Raising kids in the U.S.: child care, Head Start, first steps

Step 1 — Use the right car seat from your first ride

Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13 (NHTSA). NHTSA, the federal road safety agency, recommends (NHTSA):

• a seat that fits your child’s age and size and your vehicle, used every time;
• rear-facing as long as possible, up to the seat’s height or weight limit; then forward-facing with a harness; then a booster seat until the seat belt fits properly;
• the back seat for children at least through age 12.

Certified technicians at car seat inspection stations check seats free of charge in most cases (NHTSA). A used seat may be okay only if it was never in a moderate or severe crash, has its date and model labels, has no recalls, and has all its parts and instructions (NHTSA — Used Car Seat Checklist).

Your state sets the law. All states and territories have child passenger safety laws, but the requirements vary by age, weight and height (GHSA). Ask your State Highway Safety Office (GHSA), or open your state’s page on ChildCare.gov, which links to car seat safety information (ChildCare.gov — state page example).

Never leave a child alone in a car: heatstroke in hot cars is a leading cause of non-crash vehicle deaths among children (ChildCare.gov).

Step 2 — Make your new home safe for small children

For children under 5, most injuries happen in or around the home (ChildCare.gov).

• Safe sleep. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says: use a crib, bassinet, play yard or bedside sleeper that meets federal requirements; “Bare is Best” (nothing but a fitted sheet); always place your baby on their back; no pillows or blankets; and never use rockers or swings for infant sleep (CPSC).
• Anchor furniture and TVs. Anchoring furniture with drawers, doors and shelves to the wall prevents tip-over injuries and deaths (CPSC — Anchor It!). Renting? Ask your landlord first.
• Check recalls on baby products at SaferProducts.gov (CPSC).

Step 3 — Connect your children to a doctor and vaccines

Find a regular place for care before your children get sick: see where to get medical care. For coverage, including Medicaid and CHIP, see health insurance for newcomers.

Vaccines. The CDC publishes easy-to-read vaccine schedules for children; the page is dated July 2, 2025 (CDC). Ask your child’s doctor which vaccines your child needs now. Licensed child care programs have health requirements that include immunizations (ChildCare.gov), and states and local areas set school vaccination requirements (CDC); see enrolling your child in school.

Free vaccines. The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program gives vaccines at no cost to children 18 or younger who are Medicaid-eligible, uninsured, underinsured, or American Indian or Alaska Native (CDC — VFC). A provider may charge an administration fee, but can’t refuse to vaccinate your child if you can’t pay it (CDC — VFC). Your state or local health department can help you find a VFC provider (CDC — VFC).

Step 4 — Pregnant, or have a child under 5? Look into WIC

WIC, a U.S. Department of Agriculture program, provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support and referrals to other services (USDA — WIC). USDA says it is available to women who are pregnant, postpartum (up to 6 months after the end of a pregnancy) or breastfeeding (up to the baby’s first birthday), to infants, and to children up to their fifth birthday (USDA — WIC Eligibility).

You apply through a WIC agency in your area. Your income must be at or below WIC limits; if you or the children in your care get Medicaid, SNAP or TANF, you may already be income eligible (USDA — WIC Eligibility). Parents, foster parents and anyone raising kids under 5 can apply for the children in their care (USDA — WIC).

Step 5 — Find child care you can trust

ChildCare.gov, the federal child care information site, describes the main options: child care centers, with groups of children often in classrooms by age (ChildCare.gov); family child care homes, where a provider cares for a small group in their own home (ChildCare.gov); and informal care by a relative, friend, neighbor, babysitter or nanny, which is usually not regulated (ChildCare.gov).

Check the license first. States set minimum health and safety requirements, such as staff background checks, training and building safety, that licensed programs must meet to operate legally (ChildCare.gov). A license doesn’t guarantee quality, and some programs are legally exempt (ChildCare.gov). ChildCare.gov suggests these steps (ChildCare.gov):

1. Use your state’s online child care search, which every state must have; find it on your state’s ChildCare.gov page.
2. Check whether the program is licensed, and whether a license was suspended or revoked.
3. Read its inspection reports, which states must post online (ChildCare.gov).
4. Visit several programs with a “Look, Listen, and Ask” tip sheet.

Every state has a phone line for complaints about licensed programs (ChildCare.gov).

Help with the cost. The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) is the main federal source of money that helps families with low incomes get child care (ACF). States use federal funds for child care assistance (vouchers, certificates or subsidies) so parents can work or go to school, and eligibility differs by state (ChildCare.gov). Your state’s ChildCare.gov page links to its program. Also ask providers about scholarships or sibling discounts (ChildCare.gov).

Step 6 — Ask about Head Start and Early Head Start

Head Start provides free learning and development services to children from birth to age 5 from low-income families, and all programs welcome children with disabilities (HeadStart.gov). Head Start Preschool mainly serves 3- and 4-year-olds, and Early Head Start serves infants, toddlers and pregnant women (HeadStart.gov — Programs). Services can be in a center, at home or in a family child care home (HeadStart.gov — Programs).

Who qualifies, according to HeadStart.gov (updated February 13, 2026): families with household income at or below the poverty level, and, regardless of income, families who receive TANF, SSI or SNAP, children in foster care and children who are homeless (HeadStart.gov — How to Apply). Programs may also enroll a limited share of children from families with higher incomes (HeadStart.gov — FAQs).

How to apply. Find a program with the Head Start Center Locator and call it. The program will tell you whether your child qualifies and which forms and documents it needs; if there’s no space, you can ask to be added to the waiting list. Help finding a program: 1-866-763-6481 (toll-free), Monday to Friday, noon to 6 p.m. Eastern Time (HeadStart.gov — How to Apply).

Worried about how your immigration status could affect your family’s use of public programs? Talk to an authorized legal helper first: see free immigration legal help.

Step 7 — Find support for yourself, and help your children settle in

• Your public library helps children learn to read and offers English classes and events for all ages (USA.gov).
• Your state’s ChildCare.gov page links to parenting tips, developmental milestones, home visiting services and services for children with disabilities (ChildCare.gov — state page example).
• Worried about development? Every state and territory offers early intervention for infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities. Under age 3, contact your state’s early intervention service; from age 3, your local school district (USA.gov).
• Adjusting takes time. Our guide to culture shock lists signs of stress in young children and routines that help. Learning English together? See learning English for free.