Infant care in Massachusetts
1,306 of the state’s 3,012 licensed centers are licensed for infants, birth to 15 months. The state also licenses 5,874 family child care homes, but doesn’t list which ages each one takes, so ask. It doesn’t publish openings either, so calling is the only way to know who has room.
Spots are the state’s licensed capacity, not openings. 11,098 more spots are in rooms for infants and toddlers together (birth to 2 years 9 months). Prices are the state’s own medians, from its tuition table (Aug 1, 2026); see them by region.
Infant spots by county
| County | Centers for infants | Infant room spots | Infant and toddler room spots | Infant room spots per 1,000 children under 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable | 29 | 135 | 168 | 17.2 |
| Berkshire | 16 | 104 | 131 | 21.1 |
| Bristol | 126 | 728 | 1,277 | 24.8 |
| Dukes | 2 | 14 | 9 | 17.8 |
| Essex | 162 | 1,254 | 1,383 | 28.7 |
| Franklin | 10 | 49 | 99 | 18.6 |
| Hampden | 58 | 297 | 665 | 12.2 |
| Hampshire | 25 | 148 | 250 | 28.9 |
| Middlesex | 361 | 3,502 | 2,860 | 42.4 |
| Nantucket | 1 | 7 | 9 | 10.3 |
| Norfolk | 152 | 1,602 | 1,240 | 42.9 |
| Plymouth | 101 | 908 | 927 | 33.2 |
| Suffolk | 140 | 1,335 | 1,135 | 35.2 |
| Worcester | 123 | 785 | 945 | 17.6 |
“Per 1,000 children under 5” compares infant room spots with the children under 5 living in the county (Census estimate for 2020–2024). It’s a rough measure: family child care homes aren’t counted, and some babies are cared for in rooms for infants and toddlers together.
Towns with the most spots for babies
- Boston128 centers · 2,277 spots for babies
- Cambridge43 centers · 614 spots for babies
- Springfield29 centers · 488 spots for babies
- New Bedford22 centers · 367 spots for babies
- Brookline22 centers · 363 spots for babies
- Worcester23 centers · 329 spots for babies
- Newton19 centers · 297 spots for babies
- Framingham15 centers · 287 spots for babies
- Woburn15 centers · 272 spots for babies
- Marlborough11 centers · 270 spots for babies
- Lynn16 centers · 267 spots for babies
- Quincy11 centers · 264 spots for babies
- Somerville15 centers · 255 spots for babies
- Plymouth12 centers · 252 spots for babies
- Chelmsford12 centers · 251 spots for babies
Why infant spots are hard to find
Babies need the most hands-on care, so state rules require more teachers per child in infant rooms than for any other age. That makes infant rooms small and expensive to run, and many programs don’t offer them at all. Ask each program who gets priority when a spot opens, and keep in touch.
How to get on the right waitlists
- Start early. If you can, join lists during pregnancy.
- Contact several programs, centers and family child care homes alike. Ask whether they have space or a waitlist for infants, how it works, whether there’s a fee to join, and roughly how long families are waiting right now.
- Tour your top choices, and take notes while it’s fresh.
- Check in every few weeks. A short, friendly note keeps you active on the list.
- When you choose, tell the others, so the next family moves up.
Questions
How many daycares in Massachusetts take infants?
1,306 of Massachusetts’ 3,012 licensed centers are licensed for infants (birth to 15 months), as of Oct 27, 2026. Between them they have 10,868 spots in infant rooms and 11,098 in rooms for infants and toddlers together. Its 5,874 family child care homes may take babies too, but the state doesn’t list which ages each one takes.
How much does infant daycare cost in Massachusetts?
The state’s own figures (Aug 1, 2026) put the typical infant price at about $2,477 a month at centers and $1,299 a month at family child care homes. These are medians across the state; prices vary by region, and each program sets its own.
How long are infant daycare waitlists in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts doesn’t publish openings or waitlist lengths, so the only way to know is to ask each program. Nationally, in a Care.com survey of US parents (November 2024), 55% of those who had been on a daycare waitlist waited four months or more.
When should I get on an infant daycare waitlist?
As early as you can, ideally during pregnancy. Call several programs, ask how their waitlist works and whether there’s a fee, and check in every few weeks.
Need help paying? See how Child Care Financial Assistance works.
From the state’s list of licensed child care programs (Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, on the state’s Education-to-Career data hub), retrieved Oct 27, 2026. The state updates its list once a month. It gives each program’s licensed capacity, not its openings or prices. Always confirm details with the program.