Meet Alfie Patten, a new dad at the ripe old age of 13
BY CHRISTINA BOYLE
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Friday, February 13th 2009, 2:34 PM
Stringer/AFP/Getty
A reader looks at the front page of the British Sun, a report n Alfie Patten, a new father at the age of 13.
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He is 13 years old, just four feet tall and loves computer games and soccer.
Baby-faced Alfie Patten is also a new dad.
"I thought it would be good to have a baby," he told British newspaper The Sun.
"I didn't think about how we would afford it," he said. "I don't really get pocket money. My dad sometimes gives me £10 [$14]."
Alfie became one of Britain's youngest fathers this week when his teenage girlfriend gave birth to a 7-pound, 3-ounce baby girl.
"When my mum found out, I thought I was going to get in trouble," he said, while cradling his newborn.
"We wanted to have the baby but were worried how people would react.
"I didn't know what it would be like to be a dad.
"I will be good, though, and care for it."
Chantelle Steadman, 15, delivered baby Maisie Roxanne Monday night after a five-hour labor at hospital in Eastbourne, on the south coast of England.
She was conceived during a single night of unprotected sex.
Alfie was a virgin and just 12 years old at the time.
The pair discovered Chantelle was expecting after she went to her doctor with a "really bad" stomach, she told the newspaper.
"Me and Alfie went," Chantelle said.
"The doctor asked me whether we had sex. I said yes and he said I should do a pregnancy test.
"He did the test and said I was pregnant. I started crying and didn't know what to do."
"He said I should tell my mum, but I was too scared," she added.
The two teens decided against abortion but kept the pregnancy a secret until Chantelle's mother, Penny, 38, noticed her daughter was gaining weight.
"We know we made a mistake, but I wouldn't change it now," the girl said.
"We will be good loving parents.
"I have started a church course and I am going to do work experience helping other young mums.
"I'll be a great mum, and Alfie will be a great dad."
Baby Maisie was sent home from the hospital Thursday and will live in the family's rented apartment in a housing project, along with new mom Chantelle, grandmom Peggy, grandad Steve, 43, who is unemployed, and Chantelle's five brothers.
Alfie, who lives in a project across town with his single mom, Nicola, 43, is allowed to have sleepovers at his girlfriend's house and has a spare school uniform there so he can go straight to classes in the morning.
"He hasn't got a clue of what the baby means and can't explain how he feels," Alfie's dad, Dennis, said.
"It's crazy. They have no idea what lies ahead."
Still, Alfie is not Britain's youngest dad. That title went to Sean Stewart, who was 12 when his girlfriend Emma Webster, 15, gave birth in 1998. They split up six months later.
