From WalletHub
A new report from WalletHub ranks Florida 44th out of 51 in its 2025 “Best & Worst States to Have a Baby” study, citing high delivery costs, poor access to pediatric care, and lagging health outcomes as key factors in the Sunshine State’s low score.
With the average cost of a conventional birth topping $2,600 for insured mothers — and nearly $15,000 for the uninsured — WalletHub compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia across 31 indicators of affordability, health care access, and baby-friendliness. Florida landed near the bottom, just above Mississippi, South Carolina, and Alabama.
Among the data points that dragged Florida’s ranking down:
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37th in hospital conventional-delivery charges
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34th in infant mortality rate
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37th in rate of low birth-weight
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37th in pediatricians and family physicians per capita
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27th in child-care centers per capita
The state fared better in only a few categories, such as 15th in midwives and OB-GYNs per capita and 21st in parental leave policy, still far from top-tier.
According to WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo, the best states to have a baby not only offer lower costs and stronger maternal care but also maintain support systems long after birth. “They continue to be good environments for parents... with high-quality pediatric care, affordable and accessible child care, and a strong economic environment,” Lupo said.
Experts say local and state policymakers have the power to shift this trend. Stacey Doan, Ph.D., a professor at Claremont McKenna College, believes supporting the well-being of caregivers is critical: “The burden [of parenting] is immense, unhealthy, and maladaptive. City authorities and policymakers have the power to change the culture of raising children.”
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Bethany Willis, Ph.D., President of the Mid-Atlantic Council on Family Relations, emphasizes the role of zoning, walkable neighborhoods, and accessible childcare. “Voting for shifts in zoning laws could bring quality care to communities that need it most,” she said.
Florida’s low ranking adds another layer to the broader national issue of declining birth rates. Doan says rising costs — not just financial but also emotional and time-related — are pushing would-be parents to reconsider. “Parents want their children to succeed... but for most parents, less is more.”
To view the full WalletHub study, visit: 2025’s Best & Worst States to Have a Baby
