New York daycare ratios by age
New York's child care center rule (18 NYCRR 418-1.8) sets the staff-to-child ratios below: one adult for every 7 three-year-olds, in groups of no more than 18. Read on 2026-10-31; your licensing consultant has the last word.
New York child care center ratios and group sizes
| Age | Children per adult | Largest group |
|---|---|---|
| Infants (under 12 months) | 1 to 4 | 8 |
| Toddlers (12 to 24 months) | 1 to 4 | 8 |
| Two-year-olds | 1 to 5 | 12 |
| Three-year-olds | 1 to 7 | 18 |
| Four-year-olds | 1 to 8 | 21 |
| Five-year-olds (not yet in school) | 1 to 9 | 24 |
How many adults does my room need in New York?
Type how many children of each age are in the room.
What the rule says
Under 6 wks 1:3 group 6; 6 wks-18 mo 1:4 group 8; 18-36 mo 1:5 group 12; 3 yrs 1:7 group 18; 4 yrs 1:8 group 21; 5 yrs 1:9 group 24; school-age through 9 1:10 group 20. (mapped: toddler=6 wk-18 mo row, our band splits evenly 12-18 / 18-24). State rule; NYC centers are under the NYC Health Code instead.
Rule: 18 NYCRR 418-1.8. 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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