#daycares may have stricter ratios than this if they prioritize healthy care for both child and caregiver

[tinfoil-catholic]

If you're curious, I can also give some more examples using the laws in my state (other states, like Arizona, are more strict on ratios).

You measure the ratio based on the youngest child present, not the oldest (which makes sense), and familial relations do not count against the max number. For example, someone with a ton of kids (let's say four children) can still legally look after 4 other children without being licensed, even though technically they are taking care of 8 children total. Regardless of ages, the max is 4 unrelated-to-the-caregiver children.

But let's say I am licensed and am caring for a 17 month old, a 2.5 year old, a 3 year old, and a 5 year old. I would have two 'slots' open to book myself out with. Now, let's say it's summer and my brother and sister in law need help with their kids (6 and 4). I can take care of all 6 of those kids, and still have two 'slots' open to take on my children, as long as I don't charge my brother and sister in law for the childcare. But, at the end of the summer when the 17 month old is now 19 months, I will have 4 slots open.

Like I said, this changes based on state. I know in Arizona, the max is 4 for infant care, with family children not counting against the max, but that's what it's like in my state.

So while an 18month old is seen as a toddler, scientific classification wise, infancy is 3mo-18mo, and toddler is 19mo-3years. (0mo-3mo is newborn). Hence why the paper said "18mo infant". It matters mainly for childcare and developmental things. If you have let's say a 15month old in a group of other toddlers, it limits how many children you can care for per 1 adult. In my state for example, it would limit it to 6 children per adult, rather than it the youngest is 19 months, you can have 8 or 10 children per adult. [These things change per state law in the US and other countries have different ratios.]

Huh!