diff --git a/docs/turn-loop.md b/docs/turn-loop.md
index f8ec8e35..18065494 100644
--- a/docs/turn-loop.md
+++ b/docs/turn-loop.md
@@ -389,6 +389,25 @@ it as a stdio child via `--mcp-config`. The hyperhive socket name is
   effort wake was still sent so the agent is not silently blocked.
   Exposed as `mcp__bash__status`.
 
+**Agent lifecycle + config tools** (direct children only; requires
+`lifecycle` or `approvals` tool group):
+
+- `kill(name)`, `start(name)`, `restart(name)`, `update(name)` — manage
+  a direct child sub-agent (graceful stop, start, stop+start, rebuild).
+  No approval required. Topology-enforced: `name` must be a direct child
+  per `topology.json`. Server rejects all other agent names. Requires
+  `lifecycle` tool group.
+- `request_init_config(name, description?)` — step 1 of spawning a new
+  direct child agent. Queues an `InitConfig` approval; on operator
+  approve, hive-c0re seeds the proposed config repo with a default
+  `agent.nix` template. `name` must be a direct child. Topology-enforced.
+  Fails if config already exists. Requires `approvals` tool group.
+- `request_apply_commit(agent, commit_ref, description?)` — step 2 of
+  spawning a new direct child (or updating an existing child's config).
+  Submit a commit sha from the child's proposed config repo for operator
+  approval. `agent` must be a direct child. Topology-enforced. `commit_ref`
+  must be a 7-40 char hex sha. Requires `approvals` tool group.
+
 ### Waking the agent from inside the container
 
 External MCP servers (and any other in-container process) can
@@ -471,16 +490,25 @@ meta's.
   config creates the container. Fails if a proposed repo for this
   name already exists. (The operator can also direct-spawn an empty
   agent from the dashboard's `◆ R3QU3ST SP4WN` button, which routes
-  via `HostRequest::RequestSpawn`.)
-- `kill(name)` — graceful stop. No approval required.
-- `start(name)` — start a stopped sub-agent. No approval.
-- `restart(name)` — stop + start. No approval.
+  via `HostRequest::RequestSpawn`.) Also available to agents for direct
+  children only (requires `approvals` tool group; see agent lifecycle
+  tools section above).
+- `kill(name)` — graceful stop. No approval required. Also available to
+  agents for direct children only (requires `lifecycle` tool group; see
+  agent lifecycle tools section above).
+- `start(name)` — start a stopped sub-agent. No approval. Also available
+  to agents for direct children only.
+- `restart(name)` — stop + start. No approval. Also available to agents
+  for direct children only.
 - `update(name)` — rebuild (re-applies the current hyperhive flake
   + agent.nix, restarts). No approval, idempotent. Manager calls
-  this on receipt of a `needs_update` system event.
+  this on receipt of a `needs_update` system event. Also available to
+  agents for direct children only.
 - `request_apply_commit(agent, commit_ref)` — submit a config
   change for any agent (`root` for the manager's own config) for
-  operator approval.
+  operator approval. Also available to agents for direct children only
+  (requires `approvals` tool group; see agent lifecycle tools section
+  above).
 - `request_update_meta_inputs(inputs?, description?)` — queue an
   approval to run `nix flake update [inputs...]` on the meta flake.
   Pass specific input names (e.g. `["bitburner-agent"]`) or omit
@@ -545,11 +573,14 @@ meta's.
   to inspect one agent.
   `cancel_loose_end` may cancel any agent's row.
 
-The boundary: lifecycle ops on *existing* sub-agents
-(`kill`/`start`/`restart`) are at the manager's discretion — no
-operator approval. Creating a new agent (`request_init_config` →
-`request_apply_commit` for the first sha) and changing any agent's
-config (`request_apply_commit`) still go through the approval queue.
+The boundary: lifecycle ops on *existing* direct children
+(`kill`/`start`/`restart`/`update`) are discretionary — no operator
+approval required (manager can do so for any sub-agent; agents can do so
+only for direct children with `lifecycle` tool group). Creating a new
+agent (`request_init_config` → `request_apply_commit` for the first sha)
+and changing any agent's config (`request_apply_commit`) still go through
+the approval queue (same topology scoping for agents: direct children only
+with `approvals` tool group).
 
 ### Authoritative state