After a long period of borderline personality disorder (BPD) research focusing on adulthood solely, accumulating evidence calls for a developmental perspective on BPD.<br/> AIM: To demonstrate translations from a developmental perspective to interventions during the earliest stages of the development of BPD.<br/> METHOD: To describe the rationale of how a clinical staging model can serve as a guideline for the development of interventions in prevention and early intervention for BPD.<br/> RESULTS: Increasing evidence shows clinically significant precursors of BPD. These findings underpin recommendations for prevention and early intervention purposes.<br/> CONCLUSION: Prevention and early intervention can improve assessment and treatment of BPD. This has implications for future health care management for people at risk for BPD. Tijdschrift voor Psychiatrie 63(2021)2, 138-141.