Kids Today Safer, Healthier

Moms, it’s official – according to today’s USA Today, we’re doing a great job of keeping our children safe and healthy.

• The infant mortality rate has declined dramatically, from 29 deaths per 1,000 births in 1950 to fewer than seven deaths per 1,000 births today. Reasons include cleaner water, vaccines, antibiotics, good prenatal care and better nutrition.
• Children of all ages are benefiting from research, better products based on research findings, and improved safety laws. Death rates from unintentional injuries among children under 19 have dropped nearly 50% since 1981 — from 27 deaths per 100,000 then to 14 deaths per 100,000 children in 2005.
• A little over half of moms – 54% — breastfed their children in 1986-88. Now, 77% do.
• There were 151cases of sudden infant death syndrome per 100,000 children in 1979 compared with55cases per 100,000 in 2004.
• A whopping 33%-40% of married pregnant women smoked in 1967 vs. 10% in 2005.

As moms have improved their practices, companies have also upgraded their products, from reducing the maximum temperature of water heaters in new homes to adding childproof caps to reduce accidental poisonings.

For more, visit USA Today.

Moms, what steps have you taken to assure your child’s health and safety? Marketers, what products have you introduced to help them?