Alabama
No toddler band exists for homes: from 12 months to school age every child counts identically toward the 6. 660-5-27-.02
One age, every verified state
Toddler daycare ratios in home care, state by state
Verified September 1, 2026Toddler is the least standardized word in child care regulation. Maryland gives it six narrow months, Texas gives it a year and a half, Alabama does not use it for homes at all. What actually matters is which caps a 12-to-35-month-old triggers, and that is what this page maps for every verified state.
State by state
California
Split by the second birthday: under 2 is infant with infant caps, 2 and up is simply a child in the mix. 22 CCR 102416.5
Iowa
The binding cap ends at 24 months; an older toddler counts only toward the not-in-school totals of 6, 8 or 14. 441 IAC 110.13 to 110.15
Maryland
Toddler is narrowly 18 to 23 months; at 2 the child moves to preschooler rows such as 1 staff to 6 same-age. COMAR 13A.15.01.02B(47); 13A.18.08.03
Missouri
The toddler band runs 12 to 24 months, and the under-two rows bind until the second birthday. 5 CSR 25-400.105
Oklahoma
Everything pivots on the second birthday: under two tightens the mix, from two the group can reach the full 7. OAC 340:110-3-84
Pennsylvania
Young and older toddlers both sit inside the 5-under-3 combined cap; only the infant sublimit ends at age 1. 55 Pa. Code 3290.52
Texas
Toddler runs 18 through 35 months and holds its own column on every capacity chart. 26 TAC 747.1701
Virginia
Costs 3 points to 23 months and 2 points from the second birthday, against the 16-point budget. 8VAC20-800-570(A)
Washington
Under-two caps apply until the second birthday, then the under-three cap of 4 at the mid experience level. WAC 110-300-0355(8)
Real questions, short answers
How many toddlers can one home provider watch?
For the younger toddler year the infant caps usually still bind: 2 to 4 depending on the state. From the second birthday most verified states treat the child as a regular group member, with Pennsylvania (cap of 5 under 3) and Washington (4 under 3 at the mid level) as the exceptions.
Is there a standard toddler age range?
No. Verified definitions run 18 to 23 months (Maryland), 12 to 24 (Missouri), 18 to 35 (Texas), and several states skip the label for homes entirely. Always match the state band, not the word.
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.