Texas Ranks Among America's Worst States for Children's Nutrition

Texas ranks among America's worst states for children's nutrition

A new evaluation found that Texas ranks 47th in the nation for providing a healthy nutritional start for children ages 1 to 5, scoring significantly below the national average due to high rates of food insecurity and sugar consumption.

New report ranks Texas the 7th worst state to have a baby

Texas earned a dismal rank as No. 45 in WalletHub's 2026 report "Best and Worst States to Have a Baby," which compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on 31 "baby friendliness" metrics, such as affordability, health care accessibility, infant care costs, and others.

The Best and Worst States To Have a Baby in 2026

WalletHub looked at four key categories to put together its annual list.Credit: GettyImages/Blend Images - JGI/Tom GrillKey TakeawaysHaving a baby can be expensive, so where you live can make a big difference for your family’s costs and care, as WalletHub finds in its annual rankings. States with strong health care, family support, and child care can help parents feel more supported from pregnancy through early childhood.Even if your state ranks…

The worst states to have a baby have high costs, low quality care

The best states for having a baby, according to an expert, "continue to be a good environment long after the birth."

The Best & Worst States for Care in America (2026 Report Card)

Is your state doing enough to support working families? In this eye-opening conversation with Laura Valle Gutierrez, a fellow at The Century Foundation, we break down the third annual State Care Report Card—a comprehensive ranking of all 50 states on…