OPTIMAL CHILD HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT

A child’s developing brain is most flexible during the earliest months and years of life. This flexibility provides a window of opportunity for establishing a lifelong trajectory for health and wellbeing.

Three outcomes illustrate factors that predict and reflect children’s healthy development:

• Breastfeeding,
• Immunizations, and
• Child maltreatment rates.

Based on comprehensive reviews of the most rigorous evidence available, the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center identified 12 effective solutions that foster the nurturing environments infants and toddlers need. Eight policies and strategies have demonstrated effectiveness at improving optimal child health and development.