Statistics reveal that about 90 percent of all working women in the United States will bear a child. Yet the United States is the only highly developed nation that does not have a national maternity leave policy. What can and should be done to address this disparity? Perhaps valuable lessons can be learned from the 117 countries that guarantee women leave from employment for childbirth. The United States also has problems in the area of infant health. U.S. infant mortality rates during 1980-1985 tied for the worst ranking among 20 industrialized nations, whereas 30 years earlier the nation ranked sixth among the same countries. Many desirable outcomes could be realized by providing child care at the parent's workplace. But for infant care outside the home to be optimal, caregivers must be able to spend time with infants on a regular basis. Each baby in day care should be given intimate, consistent contact with at least one adult to facilitate development of social, emotional, and intellectual skills. While there are many steps which need to be taken to improve the quality of care of infants in the United States, it is important that provision not undermine the basic family unit. Information concerning child care provision in other countries should be sought.(RH)