Children’s cognitive, social and emotional skill development may suffer in the U.S. because parents and educators are not sufficiently aware of the critical importance of providing stimulating and responsive environments during the first three years of life. Research is cited suggesting that infants develop best if cared for at home by their own mothers but increasingly more families are unable to provide this kind of care. The authors suggest that despite its resources, in comparison to several other industrialized countries the U.S. falls behind in providing support for mothers either to stay at home or to have quality alternative child care. It is argued that with a real commitment to child care, U.S. policy makers could learn from other countries, particularly in the areas of maternity benefits, infant health care and work place child care.