In terms of child care costs, which age group is the most expensive to care for?

Infants are typically the most expensive age group to care for in terms of child care costs. This can be attributed to several factors. First, infant care often requires a higher staff-to-child ratio, as infants need more individual attention and supervision compared to older children. This requirement increases staffing costs for child care providers.

Additionally, the care provided for infants often includes specialized training for caregivers to meet their developmental and health needs effectively, which can also contribute to greater expenses. Equipment and supplies specific to infants, such as cribs, changing tables, and baby food, further increase operational costs for child care centers.

While care for toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children has its own sets of costs, they generally require fewer resources and have lower ratios than infant care, making them less expensive overall.