Best US Cities to Have a Baby (2008)
In the 2008 “Best Cities in America to Have a Baby” survey of the Fit Pregnancy magazine, Portland (Oregon) moves back on the top spot, after missing one year from the top 3. It is followed by the always present San Francisco and Minneapolis. The winner of last year’s survey, Boston (Massachusetts), moves on the sixth place.
The survey looked at different criteria, such as doctors, hospitals, doulas, midwives, breastfeeding success rates, birth and health risk, stroller-friendly trails and parks, and affordability. So if you want to start a family or simply intend to have another child, take a look at the rankings below.
1. Portland
Portland received its highest marks for low maternal and infant health risk, breastfeeding and birthing options, and stroller friendliness, as well as for safety, child care and access to doctors and hospitals. The city didn’t do very well in laws and resources for fertility, and affordability.
2. Minneapolis
Minneapolis continued to do well in most categories. Minnesota allows greater dependent-related tax breaks than most other states, having also a particularly progressive laws guaranteeing a nursing mother the right to breastfeed in public.
3. San Francisco
San Francisco got a bad mark for affordability (hospital costs here are among the highest in the survey), but improved its overall ratings with the low maternal and infant health risk, the easy access to doctors and hospitals, and the safety. California has among the most generous family-leave and disability laws.
Here is the full list of the 50 American cities included in the survey:
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Tags: 2008, Best Cities to Have a Baby, Fit Pregnancy, Portland, Regional Surveys, Surveys, United States, USA
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