Toddler daycare in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Full-time toddler daycare in the Minneapolis metro averages about $397 a week at centers, roughly $1,550 to $1,950 a month in 2026, per the Child Care Aware of Minnesota rate survey with the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (November 2025). That is below the infant rate because the toddler ratio loosens to 1:7. Homes average about $216 a week.

How much does toddler daycare cost in Minneapolis?

Plan for roughly $1,550 to $1,950 a month for full-time toddler care at a licensed Minneapolis-area center in 2026. The Child Care Aware of Minnesota metro rate survey (November 2025) puts the average center toddler rate at $397 a week, about $20,600 a year. That is below the $451 a week metro infant average, the predictable result of a looser toddler ratio.

For the infant-room picture and how the price changes by age, see our infant daycare in Minneapolis guide and the Minneapolis daycare cost page.

What is the toddler ratio in Minnesota?

Minnesota requires one staff member for every seven toddlers, with a maximum group size of 14, per Minnesota Rules 9503.0040. A toddler is a child 16 to 33 months old, though a child may be kept in the toddler category up to 35 months when the parent, teacher, and director agree it serves the child. The 1:7 toddler ratio is looser than the 1:4 infant rule, which is why tuition is lower.

When age categories are mixed, the ratio and group size for the youngest child present apply, and infants are never grouped with older categories, per the same rule. NAEYC, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, recommends keeping toddler groups small even where the state allows more, so ask a Minneapolis center how it actually staffs its toddler rooms.

Why is toddler daycare cheaper than infant care?

Toddler care costs less because Minnesota lets each teacher supervise seven toddlers instead of four infants, per Minnesota Rules 9503.0040. Staffing is a center's biggest cost, so spreading one teacher across more children lowers the tuition each family pays. In the metro, the center average falls from $451 a week for infants to $397 a week for toddlers.

The drop is real but modest, roughly 12 percent off the infant rate in the Minneapolis metro, not half. Many centers also charge separate registration, supply, or activity fees that do not change when your child moves up a room, so ask for the all-in monthly figure when you compare programs.

What changes when my child moves to the toddler room?

The toddler room trades one-to-one attention for more independence, more peers, and a more structured day. Expect group meals at low tables, more walking and outdoor play, early potty-learning support, and a curriculum that leans into language and motor skills. The higher ratio means your child gets a bit less individual attention than in the infant room.

How can I lower the bill?

Three levers help most Minnesota families. Income-eligible households can apply for the Minnesota Child Care Assistance Program through Hennepin County or their tribal agency, 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.

• Dependent Care FSA: set aside up to the IRS annual limit in pre-tax dollars. See our FSA guide.
• Child and Dependent Care Credit: a federal tax credit on qualifying care costs, per IRS guidance. See our tax credit explainer.
• Minnesota Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP): covers part of tuition for eligible families; see our subsidy explainer.
• Family child care homes run far below centers in Minnesota if quality and licensing check out.

To model your own Minneapolis numbers after credits and subsidies, run them through our cost calculator.

Common questions

How much does toddler daycare cost in Minneapolis, MN? About $397 a week, roughly $1,550 to $1,950 a month, at metro centers in 2026, per the Child Care Aware of Minnesota rate survey (November 2025); family child care homes average about $216 a week.

What is the toddler ratio in Minnesota? One staff per seven toddlers, maximum group size 14, per Minnesota Rules 9503.0040; a toddler is 16 to 33 months.

Why is it cheaper than infant care? The ratio loosens from 1:4 for infants to 1:7 for toddlers, lowering labor cost per child.

Is there financial help? Yes, through the Minnesota Child Care Assistance Program, a Dependent Care FSA, and the federal Child and Dependent Care Credit.