Connecticut writes home capacity in two parts: a regular capacity of 6 children not yet in school full time, counting the provider's own, and a school-age capacity of 3 more during the school year, written for providers working without an assistant. A provider with an approved assistant reads the other route instead, 9 children of any age. Children under 18 months are capped at 2 for a lone provider and 6 when an approved assistant is present. The pilot endorsement under Public Act 25-82 raises the ceiling to 12 for a small number of experienced licensees, and a group child care home runs 7 to 12 under its own license.
Every tier, every cap
Family Child Care Home
No more than 9 children in care at once Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-77(a)(3) (six regular plus three school-age); Regs. Conn. State Agencies § 19a-87b-5(d)(1)(A)-(B)
No more than 6 not school age Regs. Conn. State Agencies § 19a-87b-5(d)(1)(A); Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-77(a)(3)(A)(i)
No more than 2 under18m Regs. Conn. State Agencies § 19a-87b-5(e)
No more than 3 school age Regs. Conn. State Agencies § 19a-87b-5(d)(1)(B) (applies to ADDITIONAL school-age children beyond the six regular slots; school-age children in care three or more hours before or after school count in regular capacity instead)
With an assistant: an additional adult is required above 6 children. No more than 9 children in care at once; No more than 6 under18m; No more than 6 not school age; No more than 3 school age
Your own children: count toward these caps (under 12 years).
Large family child care home endorsement (FY2026 to FY2029 pilot)
No more than 12 children in care at once Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-87b(m), 2026 Supplement revised to January 1, 2026 (added by P.A. 25-82, § 7)
With an assistant: an additional adult is required above 9 children. No more than 12 children in care at once
Your own children: count toward these caps.
Group Child Care Home
No more than 12 children in care at once Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-77(a)(2)
Your own children: see the cited rule.
How Connecticut defines the age bands
Under eighteen months (infant and toddler restriction): 0 to 18 months
Not in school full time (regular capacity; includes half day kindergarten): 0 to 60 months
School age (in school full time): 60 to 156 months
Child: 0 to 228 months
Mixed ages in one room
Under 18 months is the only sub-band in the home rule; school age is defined by full-time school attendance, and children counted as school-age in the +3 slots must attend school full time.
Real questions, short answers
What is the infant limit in a Connecticut family child care home?
Two children under 18 months when the provider works alone, six with an approved assistant present, counting the provider's own children, per Regs. Conn. State Agencies 19a-87b-5(e).
Do the provider's own kids count toward the six?
Yes when they are not in school full time; school-age children of the provider count in the three school-age slots, and if the provider has more than three own school-age children all of them are permitted.
How does a home get to 12 children?
Only through the 2025 endorsement for licensees licensed before June 30, 2025, with an additional approved assistant above nine children, or by holding a separate group child care home license for 7 to 12.
Conn. Gen. Stat. chapter 368a, 2026 Supplement revised to January 1, 2026 19a-77, 19a-87b
Regs. Conn. State Agencies, Family Child Care Homes, amended March 19, 2021 19a-87b-1 to 19a-87b-18
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.