Full-time toddler daycare in Memphis runs about $750 to $1,100 a month at licensed centers in 2026, per Tennessee Department of Human Services market-rate data and the Child Care Aware of America 2024 report. Licensed family child care homes run lower, roughly $650 to $950. The move from the infant room to the toddler room is the first real tuition break most Shelby County families get, and in Memphis it lands on an already affordable base.
Plan for roughly $750 to $1,100 a month for full-time toddler care at a licensed Memphis center in 2026, based on Tennessee DHS market-rate data and the Child Care Aware of America 2024 report. That is about $9,000 to $13,200 a year. East Memphis, Germantown, and Collierville sit at the top of the range; Midtown, Cordova, and licensed home-based care run lower. Toddler tuition is the figure most often quoted as the "average daycare cost" because toddlers are the largest enrollment group at most centers.
| Care setting (Memphis, full-time toddler) | Monthly range | Annual range |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed center, typical | $750 to $1,100 | $9,000 to $13,200 |
| Licensed center, premium (East Memphis, Germantown, Collierville) | $1,100 to $1,400+ | $13,200 to $16,800+ |
| Licensed family child care home | $650 to $950 | $7,800 to $11,400 |
| Infant room, same center (for comparison) | $850 to $1,250 | $10,200 to $15,000 |
To compare with the infant year and the national picture, see our infant daycare in Memphis guide and the national toddler daycare cost breakdown.
Tennessee lets one caregiver supervise six toddlers aged 12 to 30 months and eight two-year-olds, versus four infants, per Tennessee Administrative Code Chapter 1240-04-01 from the Department of Human Services. More children per teacher means lower labor cost per child, which is why most Memphis families see a tuition drop after the infant room, consistent with the 10 to 25 percent gap Child Care Aware of America reported in 2024.
Toddler rooms also cost less to run. Cribs become cots, bottles become cups, and dedicated diapering space becomes shared changing tables. A looser ratio plus lower overhead is the reason the toddler-room move is the moment to ask for a new rate sheet.
Tennessee requires one caregiver for every six toddlers aged 12 to 30 months, with a group cap of 12, and one for every eight two-year-olds, with a group cap of 16, per Tennessee Administrative Code Chapter 1240-04-01. Ratios may never be exceeded, including during nap periods when at least one adult must stay awake and supervising. For the full age-by-age breakdown across states, see our daycare ratios by state guide.
The honest tradeoff. A looser ratio is what makes the toddler room cheaper, but it also means each caregiver is watching more children at once. Quality varies even within the same price band in Memphis, where tuition is low enough that the cheapest option is not always the best one. Tour in person, watch how staff engage the group, and weigh ratio against the warmth and consistency you see.
Most Memphis centers re-bill within 30 days of moving a child to the toddler room, usually somewhere between 12 and 18 months depending on the program and the child's readiness. If your tuition does not drop automatically, ask for the toddler-room rate sheet. Pricing transparency is one of the questions in our tour questions guide.
Income-eligible Memphis families can apply for the Tennessee Child Care Certificate Program through the Department of Human Services, funded by the federal Child Care and Development Fund. Most working parents can also use a Dependent Care FSA and claim the federal Child and Dependent Care Credit, per IRS rules.
Model your Memphis numbers after credits and subsidies in our cost calculator.
How much does toddler daycare cost in Memphis, TN? About $750 to $1,100 a month at licensed centers in 2026, per Tennessee DHS market-rate data and Child Care Aware of America 2024; family child care homes run lower.
Why is it cheaper than infant care? The ratio loosens to 1:6 for toddlers and 1:8 for two-year-olds, versus 1:4 for infants, per Tennessee Administrative Code Chapter 1240-04-01.
When does the price drop? Usually within 30 days of the toddler-room move, often between 12 and 18 months.
Is there financial help? Yes, through the Tennessee Child Care Certificate 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 infant year costs in Memphis, why it is the priciest stage, and how early to join a waitlist.
Read the article → City guideNeighborhoods, licensed providers, and what local families should know about finding care in Shelby County.
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