends didnt have the capicity to deal with children or take timeout for her to breastfeed, slightly inconsiderate but what do you expect?).

they are really too young .. but there is one merit of it.. by the time they attain maturity their kids would be of their age and they would be able to guide them more properly realising their mistake.. and they would would be able to understand the mentality of their kids in a better way and would know how to deal with it.. but i dont really mean matured parents lack behind in bringing up their children .. the difference is that we as an adult look from our own point of view.. and fail to look from the kids point of view.. we sort of overloo their thinking.. which these kids when they mother or father their children would probably be able to understand them more effectively..

it is a bit young, but it doesn't mean there are less ready than a lot of adults... all is in the mind (hope it makes sense)

first thing that comes to my mind is that i do feel sorry for them, they're gonna be struggling all their life, and trying to get out and have fun could be a problem cause they won't be able to enjoy life like everybody else and at some point of their life they would get the feeling that the child is in the way, and always try to put them to a side. not everybody but i've seen lots of cases like that.

Well up to 15 it would be illegal for them to have sex in the first place, and rightly so as their bodies are still developing and having a baby may actually be dangerous for them. At 16 it is legal but still very young to take on the responsibility of having a child. Teenagers haven't had any life yet and although a little bundle of joy may seem appealing it is a 24/7 job with no time off for good behaviour. Bringing up kids is tough and, at times, a thankless task. I wouldn't recommend parenthood for anyone until they have lived a little and are settled in their own home, with an income to support a family - and then its still tough enough.

its weird how long humans have been here and yet how quickly our morals have adjusted (changed?). dont get me wrong. i have an 11 year old daughter and if it was up to me, she wont have anything to do with boys until she is 30- hahaha, yeah i wish. I think in todays society it is wrong to have babies that young, but we should never blame the children because thats what they are. But they are easily manipulated by predators who prey on their desire to be wanted. But can the brain change in only 4 generations? are men evil in looking at a 14-16 year old well endowed girl and wanting her? be honest with yourself, dig deep down and every one has desires and that little voice saying its wrong..it is wrong. listen to that voice and do right. remember your own child or sister and if you cant relate to that, then just stay the fuck away from them..

Where were their parents when all of this hanky panky was going on? Did the moms encourage the children to wear makeup and have boyfriends and wear provocative clothing at a young age? What kind of role models were the parents? How much time did they spend educating their children and paying attention to their children? These are babies having babies..they don't know any better because they haven't lived long enough to become thoughtful and selective..they can't understand the consequences of their actions, long term..they are only interested in the now, the short-term. As I said..where were their parents? :(

These are the circumstances where the "It takes a village to raise a child" statement really p*sses me off. I think everyone acknowledges that teachers, doctors, religious figures, friends, family, and all that other stuff that makes up a 'village' is important and plays a vital part in raising a family. But the part where kids are having kids and I have to support it whether or not I condone the activities of these children (who are not otherwise my responsibility due to lack of family or friendship relations) leading up to these unwanted pregnancies is the part that gripes my *ss. The BEST answer is NOT to have babies at that age in our society, since children at that age are NOT capable of properly caring for their own children themselves. This means PREVENTION is the best means, and of this an acceptance by the young children involved that "If you are not ready to properly accept the consequenses of having a baby, then you are NOT ready to engage in sexually promiscous activities." i.e.- Having sex is the only natural means you can perform which can result in babies. Hey! It's the truth! Been proven over and over again, for thousands of generations. Millions of pregnant teens the world over can't ALL be wrong! Why not take a lesson here and learn something? Don't want to take a chance on getting pregnant? Don't have sex! This crap about using birth control or just giving young people birth control 'because they're going to do it anyway' is bullsh*t. Yeah, they are going to do "IT" regardless, if they've a mind. And they SHOULD use birth control if they do, as part of responsible planning. But using birth control does NOT absolve people of the POSSIBILITY of an unwanted pregnancy and therefore does not relieve them of the RESPONSIBILITY of an unwanted pregnancy, should it occur. Other than abstinence, there is no 100% effective method of birth control. And raging hormones demonstrably affect the reasoning of both sexes (of all ages, too, lest you think I'm letting adults off the hook here.) And NO, I'm not standing up on some religious soap box here on the issue of abstinence! This is just plain common sense, folks. You want to have sex but are willing AND able to care for any child which may result? More power to you. If you don't want a kid, but are still willing to accept the risk and care for a child? Sure, use birth control and have at it! Don't want or can't care for a child? Sex is the wrong answer then, because you cannot otherwise eliminate the risk. Understanding this is key to modifying early teen/young adult behavior into less risky behavior in the first place. Yeah, you'll always have those who truly don't care about the consequences of their actions because they can brush the responsiblities and burdens off on other people, be they friends, family, or society. The proper term for these people is "sociopathic", not "poor, pathetic kid who can't be held responsible for his/her actions". I'll be the first to tell you that sex is a powerful act, emotionally and physically. There is probably not another single act we can perform which has such capabilities to form such close bonds between two people. By the same token, sex WILL tear you apart inside and out if you aren't ready for all the consequenses. You a young kid with a penis and don't want a kid? Guess what? It's YOUR penis! Don't stick it where it shouldn't be! You a young kid with a vagina and don't want a kid? Guess what? It's YOUR vagina! Don't let anyone else in it! And before a bunch of people out there jump me: yes, I know this doesn't apply to coerced sexual relations like rape and sexual molestation. That's a whole 'nother reprehensible activity with another set of opinions that are not friendly to the perpetrators. Kids, PLEASE think! Your actions have potential decades-long consequences for you. Be a kid while you're still a kid...adulthood will be there eagerly awaiting your arrival in due time! Don't trade this in early. It's the only childhood you will ever have. Adults, PLEASE think! Your upbringing and leadership role is key to raising a child to maturity in his/her own time. Raise them to be successful adults and don't cheat them out of the only childhood they have.

