NATIONAL BABY FACTS

Infants, Toddlers, and Their Families in the United States

he facts about infants and toddlers in the United States tell us THE BASICS ABOUT
T an important story of what it’s like to be a very young child in
this country and how we can change the future life course for
the many children who aren’t getting off to the best start. Our nation’s
INFANTS AND TODDLERS

prosperity is jeopardized when the future of young children is compromised. There are more than 12 million infants and toddlers
Families in the United States benefit from important federal programs that (children under age 3) in the United States. Although
help them secure resources needed to nurture infants and toddlers represent 16% of the child
All babies need their children’s healthy development. Combinations population under age 18, they are particularly
of important federal programs—such as nutrition vulnerable because they are disproportionately
good health,
assistance, housing, and early care and in low-income and poor families. Family structure
strong families, can affect family income, so that infants and toddlers
education—help buffer young children against
and positive the effects of multiple hardships and improve in single parent families are more than twice as
the plight of at-risk children in our country. Yet, likely to be low-income as those in married couple
early learning
federal funding for children’s programs declined families. Overall, about 2.3 million infants and toddlers
experiences to have at least one parent who works full-time, year-
overall from 2010 to 2011 and is expected to
foster healthy continue on a downward trajectory over the round, whose wages still can't pull the family above
the low-income level. Research shows that poverty
brain development next 10 years.
at an early age can be especially harmful, affecting
and realize their The science of early childhood development later achievement and employment.
potential. tells us that during the first 3 years of life, the
brain undergoes dramatic development as the 75% of infants and toddlers with a single
child acquires the ability to think, speak, learn, and reason. A baby’s early parent are in low-income families.
experiences shape the brain’s architecture into a foundation for learning,
35% of infants and toddlers with married
health, and eventual success in the workplace. Adverse early experiences— parents are in low-income families.
such as poverty or maltreatment—can weaken babies’ brain development
31% of infants and toddlers with at least
and follow them their entire lives, placing them at greater risk for later one parent who works full-time live
school failure and health problems as adults. in low-income families.

BABIES AT RISK: INFANTS AND TODDLERS BY FAMILY INCOME LEVEL

Nationally, almost half (48%) of children

under age 3 live in low-income families
(with an income less than 200% of the Federal
Poverty Level (FPL)), including 25% that live
in families in poverty (with an income less
than 100% of the FPL).

SOURCE:
NATIONAL CENTER FOR
CHILDREN IN POVERTY
(www.nccp.org)

FPL = Federal Poverty Level

 2
NATIONAL BABY FACTS: Infants, Toddlers, and Their Families in the United States

Our babies reflect the growing diversity of our nation. In 2011, for the first Within the United States, Mississippi
time, more than half (50.4%) of our nation’s population under age 1 were has the highest percentage of infants
minorities, up from 49.5% the previous year. Black and Hispanic infants and toddlers living with families in poverty,
and toddlers are much more likely than White infants and toddlers to live at 35%. New Hampshire has the lowest
in poverty, placing them at greater developmental risk. percentage of infants and toddlers living
with families in poverty, at 13%.
Infants and Toddlers by Race and Ethnicity
Young Children in the United
63.0% are White States Lag Behind Those in
Other Developed Nations
14.4% are Black
The condition of children in the United
4.7% are Asian, Pacific Islander
States is reflected in our standing among
1.2% are American Indian, Alaska Native other nations. Our country ranks last for
relative child poverty among 20 economically
25.5% are Hispanic (persons of
Hispanic origin can be of any race) advanced countries with annual per capita
income of more than $31,000.

Every state is unique in its composition of families with very young children. 38 countries performed better than the
North Dakota and the District of Columbia have the largest percentage United States on their under age 5 mortality
of children under age 3, representing 18% and 20% of the child population rate, a critical indicator of the well-being
under age 18, respectively. In both New Hampshire and Connecticut, children of children.
under age 3 make up approximately 14% of the total child population. In Among 34 countries, the United States
Mississippi and Louisiana, 45% of children under age 3 live with a single ranks 31st for infant mortality rate (infant
parent; only 15% of Utah’s babies live with a single parent. deaths/1,000 live births).
And yet, there are some patterns that begin to tell a basic story about In addition to the health and development
infants and toddlers in this country: most states have an alarming proportion issues these conditions create for children
of infants and toddlers living below the poverty line. In a majority of states, in our country, our ability to compete in a
at least one in four very young children lives in poverty. This distressing global economy is undermined when our
fact shows the widespread lack of adequate resources needed for the children fare so poorly.
healthy development of all infants and toddlers.

