>>149546744
>>149546851
Most protoforms ARE babies, it's just that in most depictions, Transformers are WEIRD and instantly go from "not sapient" to "hi I have a fully formed personality and level of maturity" whenever they go through whatever "birthing" process that particular continuity is using. This is even explicitly pointed out in one comic.

The Beast Wars protoforms being previously "alive" crew members is a retcon that is only used in some alternate continuities. In the show, Rampage is the only one that was reverted to protoform state for travel.