My sister had her first kid at 15. She is on husband and child number four. She's a good mom but she's had some crappy husbands. I don't know what this says about it, but I think she started too soon.

I think it is far to young! They are not mature enough to look after babies. Of course there is always the exception to the rule, but it generally shouldnt be congratulated, or welcomed easily

Kids have no business having kids.

in tassie - australia - it is illegal to have sex under 17.. i personally think it is too you.. but then again i want a child and im almost 18.. both me and my partner are ready and i think im mature enough.. my mother had me at the age of 16 and 2 other kids by the age of 20.. i like to think she did a wonderful job.. but i definately wouldnt encourage any young girls to have kids young.. your only a child yourself and dont have the maturity.. in ausssie you can blame the $3000 dollar baby bonus for half the teenage pregnancies.. its all about the money..

I think it is wrong. Kids don't need to be having kids!

In centuries past, when life expenctancies were short, education non existent and futures uncertain, the marriage of young women was necessary. It is not. Even our ancestors weren't stupid...they preferred the girls to be around 14-16 when marrying, not just post puberty. They wanted to give them a good chance to survive childbearing. Now we seem to be going backwards...and without the safeguards that our ancestresses had- a legal marriage and a man who was bound by law to look after any children he fathered.

The age for having intercourse should be higher. 16 is far to young to be legal

not ready.

i thnk if it was an accident and they decidie to have the baby good for them thats amazing. if its on purpose the poor girls dont have enough love or education

Well ol' Mother Nature doesn't have a problem with it. Who am I to question it?

Can you say "wrong" five or more times in a row? NO "kid" should have kids. This may not have been the case 100 years ago, but it definitely is now. Our kids almost ALL go to (or SHOULD go to) school. It's the ONLY way the vast majority will make ANY money during their lifetime. (And no... Being a hamburger-flipper at McD's or any other fast-food place is NOT a way to make the type of money we're talking about. YES, you could become a manager... Yes, you MIGHT become a franchise owner... but it will be a while. HOW are you going to do that, with all the hours it entails, while you are raising a kid?) 100 years ago, few kids went to school full-time. They learned all about farming, conservation, building, how to handle a home, etc. from the age of 8 to 10! Back then, an 8th grade education was almost OVER-educated. Now-a-days, kids (male and female) don't LEARN enough about babies, how to handle them, how to feed them, how to diaper them... They don't learn enough about home-ec, business, job-skills they'll need (yes, math, English, grammar, etc. ARE needed), or anything else that will help them juggle their home life, their children's NEEDS, their own desires, their work, their... AND, if THEY don't deal with the kid, who does? Their parents? Their GRANDparents? An aunt and uncle? A close family friend? or will they give the child up for adoption and wonder for the rest of their lives if they did the right thing and where that child is? (My ex did that at 17, and STILL gets down in May, the child's birthdate.) PLEASE, if adoption is an option you're thinking of, DO NOT take this as AGAINST it. You would be doing something wonderful for a family who WANTS a baby, for the baby itself, and for you. And PLEASE consider adoption before abortion. Babies are precious. Again, I'm advocating neither, but if you have the choice, go with adoption. I believe I've also known one who went the other way. SHE was in even worse shape every anniversary date. So, kids having kids? My answer is "WRONG". It's just NOT right. NOTE: If you haven't read The Chief's answer on this, please do so. It's at http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/3498666 .

Unfortunately, the damage is done by the time the pregnancy is discovered. I could sit and say tsk, tsk and be all righteous that it didn't happen to me.....but the truth of the matter is that I got lucky. I engaged in the same exact debauchery. I didn't know crap, either. To their credit, they are taking responsibility and doing the right thing....no abortions. There bellies swell in front of their classmates and still they go to school. They cannot "play" like all thier friends do because they have a baby now. I think that is strait-up admirable. Now, if we could just get the parents straightened out.

Lots of things will be said. But for me it is easy. STUPID,WRONG and rape come to mind.

My mother talked to me about sex, and I stayed safe. Most of my girlfriends parents didn't talk to them about sex and kept the subject taboo in their house. Quite a few of them ended up pregnant... I can't help but look at the girls parents and wonder what they did that made their daughter not understand the basics of protecting ones self when I see a young pregnant teen. I think it's sad that there are so many out there who have babies.

They are children having children, going to school that way, thinking all is great, look at me Im gonna be a mom..Either put the baby up for adoption or the grandparents raise it..I see it all the time in our high school. Grandparents have to start all over, sometimes with 2or 3 kids...I think birth control is better for them than pregnancy..I don't believe in abortion.

I think that they aren't responsably enough to have a child because they are still child themself and they do't know what they want to do in life let alone raise achild. So who has to raise that child is the parents.

I think any teenage pregnancy represents a critical parenting failure. A pregnancy below 15 should be grounds for that baby to be given up for adoption as mandatory protocol, and that girl taken away from the people who raised her. (Same standards for the boy, if he's of age to be arrested, do it, if he's not, take him away from his 'parents.') If there's other children in that family, a serious investigation should be launched into the adults' ability to care for them.

I believe the children have been left out on some very serious conversation that their parents should have had with them. Granted, even though they have been talked to about circumstances doesn't mean they will listen, but i believe that and open relationship with your child makes it easier for them to talk with you hence asking for birth control.. that's my oppinion

I think they want something to play with and get attention from others with....and to be made a fuss over...just like the kids they still are. I don't think it's particularly lack of sex education or bad parenting or the environment...