Massachusetts writes home capacity as rows keyed to the number of educators. One educator: six or fewer children with no more than 3 under two, one of them walking; seven or eight only when every child beyond six is school-age. Two educators, the licensee plus a certified assistant: up to 6 under two in a six-child home, and for the nine-to-ten license 6 under two with at most 3 infants. Three educators: up to 6 infants in a nine-to-ten home, all other children 15 months or older.
Every tier, every cap
Family child care home (license to care for six or fewer children)
No more than 6 children in care at once M.G.L. c. 15D §1A 'Family child care home'
No more than 3 under 2y 606 CMR 7.10(4)(d), the multi-age grouping table; the column headers are quoted and the row this encodes is in the tier's ratioTable
With an assistant: an additional adult is required above 6 children. No more than 6 children in care at once; No more than 6 under 2y
Your own children: count toward these caps.
Large family child care home (license to care for seven or eight children)
No more than 8 children in care at once 606 CMR 7.10(4)(e), the multi-age grouping table; the column headers are quoted and the row this encodes is in the tier's ratioTable
No more than 3 under 2y 606 CMR 7.10(4)(e), the multi-age grouping table; the column headers are quoted and the row this encodes is in the tier's ratioTable
At least 2 school age 606 CMR 7.09(15)(b)2
With an assistant: an additional adult is required above 6 children. No more than 8 children in care at once
Your own children: count toward these caps.
Large family child care home (license to care for nine or ten children)
No more than 10 children in care at once 606 CMR 7.10(4)(g), the multi-age grouping table; the column headers are quoted and the row this encodes is in the tier's ratioTable
No more than 6 under 2y 606 CMR 7.10(4)(g), the multi-age grouping table; the column headers are quoted and the row this encodes is in the tier's ratioTable
No more than 3 infant 606 CMR 7.10(4)(g), the multi-age grouping table; the column headers are quoted and the row this encodes is in the tier’s ratioTable
With an assistant: an additional adult is required above 6 children. No more than 10 children in care at once; No more than 6 infant
Your own children: count toward these caps.
How Massachusetts defines the age bands
Infant: 0 to 15 months
Toddler: 15 to 33 months
Younger than two years old (ratio table band): 0 to 24 months
Preschooler/Preschool Child: 33 to open months
Kindergarten Child: 60 to open months
School Age Child: 60 to 168 months
Older School Age Child: 108 to 168 months
Mixed ages in one room
Infant means under 15 months here, toddler 15 to 33 months and preschool from 33 months; the rows count children under two as their own group across those bands.
Real questions, short answers
What is the infant limit in a Massachusetts family child care home?
Three under two for one educator, six under two for two educators, and in a nine-to-ten home three infants under 15 months with one assistant or six with two assistants, per 606 CMR 7.10(4).
When does a Massachusetts home need an assistant?
Whenever more than six children are in care, per M.G.L. c. 15D section 1A, and whenever the under-two count exceeds the one-educator row.
Do children living in the home count?
Yes: the statute caps a family child care home at six children under 16 including participating children living in the residence.
606 CMR 7.00, Standards for the Licensure or Approval of Family Child Care, Secretary of the Commonwealth publication 7.02, 7.09(15), 7.10(4)
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.