Alabama daycare ratios by age
Alabama's child care center rule (Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-26-.04(1)(a)) sets the staff-to-child ratios below: one adult for every 11 three-year-olds. Read on 2026-10-31; your licensing consultant has the last word.
Alabama child care center ratios and group sizes
| Age | Children per adult | Largest group |
|---|---|---|
| Infants (under 12 months) | 1 to 5 | not set by age |
| Toddlers (12 to 24 months) | 1 to 5 | not set by age |
| Two-year-olds | 1 to 8 | not set by age |
| Three-year-olds | 1 to 11 | not set by age |
| Four-year-olds | 1 to 18 | not set by age |
| Five-year-olds (not yet in school) | 1 to 18 | not set by age |
How many adults does my room need in Alabama?
Type how many children of each age are in the room.
What the rule says
0 up to 18 mo 1:5; 18 mo up to 2 1/2 yr 1:7; 24-36 mo 1:8 (allowed exception for a group of only 24-36 mo children); 2 1/2 up to 4 yr 1:11; 4 yr up to school age 1:18; no numeric group size ('group size' set by room capacity, age, staff, equipment). (mapped: toddler 12-24 mo split evenly between 1:5 [12-18 mo] and 1:7 [18-24 mo], stricter 1:5 used; twos = 24-36 mo single-age group 1:8; fives = 4 yr up to school age)
Rule: Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-26-.04(1)(a). Read on 2026-10-31 at law.cornell.edu. Where the rule's ages split one of ours, the younger, stricter figure is shown. This is the rule for licensed centers; family child care homes, school-age care and mixed-age groups have their own rules. A reading of public regulations, not licensing advice.
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