Parenting magazine conducted research to compile their list of best cities for babies. Among the individuals involved in evaluating the cities were pediatric experts and mom bloggers. The cities were judged on a list of thirty five factors for families with babies who were considering moving. A couple of the factors were taxes, odds of having a sex offender on your block, and the number of baby swings in the parks.
Each city was ranked on five different categories child care, family safety, fun for you and baby, infant health, and money matters. The judges involved used a grading system based on the following grading key:
A: Awesome
B: Very Good
C: Not Bad
D: Below Average
F: Terrible
The following is a list of the top 10 cities from the list:
1. Scottsdale, Arizona: Child Care = B+, Family Safety = A+, Fun for you and baby = A-, Infant Health = B, Money Matters = B
2. Fort Wayne, Indiana: Child Care = A, Family Safety = B+, Fun for you and baby = A+, Infant Health = B-, Money Matters = B+
3. Lincoln, Nebraska: Child Care = A, Family Safety = B-, Fun for you and baby = A+, Infant Health = B-, Money Matters = B+
4. Pittsburgh: Child Care = B+, Family Safety = B-, Fun for you and baby = A-, Infant Health = B, Money Matters = A+
5. Portland, Oregon: Child Care B-, Family Safety = B+, Fun for you and baby = B, Infant Health = A+, Money Matters = B-
6. Madison, Wisconsin: Child Care = C+, Family Safety = A, Fun for you and baby = B+, Infant Health = B+, Money Matters = A-
7. Phoenix, Arizona: Child Care = A, Family Safety = A, Fun for you and baby = A+, Infant Health = C+, Money Matters = B-
8. St. Paul, Minnesota: Child Care = C+, Family Safety = A-, Fun for you and baby = B-, Infant Health = A-, Money Matters = A
9. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Child Care = A+, Family Safety = C+, Fun for you and baby = A, Infant Health = B-, Money Matters = B-
10. Boston, Massachusetts: Child Care = B-, Family Safety = B+, Fun for you and baby = B-, Infant Health = A+, Money Matters = B
The city of Scottsdale, Arizona has an impeccably low crime rate which contributed to it being the #1 baby friendly city. A low child injury and sex offender rate makes Scottsdale a desired place to live. Police chief Alan Rodbell commented on the crime rate, “it’s common to see moms pushing strollers around the neighborhoods, even at night. Our crime rate is the lowest it’s ever been, which is well below the national average, so families can enjoy the outdoors”.
Scottsdale even offers a service that will help parents properly install car seats ensuring the safety of their children.
Scottsdale’s outdoors space includes approximately 67 miles of paved trails, 105 miles of bike trails, and 22 playgrounds with baby swings and fountains.
Scottsdale has a wide range of child care centers, pediatricians, youth programs, schools, and hospitals. The Mayo clinic also has one of their three major branches located in Scottsdale. They also have a low unemployment rate of 6.4% which makes it easier to support a growing family. The reasons listed above are just a couple of attractive features making Scottsdale, Arizona the #1 city to raise your family. – Jeff, Staff Writer
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