Beyond the Headlines

Expert Analysis on Early Childhood Research and News

Stay informed with the latest child development news and insights from our early childhood experts.

Check back often for timely analysis, thoughtful commentary and expert perspectives on the early childhood research and stories shaping the field today.

Perinatal Cash Transfers and Birth Outcomes

SSRN, September 2025

What the research says:

The Rx Kids universal cash transfer program in Flint, Michigan was associated with a 2.7 percentage point drop in preterm births, a 4.2 percentage point drop in low birthweight, and a 4.4 percentage point reduction in NICU admissions within months of implementation.

Meghan’s take:

This study provides important new evidence on the power of economic support during the critical perinatal period to improve birth outcomes. This is the first universal, unconditional cash transfer program in the US to target pregnancy and infancy, and the results confirm what developmental science has long demonstrated.

We know that the stresses of poverty during pregnancy and early infancy are harmful, AND they are also preventable. By reducing financial strain at a critical window of development, Rx Kids produced measurable improvements in both maternal behaviors, such as reduced smoking and increased prenatal care, and infant health outcomes.

The results are particularly striking when viewed alongside national experiences with the expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC). In 2021, the temporary expansion of the CTC cut child poverty nearly in half in the United States, underscoring how direct cash support can rapidly change children’s lives. Rx Kids builds on this evidence by showing that even modest, predictable financial resources provided during pregnancy and the first year of life can shift potentially life-long health trajectories before birth. Together, these findings make a powerful case for policymakers to consider financial support as a vital part of perinatal care (complementing medical, nutritional, and mental health services) rather than treating financial stability as separate from health outcomes.

While more research is needed to test scalability in different communities, this study demonstrates that treating perinatal poverty is both feasible and impactful. By easing the financial stressors that weigh most heavily on families during pregnancy and infancy, innovative programs like Rx Kids offer a straightforward, evidence-based strategy to strengthen the foundation for lifelong health and development. For ZERO TO THREE, the message is clear: ensuring that families have the resources they need at the very start of life is one of the most effective ways to support babies’ well-being and reduce the costly consequences of poor birth outcomes for society.

Where Daycare Prices are Rising the Most Across the U.S.

Finance Buzz, July 2025

What the research says:

The data show child care prices in the US have risen about 40% over the past decade, outpacing overall inflation and now costing families an average of $1,039 per month per child, with wide regional variation.

Lauren’s take:

Recent data show U.S. families spent an average of  22% of household income on child care in 2025, far above the 7% benchmark. For two‑child households, annual daycare hit approximately $28,168, nearly 35% of median income. That’s not just expensive; it’s a barrier.

At ZERO TO THREE, our definition of quality care is clear: it’s safe, nurturing, and grounded in strong relationships, essential for healthy brain and emotional growth. But skyrocketing costs and underpaid educators are stripping quality out of the system. Research shows early childhood programs yield up to a $7 return per dollar spent, but only if they’re high quality. When funding falls, quality collapses, and with it, our children’s chances.

This is a developmental emergency playing out in real time. We need to treat child care like critical infrastructure: federally funded, workforce‑valued, and universally accessible. Anything less is a disservice to the youngest among us and to our national future.

Infant Brain Wiring Could Predict Future Emotional Health

Psychiatrist.com, July 2025 | Genomic Press, June 2025

What the research says:

This study from the University of Pittsburgh shows that by three months of age, the microstructure of key white matter pathways in infants’ brains, such as the forceps minor and cingulum bundle, can reliably forecast emotional traits and self‑soothing abilities over the following six months, offering early neural markers for later emotional development and potential mental health risks.

Katrina’s take:

This finding reinforces the fact that nurturing social-emotional environments are key to healthy development. However, its small and selective sample points to the need for larger, more inclusive research. Because infants who were too active for scanning were excluded, it also shows how collaboration with professionals who are skilled in managing wiggly infants during everyday routines could improve both study design and early childhood data outcomes.

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Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Researchers Find Children’s Health Broadly Declining in the United States

CHOP, July 2025

What the research says:

A study from researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia showed that children were 15-20% more likely to develop a chronic condition in 2023 than in 2011, that obesity rates rose from 17% to 20% between 2007 and 2023, and that rates of depression, anxiety, sleep apnea and autism have all increased.

