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Print This PageLos Angeles, CA
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What's Good
- Los Angeles has a 45 percent lower property crime rate than average, the 5th lowest in our survey.
- Los Angeles is home to Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center, recognized as a Baby-Friendly Hospital by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for supporting breastfeeding.
- 2 percent of pregnant women here receive late or inadequate prenatal care. That's the lowest percentage of anywhere in our survey.
- 85 percent of Los Angeles mothers attempt breastfeeding. That's the 8th highest percentage of any city in our report. Moms here are 15 percent more likely than average to try breastfeeding.
- Babies here are 14 percent less likely than average to be born prematurely.
- California allows greater dependent-related tax breaks than most.
- California has among the most generous family-leave and disability laws in our survey.
- California has particularly progressive laws guaranteeing a nursing mother the right to breastfeed in public.
- California stands out in a measure of legislation related to cord blood education, research and related issues.
- Los Angeles babies are 17 percent less likely than average to be born with low birth weight.
- The CDC reports very low infant mortality rates for California.
- The local climate is especially mild - perfect for getting out and working off pregnancy weight gain.
- There are more fertility doctors per capita here than average.
- There are many more fertility clinics per capita here than average-- the 8th highest in our survey.
Needs Improvement
- There's 73 percent less public park space than average here, relative to population.
- Hospital costs here are among the highest in our survey.
- Air quality here is worse here than most cities in our survey. Air quality has been linked to childhood asthma and fertility rates, among other health effects.
- Los Angeles has a limited number of high-risk pediatricians, 83 percent less than average and the 6th lowest in our survey.
- Compared to the number of babies born, Los Angeles has 68 percent fewer lactation consultants than average. That's the 5th lowest ratio in our survey.
- California devotes less money relative to population than most states to child car-seat-check stations.
- Housing in Los Angeles is less affordable than most places: When comparing household incomes to home values, a key measure of affordability, Los Angeles has the 4th lowest ratio in our survey.
- Expecting and new moms have few parks: Los Angeles has 72 percent fewer public parks than average, relative to population.
- Los Angeles has fewer OB-GYNs than average, the 2nd lowest in our survey.
- According to the Urban Mobility Report from Texas A&M University, Los Angeles has one of the worst commutes of any city in our survey. It takes 75 percent longer to drive the same route during rush hour than in free-flowing traffic. That puts a lot more pressure on parents rushing to day care at the end of the day.
- Los Angeles has 92 miles of stroller-friendly trails and public pathways, according to our survey of parks departments. In a per capita comparison, that's 78 percent less than the average city in our survey (7th lowest overall relative to population).
