Infant and Child Health

Infant health shapes child health which in turn powerfully influences adult health.  For example, a baby born too early or too small is more likely to die before reaching her or his first birthday. That baby also is more likely to be cognitively, behaviorally, and physically handicapped as a child. Ill health in infancy and childhood can limit school success, leading to lower educational attainment, with consequent adverse health effects (See Education). That child is also more likely to develop high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes as an adult. Infant and child health varies by income, education, and race or ethnic group.

News and Events

  • Washington Post: Healthy Lunches Help Kids' Concentration in School

    August 25, 2008

    Healthy foods should be included on the list of back-to-school supplies for your children, says a University of Michigan Health System expert. Read More

  • Washington Post: For Many Kids, There's No Free Lunch in Summer

    August 19, 2008

    In the 2006-2007 school year, 16.3 million children benefited from free or reduced-price lunches through the National School Lunch Program. But what happens when schools let out for the summer? The hunger does not end for many of these kids, but their access to free lunches does. Read More

More News and Events

Perspectives

  • Stories

    Marsha Basloe

    Marsha has spent most of her professional career in the field of education but it took decades to reach the conclusion that early childhood development—the years before elementary school—is the key to it all. Meet Marsha Basloe

     

    Teresa Rubio and daughter Ana Baltazar

    Teresa tries to guide her daughter, Ana, toward healthy choices – less bread and burgers, more vegetables. But busy parents can’t be with their children every minute of every day. Meet Teresa Rubio and daughter Ana Baltazar

     

    More Stories

  • Leadership Blog

    Healthy Children: Earlier Rather than Later

    by Carole Simpson, Commissioner
    June 05, 2008

    “Better earlier than later.” How often have we heard that expression? Whether the phrase is applied to the detection of disease, applying for jobs, or taking a flight at peak travel times, early action is key. Child development experts in this country have been saying that with regards to children--aged birth to five--for the past 40 years. Read More

    An Unprecedented Reversal

    by Alice M. Rivlin, Co-Chair
    May 22, 2008

    A recent study documents an unprecedented reversal over the past few decades in Americans’ life expectancy. For the first time in nearly a century, rather than increasing, life expectancy for women declined in 180 of the nation’s 3,000-plus counties. Read More

    Building a Healthier America Starts with Healthy Choices in our Neighborhoods

    by Angela Glover Blackwell, Commissioner
    May 21, 2008

    Can Americans be truly healthy in communities overstuffed with fast-food and soda-and-chip corner stores? An important new study says, “Not likely.” Read More

    More Blogs

Resources

  • Life Expectancy: Where You Live Matters

    In Wake County, home to the state capital of Raleigh, N.C., the average life expectancy is 78.1 years. In Robeson County--just three counties away--life expectancy is 6.6 years less. But early childhood development programs in North Carolina are increasing the chances of living longer and healthier lives.

  • Overcoming Obstacles to Health

    This RWJF report to the Commission provides evidence describing the current health profile of Americans looking specifically at how income, education, and race and ethnicity play a role in Americans’ health.

    See the Report

  • Issue Brief: Early Childhood Experiences and Health

    This Commission issue brief investigates how the earliest years of our lives set us on paths leading toward—or away from—good health.

    PDF

  • A Mom's Education, A Baby's Chances of Survival

    Babies born to mothers who did not finish high school are nearly twice as likely to die before their first birthdays as babies born to college graduates.

More Resources