Cybertronian growth cycle
sparkling stage: Cybertronian life starts in a small pocket (called an ignition point) at the bottom of a Titan infused water pool called a Spark Spring. In the form of a bodyless spark called a sparkling. While in the ignition point the sparkling will develop it's spark casing. Then it is released into the Spark Spring water.
Bitlet stage: After being released in the water it will begin to develop its actual body while slowly rising towards the surface, where it will wait until adults come and preform the emergence ritual.
Protoform stage: newly emerged as a Protoform it will receive a mentor/s to teach, house and protect them. Protoforms are grey, with soft plating and without the ability to transform. After an amount of time, the Protoform will mature into a Mechling.
Mechling stage: having just gained an alt mode and colour, a Mechling is visually indistinguishable from fully grown Cybertronians. But their plating still isn't as strong an adults, and their EM field is underdeveloped.
full grown: a fully mature Cybertronian. ( larger sizes take longer to get to this stage)
Old timer: though Cybertronians live for a very long time, they still have a limit, eventually even they will begin to slow down.
Art diagram below
