Colorado does not run a single ratio for home care. It issues the family child care home license in five shapes and each carries its own count. Regular: six children from birth to eighteen years, no more than two under eighteen months, plus two school-age children. Three under eighteen months: six total, three of them under eighteen months and two of those under twelve months, with no school-age addition. Infant and toddler: four children with one provider and no more than two under twelve months, or eight with two providers and no more than four under one year. Large: up to twelve, with a second staff member required above eight. Experienced provider: nine children on one of five age mixes in section 2.310.
Every tier, every cap
A Regular Family Child Care Home
No more than 6 (birthToEighteenYears) 8 CCR 1402-1 §2.306(A) (rules 2.300-2.338 eff. 03/16/2024, in the 02/14/2026 version of 8 CCR 1402-1)
No more than 2 under18months 8 CCR 1402-1 §2.306(A)
No more than 2 additionalSchoolAge 8 CCR 1402-1 §2.306(A)(1)
Your own children: count toward these caps (under 10 years).
A Three (3) Under Eighteen (18) Months Family Child Care Home
No more than 6 (birthToEighteenYears) 8 CCR 1402-1 §2.307(A)
No more than 3 under18months 8 CCR 1402-1 §2.307(A)
No more than 2 under12months 8 CCR 1402-1 §2.307(A)
No more than 0 additionalSchoolAge 8 CCR 1402-1 §2.307(A)(5)
Your own children: count toward these caps (under 10 years).
Infant/Toddler Family Child Care Home
No more than 4 (birthToThreeYears) 8 CCR 1402-1 §2.308(A)(1)
No more than 2 under12months 8 CCR 1402-1 §2.308(A)(1)
With an assistant: an additional adult is required above 4 children. No more than 8 (birthToThreeYears); No more than 4 birthToOneYear
Your own children: count toward these caps (under 10 years).
Large Family Child Care Home
No more than 8 children in care at once 8 CCR 1402-1 §2.309(A)(4)
No more than 2 under 18 months 8 CCR 1402-1 §2.309(A)
With an assistant: an additional adult is required above 8 children. No more than 12 (birth to 18 years); No more than 2 under 18 months
Your own children: count toward these caps (under 10 years).
An Experienced Family Child Care Provider
No more than 9 (allChildren) 8 CCR 1402-1 §2.310(A)
Option 1: up to 9 children, max 7 birthToEighteenYears, max 2 under18months, max 2 additionalSchoolAge 8 CCR 1402-1 §2.310(A)(3), ECCP Options Table, row "Children Birth Through 18 Years", columns Option 1 / Option 2 / Option 3 / Option 4 / Option 5
Option 2: up to 9 children, max 8 birthToEighteenYears, max 2 under18months, max 1 additionalSchoolAge 8 CCR 1402-1 §2.310(A)(3), ECCP Options Table, row "Children Birth Through 18 Years", columns Option 1 / Option 2 / Option 3 / Option 4 / Option 5
Option 3: up to 9 children, max 5 birthToEighteenYears, max 2 under18months, max 4 additionalSchoolAge 8 CCR 1402-1 §2.310(A)(3), ECCP Options Table, row "Children Birth Through 18 Years", columns Option 1 / Option 2 / Option 3 / Option 4 / Option 5
Option 4: up to 9 children, max 6 birthToEighteenYears, max 3 under18months, max 2 under12months, max 3 additionalSchoolAge 8 CCR 1402-1 §2.310(A)(3), ECCP Options Table, row "Children Birth Through 18 Years", columns Option 1 / Option 2 / Option 3 / Option 4 / Option 5
Option 5: up to 4 children, max 4 birthToEighteenYears, max 2 under12months, max 0 additionalSchoolAge 8 CCR 1402-1 §2.310(A)(3), ECCP Options Table, row "Children Birth Through 18 Years", columns Option 1 / Option 2 / Option 3 / Option 4 / Option 5
Your own children: count toward these caps (under 10 years).
How Colorado defines the age bands
under twelve (12) months of age: 0 to 12 months
between birth and one (1) year old: 0 to 12 months
under eighteen (18) months of age: 0 to 18 months
under the age of two years (license exemption band only): 0 to 24 months
between birth and three (3) years old: 0 to 36 months
provider's own children under ten (10) years of age: 0 to 120 months
from birth to eighteen (18) years of age: 0 to 216 months
Mixed ages in one room
The bands that bind are under twelve months and under eighteen months. Residents of the home under ten who are on the premises count against capacity on every license shape.
Real questions, short answers
How many children can one Colorado provider care for alone?
Six on a regular license, plus two school-age children, and eight on a large family child care home license before a second staff member is required under 8 CCR 1402-1 section 2.309(A)(4).
What is the infant limit in a Colorado home?
Two under eighteen months on a regular license, three on a three-under-eighteen-months license with two of them under twelve months, and four under one year in an infant and toddler home with two providers.
Can a Colorado home be licensed for nine children?
Yes, on an experienced family child care provider license, which allows no more than nine children of different age combinations depending on the option chosen under section 2.310(A).
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 26.5, Child Care Licensing Act 26.5-5-303, 26.5-5-304, 26.5-5-309, 26.5-5-321
8 CCR 1402-1, Child Care Facility Licensing Rules and Regulations, version effective 02/14/2026 2.112, 2.305, 2.306, 2.307, 2.308, 2.309, 2.310
DaycareRules is an informational reference about home child care licensing rules in the United States. It reprints thresholds, capacity limits, ratios and citations from state statutes and regulations, together with the date each state was last verified. Nothing on this site is legal advice, and rules change. Confirm with your state licensing agency before acting on any number printed here.