Title: Family Child Care Homes | Childcare.gov
Headings: Family Child Care Homes
Family Child Care Homes
Tips for Choosing This Type of Care
Why Families Choose This Type of Care

Content: The number of infants and toddlers that can be cared for in a family child care home is often limited. Depending on the rules in your state, family child care providers may or may not be required to be licensed. Licensed providers are required to follow a set of basic health and safety requirements. Licensing agency staff visit family child care homes regularly to make sure they are meeting these health and safety requirements. These licensing inspections are an important safety check. Use the See Your State's Resources feature on the website to find the licensing agency and a provider inspection reports for your state. Select the state where you live and click the Submit button. You will have access to a wide variety of child care information for your specific state including “Inspection Reports” and “Child Care Licensing” under the Understanding and Finding Child Care section. The question of whether a family child care provider is required to be licensed or is license exempt often depends on the number of children the provider cares for. For example, some states require family child care homes to be licensed if they care for more than one child who is not related to the provider.