Massachusetts offers support and a safe environment to new parents, making it the best place in the nation to have a baby, according to a new study.

WalletHub ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on parental costs, health care accessibility and baby-friendliness. Massachusetts placed No. 1, bolstered by a strong healthcare system and some of the most generous parental leave policies in the country.

Positive health outcomes for babies drove Massachusetts’ first place ranking. The Commonwealth had the third-lowest infant mortality rate and the third-lowest maternal mortality rate nationally. Plus, the best neonatal hospitals in the country call the state home.

The best parental leave policies in the nation set Masachusetts parents up for success. Free parenting programs covered by Medicaid also offer support.

As children grow, Massachusetts continues to provide a safe environment. Researchers found that Massachusetts had the sixth-lowest share of households with infants or toddlers experiencing food insecurity and the sixth-highest share of young children with all recommended vaccines.

“The best states for having a baby minimize costs while providing top-notch care for both newborns and their mothers,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “They also continue to be good environments for parents even long after the birth, with high-quality pediatric care, affordable and accessible childcare, and a strong economic environment that makes providing for a child easier.”