Rahil’s take:

This study underscores what we’ve been seeing for years: the United States is falling behind other nations in giving our children the foundation they need to thrive. The reason is not a mystery. Our longstanding underinvestment in American children and families has left major gaps in health, development, and opportunity.

We know what works. Evidence-based, preventive programs like HealthySteps deliver proven outcomes and they are remarkably affordable. Yet they are not prioritized in our national investment strategy. If we truly want to see widespread, lasting benefits for our children and our economy, we must invest holistically, starting at birth, in the key pillars of health and development for our youngest kids.

This report aligns with what we have seen in smaller, more focused studies and what we hear from families and providers every day. While no single study can tell the full story, it adds to an undeniable body of evidence: the solutions exist, and the urgency to act could not be greater.

Moms need help after birth—but for 1 in 6, no one outside their partner showed up

Motherly, July 2025

What the survey says:

This Motherly® survey found that many new moms feel unsupported, with 1 in 6 receiving no help outside their partner, 42% saying support was insufficient, and 60% feeling uncomfortable asking for help.

Rebecca’s take:

We need to let go of the myth of “maternal martyrdom.” Asking for help is not a weakness; it is a strength and a necessity. If you are part of a new parents’ circle, do not wait for them to ask. Show up with a meal, offer to hold the baby while mom showers, or wash a load of laundry. Parents may not know how to articulate what they need, but they are often overwhelmed, and simple, tangible gestures can make a world of difference.

We must also continue to advocate for family-friendly policies like paid family leave so that no parent is forced to think about returning to work before they have begun to heal and bond with their baby.

Why does this matter so much? Because parental mental health is not just about parents, it is also about babies. When parents are supported, rested, and cared for, they are better able to be emotionally available to their infants. Those early moments of comfort, responsiveness, and connection form the foundation of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health. In other words, supporting parents is one of the most powerful ways we support babies too.

Modern parenthood was never meant to be done alone. Closing the support gap is not just an act of kindness; it is an investment in the mental health of the next generation.

What the Data Says About Medicaid

Pew Research Center, June 2025

What the research says:

The data shows Medicaid remains a critical safety net, covering over one in five Americans, especially in states with higher poverty rates or expanded eligibility. Its wide state-by-state variation highlights ongoing disparities in access to health care, which can directly affect health outcomes for low-income families and children.

Samantha’s take:

Medicaid covers over half of all US births and nearly half of all children under 18, serving as the primary source of health care during pregnancy, birth, and early childhood for millions of families.

Yet instead of strengthening this support, recent policies are eroding it. States are sharing personal Medicaid data with immigration enforcement and federal budget cuts are stripping away programs that help families through pregnancy and early parenting. These choices jeopardize babies during their most vulnerable developmental period.

Even before the cuts, families faced setbacks. Nearly 5 million children lost access to Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in the past year, mostly due to paperwork issues, not eligibility.

Medicaid remains one of our strongest tools for supporting healthy pregnancies, safe births, and strong starts. Investing early brings lifelong benefits for children and lasting value for our society.

64% of American 3-Year-Olds Are Healthy and Ready to Learn

Child Trends, May 2025

What the research says:

This Child Trends study shows 64% of US children aged 3 to 5 are considered “Healthy and Ready to Learn,” meaning they’re on track in key domains like early learning, social‑emotional skills, self‑regulation, motor development, and physical health, while around 9% need support in two or more areas.

Sarah’s take:

As someone who’s worked in early childhood for over three decades, I was genuinely encouraged to see this data from Child Trends. It matters. These 3-year-olds were infants during the pandemic, a time when we all worried about what isolation, stress, and disrupted care would mean for their development.

Seeing that 64% are healthy and ready to learn tells us that families, educators and caregivers showed up in big ways, even under impossible conditions.

But I keep thinking about the toddlers who were just old enough to notice when their world changed. They missed out on peer play, routines, or had stressed caregivers. Those kids are entering kindergarten now.

I’m especially curious to see 2024 and 2025 early childhood data, given continued challenges like caregiver mental health and economic strain. Their outcomes will depend not just on families, but on the strength of the systems that support them.

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