Illinois daycare ratios by age
Illinois's child care center rule (89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a)) sets the staff-to-child ratios below: one adult for every 10 three-year-olds, in groups of no more than 20. Read on 2026-10-31; your licensing consultant has the last word.
Illinois child care center ratios and group sizes
| Age | Children per adult | Largest group |
|---|---|---|
| Infants (under 12 months) | 1 to 4 | 12 |
| Toddlers (12 to 24 months) | 1 to 5 | 15 |
| Two-year-olds | 1 to 8 | 16 |
| Three-year-olds | 1 to 10 | 20 |
| Four-year-olds | 1 to 10 | 20 |
| Five-year-olds (not yet in school) | 1 to 20 | 20 |
How many adults does my room need in Illinois?
Type how many children of each age are in the room.
What the rule says
Infants 6 wk-14 mo 1:4 group 12; toddlers 15-23 mo 1:5 group 15; two years 1:8 group 16; three years 1:10 group 20; four years 1:10 group 20; five years (preschool) 1:20 group 20; school-age with kindergartners 1:20 group 30 (mapped: toddler = 15-23 mo)
Rule: 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(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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