A new research report from the DC-based think-tank Child Trends looks at the most important characteristics in mothers associated with providing babies and young children a "strong start" developmentally.

Check out the free, downloadable PDF of this report:
Conceptualizing a 'Strong Start': Antecedents of Positive Child Outcomes at Birth & Into Early Childhood

We are a lot about the (significant) problems of low birthweight and prematurity these days, and how they affect children's longer-term outcomes. So you might be surprised to learn that the research suggests a far more complex interplay of multiple factors during pregnancy and after birth:

THE most important maternal characteristics for providing babies and children a "strong start":

* Mother's physical & mental health status
* Mother's health-related behaviors
* Mother's receipt of health-related services
* Absence of material hardship (financial, etc.)
* Marriage & social support
* Social & demographic factors
* Mother's attitude about the pregnancy