Oooh, how about Transformers: Crocodilian edition? They lay a clutch of eggs, or orbs that transform into a sparkling when hatching, and the carrier defends the nest and the newly mobile sparklings fiercely. Until they have their first molt/upgrade and then it's like see ya try not to get eaten by turbofox!
Ohhh I've thought of this but never thought to compare it to crocodilians!
I feel like this would trace all the way back to predacon times, back when competition was rough as hell. Whether it's predacons utilizing it, early Cybertronus cybertronii, or both. This is one of those scenarios where the young in said environment likely have a high mortality rate to predators until a certain point (which certain point is likely the first upgrade)