Question

In the United States, about 20 percent of infants are cared for _____ throughout their first year of life.

A) exclusively by grandparents
B) in formal daycare settings
C) by a combination of parents and relatives
D) primarily by professional nannies

Answer 1

Around 20 percent of infants in the U.S. are cared for exclusively by grandparents during their first year, often due to parental absence or incapability.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the United States, about 20 percent of infants are cared for exclusively by grandparents throughout their first year of life. This statistic highlights the significant role grandparents play in child-rearing, particularly under circumstances when infants cannot be cared for by their biological or adoptive parents. Issues ranging from parental mental health, drug use, incarceration, or abandonment can necessitate alternative care arrangements. Grandparents often step into this role, sometimes supported by child welfare services, especially when the parents are absent or unable to provide care. With an increasing number of expanded households, extended family members, including grandparents, are taking on the responsibility of primary caregivers for children.