A new report claims Illinois is one of the worst states to have a baby.
According to a recent ranking of the “Best and Worst States to Have a Baby,” released by financial services website WalletHub, Illinois is the worst state in the Midwest and the 11th worst state in the nation.
Vermont was ranked no. 1 on the list and Alabama was dubbed the worst state to have a baby.
Several Midwestern states far outranked Illinois, with Iowa listed at no. 7, Indiana at no. 23, Missouri is no. 25, and Wisconsin at no.28.
The rankings are based on three categories including state budget elements like delivery charges, infant care costs, cost of living, sales tax and milk costs; health care for new moms and babies, including the number of midwives, obstetricians and gynecologists per capita, access to pediatric service, maternity practices, infant death rates, preterm births and the number of fertility clinics per capita; and baby-friendly environments, which looked at air pollution, moms groups, the number of child centers per capita, parental leave policies and superfund sites per capita.
“With our findings, we hope to enlighten expectant parents on the costs and conditions they can anticipate where they live with a bundle of joy on the way,” the site said in the report.
See the full list on WalletHub.com.
