Child care centersChecked against the rule 2026-10-19

New York Daycare Ratios and Group Sizes

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

The staff-to-child ratios New York requires in licensed child care centers, by the state's own age bands, from 18 NYCRR §418-1.8. 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 New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Division of Child Care Services.

New York center ratios by age

Age group	Ages	Staff : children	Max group size
Under 6 weeks	under 6 weeks old, only with OCFS approval	1:3	6
Infants	6 weeks to 18 months	1:4	8
Toddlers	18 months to 36 months	1:5	12
3-year-olds	3 years	1:7	18
4-year-olds	4 years	1:8	21
5-year-olds	5 years	1:9	24
School-age	school-age through 9 years	1:10	20
School-age (10 to 12)	10 to 12 years	1:15	30

•When 3- to 5-year-olds are cared for in one group all day, the ratio and group size for the age of the majority of the children apply.
•Infants may not be mixed with other age groups except in OCFS-approved continuity of care classrooms, where the ratio is based on the youngest child.
•Child day care centers in New York City are regulated by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene under Article 47 of the NYC Health Code, not by Part 418-1.
•Small day care centers (Part 418-2) and school-age child care programs (Part 414) have separate rules, and the OCFS compilation of Part 418-1 is marked effective July 29, 2026.

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
Under 6 weeksunder 6 weeks old, only with OCFS approval	1:3max group 6
Infants6 weeks to 18 months	1:4max group 8
Toddlers18 months to 36 months	1:5max group 12
3-year-olds3 years	1:7max group 18
4-year-olds4 years	1:8max group 21
5-year-olds5 years	1:9max group 24
School-ageschool-age through 9 years	1:10max group 20
School-age (10 to 12)10 to 12 years	1:15max group 30
Total

Counts each age group as its own room. For a mixed-age room, New York 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 New York

OCFS inspects licensed day care centers and group family day care homes at least once a year, often unannounced. In New York City, group child care centers are also inspected by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), usually one to three times a year (the Health Code calls for two comprehensive inspections a year), in addition to OCFS oversight. Source. The licensing agency is the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Division of Child Care Services. Inspection reports are public: look up a center's reports.

The New York 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 New York's one-party consent rule never comes into it.

Check if my cameras work See pricing

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

New York daycare ratio FAQ

What is the daycare ratio in New York?

New York sets its center ratios by age: 1:3 for under 6 weeks (under 6 weeks old, only with OCFS approval), 1:4 for infants (6 weeks to 18 months), 1:5 for toddlers (18 months to 36 months), 1:7 for 3-year-olds (3 years), 1:8 for 4-year-olds (4 years), 1:9 for 5-year-olds (5 years), 1:10 for school-age (school-age through 9 years), 1:15 for school-age (10 to 12) (10 to 12 years). The rule is 18 NYCRR §418-1.8.

What is the infant ratio for daycare centers in New York?

One caregiver for every 4 infants (6 weeks to 18 months), with no more than 8 infants in one group.

What is the toddler ratio in New York?

1:5 for toddlers (18 months to 36 months), maximum group size 12.

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

7 children per teacher for 3-year-olds (3 years), in a group of no more than 18.

Does New York set maximum group sizes?

Yes. Under 6 weeks: 6; Infants: 8; Toddlers: 12; 3-year-olds: 18; 4-year-olds: 21; 5-year-olds: 24; School-age: 20; School-age (10 to 12): 30. A group may not exceed these numbers no matter how many adults are in the room.

How often are daycare centers inspected in New York?

OCFS inspects licensed day care centers and group family day care homes at least once a year, often unannounced. In New York City, group child care centers are also inspected by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), usually one to three times a year (the Health Code calls for two comprehensive inspections a year), in addition to OCFS oversight. The licensing agency is the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Division of Child Care Services. Inspection reports are public; the lookup is linked on this page.

Can cameras count toward the ratio in New York?

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 New York 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.