Indiana daycare ratios by age
Indiana's child care center rule (IC 12-17.2-4-14.5; FSSA Licensed Child Care Center Staff to Child Ratio Chart (470 IAC 3-4.7-47 superseded)) sets the staff-to-child ratios below: one adult for every 11 three-year-olds, in groups of no more than 25. Read on 2026-10-31; your licensing consultant has the last word.
Indiana child care center ratios and group sizes
| Age | Children per adult | Largest group |
|---|---|---|
| Infants (under 12 months) | 1 to 5 | 12 |
| Toddlers (12 to 24 months) | 1 to 5 | 12 |
| Two-year-olds | 1 to 8 | 16 |
| Three-year-olds | 1 to 11 | 25 |
| Four-year-olds | 1 to 13 | 29 |
| Five-year-olds (not yet in school) | 1 to 17 | 31 |
How many adults does my room need in Indiana?
Type how many children of each age are in the room.
What the rule says
Infants 6 wk-12 mo 1:5 max 12; young toddlers 12-17 mo 1:5 max 12; older toddlers 18-23 mo 1:6 max 14; 2 years (24-29 mo) 1:8 max 16; 2.5-year-olds (30-35 mo) 1:9 max 17; 3 years 1:11 max 25; 4 years 1:13 max 29; 5 years 1:17 max 31; 6+ 1:20 max 40 (mapped: toddler = young toddler row, twos = 24-29 mo row; band split evenly). Current FSSA chart reflects IC 12-17.2-4-14.5; the older rule chart at 470 IAC 3-4.7-47 (infant 1:4/8, toddler 1:5/10, 3 yrs 1:10/20, 4 yrs 1:12/24, 5+ 1:15/30) is superseded.
Rule: IC 12-17.2-4-14.5; FSSA Licensed Child Care Center Staff to Child Ratio Chart (470 IAC 3-4.7-47 superseded). Read on 2026-10-31 at in.gov. 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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