Indiana FSSA Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning
Indiana home daycare ratios by age
Verified September 5, 2026
Indiana sets home capacity and staffing in two separate rules. Capacity: a Class I home holds twelve children at one time plus three school-year children in grade one or above, and a Class II home holds thirteen to sixteen. Staffing: 470 IAC 3-1.1-36.5(e) gives each direct child care provider a mixed infant and toddler group of six, with two of the six at least sixteen months old and walking, otherwise four; a mixed group from birth to six years of ten, with no more than three under sixteen months who must be walking; or twelve children three years and older.
Every tier, every cap
Class I Child Care Home
No more than 10 mixed age birth to 6 years per direct child care provider 470 IAC 3-1.1-36.5(e), Mixed Age Groups row and its footnote
No more than 3 under 16 months within a mixed age group of ten 470 IAC 3-1.1-36.5(e), Mixed Age Groups footnote
No more than 12 three years and older 3 to 10 years per direct child care provider 470 IAC 3-1.1-36.5(e), the 3 years and older row, 12:1
No more than 12 children in care at once 470 IAC 3-1.1-36.5(a)
Option 1: max 6 infant toddler mixed birth to 24 months per direct child care provider, at least 2 at least 16 months and walking 470 IAC 3-1.1-36.5(e), Infant/Toddler Mixed row and its footnote
Option 2: max 4 infant toddler mixed birth to 24 months per direct child care provider 470 IAC 3-1.1-36.5(e), Infant/Toddler Mixed row and its footnote
Your own children: count toward these caps (under 7 years).
Class II Child Care Home
No more than 10 mixed age birth to 6 years per direct child care provider 470 IAC 3-1.1-36.5(e), Mixed Age Groups row and its footnote
No more than 3 under 16 months within a mixed age group of ten 470 IAC 3-1.1-36.5(e), Mixed Age Groups footnote
No more than 12 three years and older 3 to 10 years per direct child care provider 470 IAC 3-1.1-36.5(e), the 3 years and older row, 12:1
No more than 16 children in care at once 470 IAC 3-1.3-1
Option 1: max 6 infant toddler mixed birth to 24 months per direct child care provider, at least 2 at least 16 months and walking 470 IAC 3-1.1-36.5(e), Infant/Toddler Mixed row and its footnote
Option 2: max 4 infant toddler mixed birth to 24 months per direct child care provider 470 IAC 3-1.1-36.5(e), Infant/Toddler Mixed row and its footnote
Your own children: count toward these caps (under 7 years).
How Indiana defines the age bands
Infant (birth to twelve (12) months of age): 0 to 12 months
Toddler (twelve (12) months of age through twenty four (24) months of age): 12 to 25 months
Infant/Toddler Mixed (Birth 24 months): 0 to 24 months
Mixed Age Groups (Birth 6 years): 0 to 72 months
3 years and older (3 10 years): 36 to 120 months
under sixteen (16) months of age: 0 to 16 months
at least sixteen (16) months of age and walking: 16 to open months
children under twelve (12) months of age (four of them trigger licensure on their own): 0 to 12 months
children who are less than eleven (11) years of age: 0 to 132 months
child of the provider or a relative who is at least seven (7) years of age (not counted in the tier cap): 84 to open months
at least fourteen (14) years of age and does not require child care (not counted at all): 168 to open months
Mixed ages in one room
The sixteen-month mark decides the infant rows: a six-child infant and toddler group needs two children past it and walking, and a ten-child mixed group may hold no more than three below it.
Real questions, short answers
How many infants can one Indiana provider care for?
Six in a mixed infant and toddler group if two of the six are at least sixteen months old and walking; otherwise four, per the footnote to 470 IAC 3-1.1-36.5(e).
How many children can a Class I home hold in total?
Twelve at one time, plus three children during the school year who are enrolled in at least grade one, for fifteen. 470 IAC 3-1.1-24 separately caps children under eleven at fifteen including the caregiver’s own.
Does Indiana count the provider’s own children in ratios?
The ratio counts all unrelated children present in the home under 36.5(d). The provider’s own children under seven count toward the fifteen-under-eleven cap in 470 IAC 3-1.1-24.
2026 Indiana Code, Title 12, definitions and child care licensing IC 12-7-2.1-57, 12-7-2.1-68, 12-7-2.1-69, 12-17.2-5
470 IAC Article 3, 2026 Edition, Child Care Homes and Class II Child Care Homes 470 IAC 3-1.1-7, 3-1.1-24, 3-1.1-36.5, 3-1.3-1
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.