Wisconsin replaced its per-provider chart on April 1, 2026 with a weight table. Under DCF 250.055(2), each child in a family child care center carries a numerical weight by age, and a single provider may care for a group whose weights add to no more than 1.2, with no more than four children under eighteen months per provider. A license is for four to eight children or four to twelve, and a twelve-child center may authorize no more than two providers at one time. Four children at six months weigh one point together, so one provider may hold them; a fifth infant pushes the group over 1.2 and requires a second provider. A certified home under DCF 202 holds six children with three non-related under seven, and only two under two among six.
Every tier, every cap
Certified family child care operator
No more than 3 under 7 not related to the operator Wis. Admin. Code DCF 202.08(6)(a)
No more than 6 children in care at once Wis. Admin. Code DCF 202.08(6)(b)
Option 1: up to 6 children, max 2 under 2 Wis. Admin. Code DCF 202.08(6)(b)1. and 2., with Table 202.08 (6) rows for 0, 1 and 2 children under two, each showing a maximum of 6
Option 2: up to 5 children, max 3 under 2 Wis. Admin. Code DCF 202.08(6)(b)1. and 2., with Table 202.08 (6) rows for 0, 1 and 2 children under two, each showing a maximum of 6
Option 3: up to 4 children, max 4 under 2 Wis. Admin. Code DCF 202.08(6)(b)1. and 2., with Table 202.08 (6) rows for 0, 1 and 2 children under two, each showing a maximum of 6
Your own children: count toward these caps (under 7 years).
Family child care center licensed to provide care and supervision for 4 to 8 children
No more than 8 children in care at once Wis. Stat. § 48.67 (2m) (b); the 4-to-8 licence category is also named in Wis. Stat. § 48.65 (3) (a)
Point budget: at most 1.2 points per caregiver (birth 17m 0.25, 18m 23m 0.187, 2y 4y11m 0.125, 5y plus 0.056; older children 0) Wis. Admin. Code § DCF 250.055 (2) (b) 3. and 4.
No more than 4 under 18m Wis. Admin. Code § DCF 250.055 (2) (c) 1.
With an assistant: No more than 8 under 18m
Your own children: count toward these caps (under 7 years).
Family child care center licensed to provide care and supervision for 4 to 12 children
No more than 12 children in care at once Wis. Admin. Code § DCF 250.055 (2) (a) (redline: "8" struck through, "12" underlined in the source PDF)
Point budget: at most 1.2 points per caregiver (birth 17m 0.25, 18m 23m 0.187, 2y 4y11m 0.125, 5y plus 0.056; older children 0) Wis. Admin. Code § DCF 250.055 (2) (b) 3. and 4.
No more than 4 under 18m Wis. Admin. Code § DCF 250.055 (2) (c) 1.
With an assistant: No more than 12 children in care at once; No more than 8 under 18m
Your own children: count toward these caps (under 7 years).
How Wisconsin defines the age bands
Birth to 17 months: 0 to 18 months
18 months to 1 year and 11 months: 18 to 24 months
2 years to 4 years and 11 months: 24 to 60 months
5 years and older: 60 to open months
Under the age of 18 months: 0 to 18 months
Infant (a child under one year of age): 0 to 12 months
Toddler (at least one year of age but less than 2 years of age): 12 to 24 months
School age child (5 years of age or older and enrolled in a public or private school): 60 to open months
Children under 7 years of age (licensure trigger and grouping count): 0 to 84 months
Non related children under 7 years of age: 0 to 84 months
Children 7 years of age or older: 84 to open months
Children under 2 years of age (certified care): 0 to 24 months
Mixed ages in one room
Under eighteen months is the hard cap per provider; the weight table does the rest of the mixing. Own children under seven count in a licensed home, own children seven and older do not.
Real questions, short answers
How many children under 18 months can one Wisconsin provider have?
Four, per DCF 250.055(2), and then only children five and older may be added to that group.
When does a Wisconsin family child care center need a second provider?
When the group’s total weight under Table DCF 250.055 exceeds 1.2, or when more than four children under eighteen months are present.
How many children can a certified Wisconsin home have?
Six in total, of whom no more than three are non-related children under seven, per DCF 202.08(6). With two children under two the total is six; with three under two, five; with four under two, four.
Wis. Admin. Code chapter DCF 250, Family Child Care Centers, final rule changes effective April 1, 2026 DCF 250.02, 250.03, 250.055, 250.11
Wis. Admin. Code chapter DCF 202, Child Care Certification, Register July 2026 No. 847 DCF 202.04, 202.08
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.