As Ohio lawmakers look for ways to prove they are, indeed, concerned with protecting babies and taking care of children, Gov. Mike DeWine seems to be ready to offer them another way to do so. After having announced he wants to make the Buckeye State “the best place in the nation to have a baby and raise a family,” DeWine pitched new proposals to support parents of young children.

Remember, Ohio already has infant and maternal mortality rates higher than the national average, so there is plenty of work to do on that front. But DeWine’s latest idea has some merit.

According to a report by Axios, his proposals include removing state and local taxes on diapers, car seats, wipes and other baby supplies; extending paid maternity leave for state employees from six to 12 weeks; and expanding Medicaid access to adopted youth and their families and improving the foster care system.

“Helping both babies, and their families, will have profound impacts on our communities and our economy,” DeWine said. “Supporting Ohio’s families now will help children thrive as adults and continue leading our great state to an even brighter future.”

His ideas surely will face some pushback. But there are already plenty of good sales tax exemptions in Ohio — for example, groceries.

It seems as though making essential items for babies slightly more affordable would be an easy decision.

But, as Axios noted, an earlier, similar proposal has not progressed beyond committee.

If Ohio lawmakers are serious about protecting and doing the right thing for babies, it is not a stretch to understand they’d better quit sitting on their hands and do the right thing for parents, too.