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About the State of Babies Yearbook: 2022
The mental and physical well-being of our nation’s babies and toddlers are powerful indicators of our nation’s overall health. But the State of Babies Yearbook: 2022 shows that all is not alright for the littlest among us. The 2022 Yearbook reaffirms that families with infants and toddlers continue to struggle in the absence of a strong national policy agenda for babies that prioritizes the economic security, health, and early learning needs of babies and their families. The consequences of years of inaction reverberate, and many parents and primary caregivers today still do not have what they need to ensure a strong foundation for their children – the next generation.
The 2022 findings show the longstanding disparities in good health, strong families, and positive early learning experiences, draining our nation’s future potential and leaving families to fend for themselves. These disparities show the barriers Black and brown babies and babies in families with low income face daily due to historic and current structural inequities. It is our responsibility – and the responsibility of our country’s leaders – to enact comprehensive, permanent, and vital child- and family-focused policies. We urgently need to build and strengthen the systems our babies need to thrive.
