Alabama
Past 12 months the infant cap releases: a 1 year old is simply one of the 6, counted like any other child under school age. 660-5-27-.02(9)
One age, every verified state
Daycare ratio for 1 year olds in home care, state by state
Verified September 1, 2026A one-year-old sits on the seam of every ratio system. States that define infant as under 12 months release the cap on the first birthday; states that stretch infant to 24 months keep the tight math for another year; Virginia literally reprices the child mid-year, from 4 points to 3 at 16 months. Here is where the seam falls in each verified state.
State by state
California
Still an infant until the second birthday, so the 4-3-2 infant mixes keep applying all year. 22 CCR 102416.5(b)
Iowa
Counts against the 4-under-24-months cap, but the 3-under-12-months sublimit no longer applies. 441 IAC 110.13(1)
Maryland
Infant until 18 months, toddler to 23, and both sit inside the 2-under-24-months lone-provider cap. COMAR 13A.15.01.02B; 13A.15.04.03
Missouri
Under two, so part of the 3-under-two exemption cap and the tightest licensed mix rows. RSMo 210.211.1(1); 5 CSR 25-400.105
Oklahoma
Under two all year: the 2-under-two and 3-under-two rows keep governing the group size. OAC 340:110-3-84(b)
Pennsylvania
A young toddler: outside the 2-infant cap but inside the 5-child cap for children under 3. 55 Pa. Code 3290.52
Texas
Through 17 months still an infant on the charts; from 18 months a toddler, and the allowable group grows. 26 TAC 747.1701
Virginia
Costs 4 points through 15 months, then 3 points from 16 months: the same child frees a slot mid-year. 8VAC20-800-570(A)
Washington
Under two at every experience level: caps of 3, 4 or 6 depending on the license year and assistant. WAC 110-300-0355
Real questions, short answers
Does a first birthday change the daycare math?
In Alabama and Iowa, yes: the under-12-months sublimit releases. In California, Missouri, Oklahoma and Washington nothing changes until the second birthday. In Texas the change comes at 18 months, and in Virginia at 16 months.
How many 1 year olds can one provider watch?
It ranges from 2 (Maryland lone provider, Pennsylvania counting them among infants and toddlers) through 3 (Washington first year) to 4 (California all-infant mix, Iowa under-24 cap, Virginia points).
Other ages
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.