Teen Mom: Tyler Baltierra Opens Up About Regrets & Lessons Learnt From Carly’s Adoption!

Back in 2009, Teen Mom fans watched as a young Tyler Baltierra and Catelynn Lowell made the heartbreaking decision. He placed their daughter Carly for adoption. At just 16, the couple felt overwhelmed and unprepared to raise a child. The adoption was framed as “open.” So, they’d stay connected with Carly and her adoptive parents, Brandon and Teresa Davis. For years, fans saw occasional visits, updates, and photos that seemed to show the arrangement working.

But in recent years, the story has shifted. Brandon and Teresa cut off contact with Tyler and Catelynn, leaving them heartbroken and questioning the system they once trusted. Tyler has spoken openly about the pain of losing that connection and how the adoption industry shaped his choices as a teenager. Now, he’s reflecting again. This time, on the people involved and the way the process unfolded.

Teen Mom: Tyler Baltierra Opens Up About Autism & Childhood Struggles

On his podcast, Tyler Baltierra revealed he was recently diagnosed with autism. He notices similarities between his behavior and that of his daughter, Vaeda, who shows signs as well. Tyler shared that he struggled with ADHD and bipolar disorder since childhood, but never understood why he felt “different.”

The autism diagnosis brought both relief and sadness, as it explained years of confusion. Doctors told him he scores high in masking, meaning he hides his struggles well, but it leaves him misunderstood. Tyler admitted he now feels more present as a parent, determined to break old cycles.

Teen Mom: Tyler Calls Out The Adoption Industry

Tyler recently answered fan questions about Dawn Baker. He is the adoption counselor who worked with Catelynn and Carly during their adoption. Tyler still respects Dawn, but believes the adoption industry exploited her genuine desire to help families. He explained that although Dawn entered the field to serve others, the system pulled her into a process that prioritizes procedures over people. According to Tyler, the industry sells its version of adoption so convincingly that even well-meaning counselors may not question it.

He stressed that his frustration isn’t aimed at Dawn. Instead, he feels the larger system manipulates passionate workers. To him, that’s how teens like him and Catelynn, and even adoptive parents, end up feeling misled. Tyler suggested that Brandon and Teresa were also impacted. He claimed the industry didn’t fully honor their desires for how the adoption would play out.

Looking back, Tyler admitted he wishes things had gone differently. He regrets going through an agency and not getting more time to know Carly’s adoptive parents before signing the papers. At 16, he said, it was easier to just “listen to the adults,” even if it meant giving up the chance to build a stronger foundation with Brandon and Teresa. Despite these regrets, Tyler maintains he doesn’t regret the decision to place Carly.

He still believes that, given the chaos in his and Catelynn’s lives at the time, it was the right choice. What he does regret, however, is how the process unfolded and the long-term pain caused by broken promises of openness. For Tyler, the lesson is clear: the system needs change, not the people who once tried to help within it. For the latest Teen Mom updates, keep coming back to TV Season & Spoilers.