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Infants

Infancy—the period of life from birth to age 1—is associated with a unique set of public policy issues related to babies' health, development, and welfare. RAND's research on infants spans a wide range of topics for this brief but important period of life, including infant mortality, low birth weight, neonatal care, immunizations, breastfeeding and feeding practices, and cognitive development.

Commentary

How Can Europe Encourage Fathers to Take Parental Leave?

Whether fathers take parental leave depends on economic factors, but flexibility of timing and workplace culture also seem to make a difference. The link between fathers taking parental leave and improvements in child development makes it an important area for European policymakers to consider.

Oct 14, 2016
Journal Article

The Role of School Environments in Explaining Racial-Ethnic Disparities in Body Mass Index Among U.S. Adolescents

School characteristics in the fifth and eighth grades showed little additional influence on the racial and ethnic disparities in body mass index observed at school entry in a longitudinal study of elementary and middle school students.

Jun 24, 2016
Report

Professional Development for the Early Care and Education Workforce in Shelby County, Tennessee

This report examines how early care and education caregivers with licensed providers in Shelby County, Tennessee, gain through ongoing professional development the relevant knowledge for working with infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children.

Apr 13, 2016
Journal Article

Spending on Children's Personal Health Care in the United States, 1996–2013

Changes in pediatric health care spending across payor types over time, such as increased expenditures on inpatient well-newborn care and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, can help decision-makers plan for future pediatric health systems.Â

Mar 28, 2016
Commentary

Know Zika to Fight Zika

Scientists across universities, governments, and industry are doubling down to gain a better understanding of the Zika virus and develop the diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic tools needed to combat it. In the meantime, the public must be actively engaged.

Feb 12, 2016
Commentary

Fighting the Zika Virus: What Public Health Officials Need to Do

For now, public health officials and their partners must do all they can to control Zika virus, using the tools at hand. That may include instituting a public health campaign to reduce mosquito-breeding sites and promoting prudent protection against mosquito bites.

Jan 28, 2016
Report

The Urban Child Institute CANDLE Study

The Urban Child Institute developed the Conditions Affecting Neurocognitive Development and Learning in Early Childhood (CANDLE) Study to identify what factors during pregnancy and early childhood affect a child's development and ability to learn.

Dec 21, 2015
Journal Article

Does a Ban on Informal Health Providers Save Lives? Evidence from Malawi

This study examines the effect of a ban on informal (traditional) birth attendants imposed by the Malawi government in 2007.

Nov 11, 2015
Journal Article

Immigrant Latino Neighborhoods and Mortality Among Infants Born to Mexican-origin Latina Women

Compares the association between neighborhood Latino immigrant concentration and infant mortality by maternal nativity among singleton births to Mexican-origin women in Los Angeles County.

Jul 7, 2015
Report

Evaluating Delaware Stars for Early Success: Year Two Report

In the second year of RAND's evaluation of Delaware's quality rating and improvement system (QRIS), key findings offer insight into provider participation, the use of financial incentives, and the amount of technical assistance received by providers—all pointing to the importance of administrative data in a QRIS.

Jun 2, 2015
Journal Article

Outcomes and Costs of Surgical Treatments of Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Despite previous studies demonstrating no difference in mortality or morbidity, the various surgical approaches for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in infants have not been evaluated economically.

Apr 24, 2015
Commentary

MIECHV Reauthorization: Recommendations from Research

Funding for the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting program was extended through fiscal year 2017, without policy changes. If Congress decides to make policy changes to MIECHV in the future, research on home visiting programs can inform recommendations.

Apr 17, 2015
Tool

Investing in Early Social and Emotional Development Is Key

For children to flourish and succeed, they must be able to problem solve, handle stress and develop resilience, and interact appropriately with peers and adults. A study of children in Shelby County, Tennessee identifies factors in the home, child care setting, and community that contribute to social and emotional development.

Jan 15, 2015
Tool

Programs That Work

Public and private organizations serve millions of children and families in the United States. But how many of these programs are effective? The Promising Practices Network provides insight into which child and family programs are achieving their goals.

Sep 26, 2014
Journal Article

The Association of State Legal Mandates for Data Submission of Central Line–associated Bloodstream Infections in Neonatal Intensive Care Units with Process and Outcomes Measures

The authors determine the association between state legal mandates for data submission of central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) with process and outcome measures. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.

Aug 22, 2014
Report

Evaluating Delaware Stars for Early Success: Year One Report

As a first step in a larger study of Delaware Stars, a voluntary quality rating and improvement system for early learning and care programs, RAND researchers reviewed prior literature, examined existing data, and interviewed key stakeholders.

Jun 9, 2014
Journal Article

Costs and Benefits of Treating Maternal Depression

Untreated maternal depression has serious consequences for the mother's long-term health and for her child's development and functioning.

May 1, 2014
Report

Early and School-Age Care in Santa Monica: Current System, Policy Options, and Recommendations: Executive Summary

In July 2012, the City of Santa Monica Human Services Division and the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District contracted with the RAND Corporation to conduct an assessment of child care programs in Santa Monica.

Apr 25, 2014
Report

Early and School-Age Care in Santa Monica

Researchers examine how well Santa Monica's child care programs meet the needs of families, including child care and early education programs before kindergarten, as well as care for school-aged children, both during the school year and the summer.

Apr 25, 2014
Testimony

Evidence on Home Visiting and Suggestions for Implementing Evidence-Based Home Visiting Through MIECHV: Addendum

Document submitted on April 16, 2014 as an addendum to testimony presented before the House Ways and Means Committee, Subcommittee on Human Resources on April 2, 2014.

Apr 22, 2014

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RAND Topic:
Infants

Topic Synonyms:
Babies;
Baby;
Infancy

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