Full-time toddler daycare in Denver runs about $1,400 to $2,000 a month at licensed centers in 2026, per Colorado market-rate survey data and the Child Care Aware of America 2024 Price of Child Care report. That is below infant pricing, with the clearest drop at age two. Licensed family child care homes run lower, around $1,150 to $1,600. Toddler care costs less because Colorado lets one caregiver supervise more children as they grow.
Plan for roughly $1,400 to $2,000 a month for full-time toddler care at a licensed Denver center in 2026, based on Colorado market-rate survey data and the Child Care Aware of America 2024 report. That is about $16,800 to $24,000 a year, lower than infant care. Cherry Creek, the Highlands, and Washington Park run highest, while licensed home-based care sits below center pricing.
| Care setting (Denver, full-time toddler) | Monthly range | Annual range |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed center, typical | $1,400 to $2,000 | $16,800 to $24,000 |
| Licensed center, premium (Cherry Creek, the Highlands, Washington Park) | $1,900 to $2,400 | $22,800 to $28,800 |
| Licensed family child care home | $1,150 to $1,600 | $13,800 to $19,200 |
| Denver infant care, for comparison | $1,700 to $2,400 | $20,400 to $28,800 |
For the citywide picture and how the neighborhoods compare, see our Denver daycare guide and the daycare cost pillar.
Toddler care costs less because Colorado allows one caregiver per seven two-year-olds and one per eight by about age two and a half, versus five infants, per the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) rules in 12 CCR 2509-8. More children per teacher lowers the labor cost per child. Most Denver centers cut tuition by roughly $200 to $400 a month once a child moves past the infant and young-toddler rooms.
One Colorado wrinkle: the youngest toddler rooms still run at the 1:5 infant ratio, so the savings show up mainly at age two. NAEYC, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, still recommends modest group sizes for toddlers, which keeps quality programs from packing rooms even where the rules would allow it.
Colorado allows one caregiver for every five younger toddlers, one per seven two-year-olds, and one per eight by about age two and a half, at licensed centers, per CDEC rules in 12 CCR 2509-8. That is looser than the 1:5 infant ratio for older toddlers, which is why tuition falls as children grow. Always confirm the ratio in the specific room your child would join.
Denver families touring toddler rooms should ask how many children and teachers are actually in the room at nap, drop-off, and pickup, not just the licensed maximum. Our tour questions guide covers what to ask.
Usually, yes. Because Colorado lets toddler rooms enroll more children per teacher, Denver centers have more toddler seats than infant seats, so waitlists are often shorter. Still, the best-known programs in Cherry Creek, the Highlands, and Washington Park can carry multi-month lists. If your child is aging out of an infant room, confirm the toddler-room transition early.
The honest tradeoff. Toddler care is cheaper than infant care, but a higher ratio means each teacher is responsible for more children. Lower price and easier availability come with less one-on-one attention, so weigh cost against group size and how engaged the room feels when you visit.
Several levers help Denver families. Income-eligible working households can apply for the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) through their county human services department, funded by the federal Child Care and Development Fund. Nearly all working parents can also use a Dependent Care FSA and claim the federal Child and Dependent Care Credit, per IRS rules.
To model your own Denver numbers after credits and subsidies, run them through our cost calculator.
How much does toddler daycare cost in Denver, CO? About $1,400 to $2,000 a month at licensed centers in 2026, per Colorado market-rate survey data and Child Care Aware of America 2024; family child care homes run lower.
What is the toddler ratio in Colorado? One caregiver per five younger toddlers, rising to one per seven for two-year-olds and one per eight by about age two and a half, per CDEC rules in 12 CCR 2509-8.
Why is it cheaper than infant care? Higher staff-to-child ratios for older toddlers lower the labor cost per child, so tuition drops, mostly at age two.
Is there financial help? Yes, through the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program, a Dependent Care FSA, and the federal Child and Dependent Care Credit.
How care, ratios, and cost change from the infant room through preschool, with the questions that matter at each stage.
Read the guide → BlogWhat the most expensive year of care costs in Denver, the Colorado infant ratio, and waitlist timing.
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