Where children are born can affect their chances for a strong start in life. Babies need good health, strong families, and positive early learning experiences to foster their healthy brain development and help them realize their full potential.
This state profile provides a snapshot of how infants, toddlers, and their families are faring in each of these three policy domains. Within each domain, view data for selected child, family, and policy indicators compared to national averages. The profile begins with a demographic description of the state’s babies and families to offer the broadest context for exploring what may be very different experiences of the state’s youngest children.
Demographics
Infants and toddlers in Tennessee
Tennessee is home to 237,271 babies, representing 3.4 percent of the state’s population. As many as 43.6 percent live in households with incomes less than twice the federal poverty line (in 2021, about $55,000 for a family of four1), placing them at economic disadvantage. The state’s youngest children are diverse and are raised in a variety of family contexts and household structures.
to see selected indicators by subgroup.
*Numbers are small; use caution in interpreting.
**Subset of "In Poverty"
Good Health
In Tennessee
How are Tennessee's babies faring in Good Health?
Supporting babies’ and mothers’ physical and mental health provides the foundation for infants’ lifelong physical, cognitive, emotional, and social well-being. Babies’ brains grow rapidly in the first years of life, and, in these early years, the brain works with other organs and organ systems to set the stage for subsequent development and health outcomes. Equitable access to good nutrition during the prenatal period and first years of life is key to ensure that babies receive the nourishment and care they need for a strong start in life. Strengthening equitable access to integrated, affordable maternal, pediatric, and family health care is also essential to meeting babies’ and families’ health and developmental needs.
Tennessee falls in the Getting Started (G) tier for the Good Health domain. A state’s ranking is based on indicators of maternal and child health, including health care coverage, prenatal care, birth outcomes, and receipt of recommended preventive care as well as nutrition and mental health. Tennessee performs better than national averages on key indicators, such as the percentage of uninsured babies in families with low incomes and babies with a medical home. The state is performing worse than national averages on indicators such as the infant mortality rate and the percentage of eligible 1-year-olds participating in WIC.
Key Indicators of Good Health
to see selected indicators by
subgroup.
Good Health Policy in Tennessee
All Good Health Indicators for Tennessee
Strong Families
In Tennessee
How are Tennessee's babies faring in Strong Families?
Young children develop in the context of their families, where stability, safety, and supportive relationships nurture their growth. All families may benefit from parenting supports, but families with low income and in historically marginalized communities of color face additional challenges that impact their babies’ immediate and future well-being. Many policies can be designed to address these disparities by race, ethnicity, and income, including the provision of safe and stable housing, home visiting services, family-friendly employer policies, economic support for families with low income, and tax credits that benefit families with young children.
Tennessee falls in the Reaching Forward (R) tier of states when it comes to indicators of Strong Families. The state’s ranking in this domain reflects indicators on which it is performing better than the national average, such as the percentage of babies who live in families that report being resilient and babies living in unsafe neighborhoods, as reported by parents. Tennessee is doing worse than the national average on indicators such as the percentage of babies experiencing food insecurity and babies who could benefit from evidence-based home visiting and are receiving those service.
Key Indicators of Strong Families
to see selected indicators by
subgroup.
Strong Families Policy in Tennessee
All Strong Families Indicators for Tennessee
Positive Early Learning Experiences
In Tennessee
How are Tennessee's babies faring in Positive Early Learning?
Infants and toddlers learn through interactions with the significant adults in their lives and active exploration of enriching environments. The quality of babies’ early learning experiences at home and in other care settings can impact their cognitive and social-emotional development as well as early literacy. High-quality early childhood care can strengthen parents’ interactions with their children in the home learning environment and support parents’ ability to go to work or attend school. Equitable access to high-quality care across factors like race, ethnicity, and income, ensures all infants and toddlers have the opportunity for optimal development. However, disparities in access to high-quality care remain across many states and communities in the United States.
Tennessee scores in the Improving Outcomes (O) tier for Positive Early Learning Experiences. The state’s ranking in this domain reflects indicators on which it is performing better than the national average, such as the percentage of babies in families with incomes equal to or below 150 percent of the state median income who received a child care subsidy. Tennessee is doing worse than the national average on indicators such as the percentage of babies in families below 100 percent of the federal poverty line with access to Early Head Start. Beginning with the 2022 profile, infant care costs as a percentage of the state’s median income for single and married parents are not factored into the ranking.
Key Indicators of Positive Early Learning Experiences
to see selected indicators by
subgroup.