Child care centersChecked against the rule 2026-10-19

Illinois Daycare Ratios and Group Sizes

By Jayesh Parayali, Founder, CareCam · 15+ years building daycare camera systems

The staff-to-child ratios Illinois requires in licensed child care centers, by the state's own age bands, from 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.190. Below the table, a calculator tells you how many staff the children in your building need right now.

Educational reference, not legal advice. Family and group child care homes follow different ratios. Confirm with the Illinois Department of Early Childhood.

Illinois center ratios by age

Age group	Ages	Staff : children	Max group size
Infants	6 weeks through 14 months	1:4	12
Toddlers	15 through 23 months	1:5	15
Two years	2 years	1:8	16
Three years	3 years	1:10	20
Four years	4 years	1:10	20
Five years (preschool)	5 years, in a preschool group	1:20	20
School-age (kindergartners present)	school-age group that includes kindergartners	1:20	30

•When ages are combined, the ratio and maximum group size follow the youngest child in the group, and children of all ages may be mixed during the first and last hour of programs open 10 or more hours a day.
•Except for infants and toddlers, 50 percent of the required staff may directly supervise children during nap time as long as the full ratio is maintained on the premises.
•An early childhood teacher aided by an early childhood assistant may supervise a group of up to 30 children if all of the children are at least five years old.
•On July 1, 2026, center licensing moved from the Department of Children and Family Services to the Department of Early Childhood, and the center rules were recodified from 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407 to 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.

How many staff do I need right now?

Enter the children in the building right now, by age group. The numbers update as you type and nothing is sent anywhere.

Age group	Ratio	Children	Staff needed
Infants6 weeks through 14 months	1:4max group 12
Toddlers15 through 23 months	1:5max group 15
Two years2 years	1:8max group 16
Three years3 years	1:10max group 20
Four years4 years	1:10max group 20
Five years (preschool)5 years, in a preschool group	1:20max group 20
School-age (kindergartners present)school-age group that includes kindergartners	1:20max group 30
Total

Counts each age group as its own room. For a mixed-age room, Illinois like most states applies the ratio of the youngest child present to the whole group. Ratios apply the whole day, including naps, transitions and the first and last hour. Confirm against the rule linked above before you schedule.

Inspections in Illinois

Day care centers must be monitored at least once a year by a Department of Early Childhood licensing representative. The department says these annual visits are unannounced. Source. The licensing agency is the Illinois Department of Early Childhood. Inspection reports are public: look up a center's reports.

The Illinois inspection checklist is the walk-through a licensor does, written as things to check before they arrive, with your ratios and agency filled in.

Proving the room was in ratio

When a parent or licensor asks what the toddler room looked like at 4:45 on Tuesday, your own cameras answer. CareCam runs on the cameras a center already has and adds a live, video-only view for parents of their own child's room, during the hours you set. No audio, so Illinois's all-party (two-party) consent rule never comes into it.

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Related for Illinois: daycare camera laws. Other states: daycare ratios by state.

Illinois daycare ratio FAQ

What is the daycare ratio in Illinois?

Illinois sets its center ratios by age: 1:4 for infants (6 weeks through 14 months), 1:5 for toddlers (15 through 23 months), 1:8 for two years (2 years), 1:10 for three years (3 years), 1:10 for four years (4 years), 1:20 for five years (preschool) (5 years, in a preschool group), 1:20 for school-age (kindergartners present) (school-age group that includes kindergartners). The rule is 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.190.

What is the infant ratio for daycare centers in Illinois?

One caregiver for every 4 infants (6 weeks through 14 months), with no more than 12 infants in one group.

What is the toddler ratio in Illinois?

1:5 for toddlers (15 through 23 months), maximum group size 15.

How many 3-year-olds can one teacher have in Illinois?

10 children per teacher for three years (3 years), in a group of no more than 20.

Does Illinois set maximum group sizes?

Yes. Infants: 12; Toddlers: 15; Two years: 16; Three years: 20; Four years: 20; Five years (preschool): 20; School-age (kindergartners present): 30. A group may not exceed these numbers no matter how many adults are in the room.

How often are daycare centers inspected in Illinois?

Day care centers must be monitored at least once a year by a Department of Early Childhood licensing representative. The department says these annual visits are unannounced. The licensing agency is the Illinois Department of Early Childhood. Inspection reports are public; the lookup is linked on this page.

Can cameras count toward the ratio in Illinois?

No. The ratio counts adults physically in the room with the children. Cameras let a director confirm afterwards that ratios were kept, and with CareCam they give parents a live, video-only view of their own child's room during the hours the center sets.

Run a Illinois center? See if your cameras can do double duty

Tell us your camera brand and we'll confirm whether the cameras you already have can give parents a secure, live, video-only view of their own child's room. We reply within one business day.