INFANTS AND TODDLERS IN POVERTY: PERCENT OF CHILDREN UNDER AGE 3

IN FAMILIES WITH AN INCOME BELOW 100% OF THE FPL.

0 - 10%
11 - 20%
21 - 30%
> 30%

DATA FOR MAP COMES

FROM NATIONAL CENTER
FOR CHILDREN IN POVERTY
(www.nccp.org)
 3

GOOD HEALTH AND NUTRITION

ood health is the foundation from which

G young children grow and develop physically,

cognitively, emotionally, and socially. Quality
medical care and adequate nutrition are key building
INFANT AND TODDLE
HEALTH CHART
R

12% of babies are born preter

(Healthy People 2020 goa
m.
blocks for this healthy development. The Healthy l: 11.4%)
People 2020 initiative sets national 10-year goals 8.2% of babies have low bir
thweight.
to improve health indicators and measure progress. (Healthy People 2020 goa
l: 7.8%)
While we have made progress on many indicators
Only 75% of 2-year-olds
over the last few decades, in some instances this are
fully immunized.
progress has stalled. We must continue to make (Healthy People 2020 goa
l: 80%)
headway on reaching this goal, through efforts
to ensure access to core health services. 8.3% of children under age
6 don’t
have health insurance
coverage.
We know that good health starts before birth.
For example, low birthweight increases the risk 26.4% of children under age
5 are at
moderate or high risk for
of infant mortality as well as long-term disability developmental
or behavioral delays.
and developmental problems. Factors contributing
to a baby having low birthweight can include lack
of early prenatal care and potentially a lack of
access to health insurance. In the majority of
states in the United States, between 8% and 9%
of babies are born with low birthweight. The highest
percentage of low-birthweight babies (10–11%)
occurs in three states in the south: Alabama,
Louisiana, and Mississippi. Health disparities are apparent Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
in the variation of rates of low birthweight and preterm birth by
racial and ethnic background. Black infants are more likely to Young children whose families receive SNAP
have these characteristics than infants of other backgrounds. are less likely to be underweight or at risk
for developmental delays.
Federal Programs Support
16% of SNAP recipients are under age 5.
Health and Nutrition
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program
Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Medicaid covers over one-third of all births in the United States
Nationwide, mothers who participate in WIC
each year. Giving children access to health care coverage is one of
are 44% less likely to have low-birthweight
the nation’s great policy successes. Due in large part to Medicaid and
babies and also experience fewer preterm births.
CHIP, the national rate of uninsured low-income children of all ages fell from
28% in 1998 to 10.4% in 2010. Insured children are three times more More than 10 million mothers, infants, and
likely to have seen a doctor compared to uninsured children, and the children receive WIC, of which 60.9% are White,
need for health care during a child’s earliest years is more crucial 19.3% are Black/African American, and 42% are
than at most other times in life, as preventive care and screening Hispanic/Latino.
can catch problems early. 24% of WIC recipients are infants.
 4
4
NATIONAL BABY FACTS: Infants, Toddlers, and Their Families in the United States

STRONG FAMILIES

Y
oung children develop in the context of their families, Child Welfare
where supportive relationships nurture their growth. During Young children are the most vulnerable to abuse
these early years, factors like family stress, multiple moves, and neglect, especially as the stressors of poverty,
fluctuating family structure, and difficult economic situations can substance abuse, and parents’ own traumatic
impair the development of infants and toddlers. histories mount. As the economic safety net is
strained, too few families receive support to
prevent the circumstances leading to maltreatment,
30% of infants and toddlers in low-income families
the most frequent being neglect.
moved in the previous year, while only 17% of
infants and toddlers in families above low income 31% of children entering foster care are
moved in the previous year. under age 3. Infants who are under 3 months
old upon entering foster care remain in care
44% of children living with a grandparent who is primarily
50% longer than older children and are much
responsible for their care are under age 6.
more likely to be adopted than reunified with
27% of maltreated children are under age 3. their family. Once in care, infants are particularly
vulnerable to delays in emotional, social, and
cognitive development. In all but 1 of the 50
Federal Programs Support Strong Families states, at least 20% of the children entering
Programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Low Income foster care are under age 3. In Illinois, Florida,
Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and Child Welfare play an Rhode Island, Texas, Nevada, Alabama, Arizona,
important role in helping families support the healthy growth and and Oklahoma, over 30% of children entering
development of their children. foster care are under the age of 3.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families These children need state child welfare systems—
which receive considerable federal support—to make
TANF is a key federal program that helps states provide resources such as
good decisions on their behalf, including: supporting
income support, transportation, and child care to families while they undergo
families in caring for their young children, placing
job training or look for work. It can be a resource for economically struggling
children in a nurturing foster home when necessary,
families with young children: in almost every state in the nation, more
ensuring frequent visits with
than 30% of families receiving TANF benefits have children under the
parents, and working toward
age of 3. Yet, only 27 of every 100 families with children in poverty
permanency using a
receive TANF benefits.
process that focuses
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program on developmental
About 22% of households receiving heating needs.
assistance through LIHEAP include at
least one child 5 years old or younger.
Young children in low-income households
receiving LIHEAP are less likely than their
counterparts to be undernourished, require
emergency hospitalization, or incur
developmental problems.
 5
NATIONAL BABY FACTS: Infants, Toddlers, and Their Families in the United States

POSITIVE EARLY LEARNING EXPERIENCES

earning in very young children takes place through play, the active Federal Programs Support Positive

L exploration of their environment, and, most importantly, through

positive interactions with the significant adults in their lives.

South Dakota has the highest percentage of

Early Learning Experiences
The high proportion of working mothers with young
children increases the need for key federal programs
In every state in mothers who have an infant and are in the labor that provide families with resources necessary
force, at 78%. In five other states, over 70% of to lay the foundation for children’s success.
the U.S., at least
mothers with infants are in the workforce: North
half of all mothers Early Head Start (EHS)
Dakota, Rhode Island, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and
with infants are Minnesota. Arkansas has the lowest percentage Less than 4% of eligible infants and toddlers
at 51%, still accounting for over half of all participate in EHS, leaving the majority of eligible
in the labor force.
mothers with infants. infants and toddlers without access to this
proven program. EHS plays an important role in
Second only to the immediate family, child care is the setting in which early
children’s success in school, family self-sufficiency,
childhood development unfolds for many of these young children. Research
and parental support of their child’s development.
indicates that the strongest effects of quality care are found with at-risk
children—children from families with few resources and under great stress. Child Care and Development Block Grant
Nationally, the cost of an infant’s child care for single mothers varies anywhere (CCDBG)
from 25% to 69% of the mother’s median income, and the cost for married 30% of children receiving child care subsidies
couples ranges from 7% to 16%. In some states, there is a vast difference funded by CCDBG are infants and toddlers.
in the cost of child care as a percentage of a single mother’s median CCDBG, however, is able to serve only one
income in comparison to that of a married couple’s median income. in six eligible children.

Parents and early childhood professionals both play a critical role in the Early Intervention Part C
development of a child’s early literacy skills—the skills a child develops 2.82% of infants and toddlers receive
through experiences with conversation, stories (oral and written), books, early intervention services under Part C of
and print. The interactive nature of the relationship between a child and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
his caregivers is essential to the developing brain. These relationships For infants and toddlers with a disability or
are critical as the brain forms the complex web of visual, language, motor, developmental delay, intervening early can
and social-emotional connections essential for later literacy learning. make all the difference in the world and
can serve as a protective buffer against
multiple adverse influences that may hinder
their development.
63% of mothers with infants are in the labor force.
31% of children age 0–5 have parents who had to make emergency
child care arrangements or change jobs for child care reasons.

48% of parents read to their 0–5 year-old each day.

More than half of White (57.4%), multiracial (54%), and
children of other races (50.8%) have parents who read to
them every day. This is compared to the much lower percentages
for Black children (38.6%) and Hispanic children (28.2%).

59% of parents tell stories and sing to their 0–5 year-old each day.
 6
6
NATIONAL BABY FACTS: Infants, Toddlers, and Their Families in the United States

cross the country, too many babies are growing up in families under great economic stress

A without the resources to provide ingredients necessary for healthy development. Each of these
supports—whether it’s adequate health care, ample food, housing security, or positive early
learning opportunities—plays a crucial role in nurturing a young child’s development and helping all children
realize their potential. When essential programs that buffer young children against multiple hardships fail
to reach all of those in need, not only are their individual opportunities to reach their full potential
jeopardized, so is our nation’s ability to build the strong, competitive workforce it will need in the future.

GINA WEATHERSBY/KIWI STREET STUDIOS

FOR NATIONAL BABY FACTS SOURCES AND APPENDICES, PLEASE VISIT

www.zerotothree.org/policyguide

TO DOWNLOAD STATE BABY FACTS FOR EACH OF THE 50 STATES AND D.C., PLEASE VISIT
www.zerotothree.org/policy/statebabyfacts

© 2012 ZERO TO THREE. All rights reserved.