Infant
Care With
One Caregiver,
Not A Rotation
Licensed infant daycare in Laurel, Maryland — six weeks to twelve months, a 1:3 ratio, one consistent adult. Infants don't negotiate their own schedule. Toddlers can be talked into things. Infants cannot — I've tried.
Built Around Your Baby's Schedule
1:3 Caregiver Ratio
Maryland's cap for infants under 18 months. I maintain 1:3 or better — never above the state minimum.
Individual Schedules
Every baby feeds, sleeps, and plays on their own schedule — not a group timetable. Tummy time and sensory play, worked in around naps, not instead of them.
Daily Written Reports
Feeding, sleep, and play, tracked and handed to you at pickup. No app, no guessing how the day actually went.
What Infant Care Actually Costs
Infant daycare cost is the first question every parent asks, so let's start there. Infant care in the Laurel area runs $1,000 to $1,350 a month at a licensed home daycare, $1,500 to $2,100 a month at a licensed center. Maryland's statewide average for full-time infant center care is $1,799 a month, per Child Care Aware of America's 2023 report.
Here's the part I'll actually argue about: the number that matters isn't the price, it's the ratio. Maryland caps licensed home daycare at a 1:3 caregiver-to-infant ratio under COMAR 13A.15.04.03 — I maintain that ratio or better, never above the state minimum. A large center licensed under a different category can run 1:6 for infants under 18 months. That's not a minor difference at four months old, and the American Academy of Pediatrics agrees ratio, not curriculum, is what predicts individual attention at this age.
I'm part of Lisa's Rascals' five licensed programs, and Infant Care is the one where that ratio math matters most — a toddler can wait ninety seconds for a turn. A four-month-old can't tell you why they're waiting at all.
When Infant Care isn't the right fit: if your baby has medical needs requiring on-site nursing staff, or you need overnight coverage, extended weekend hours, or drop-off across multiple sibling locations, I'm not that program. I'm one person and eight kids total, full stop. A larger Laurel-area center with dedicated infant staff will serve you better, and I'd rather tell you now than after a tour.
Infant Care Families Drive In From
Most of my current infant families come from Jessup, Savage, and Maryland City — all a short drive up Route 1 or MD-32 from the daycare in Laurel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ages does the Infant Care program accept?
Six weeks through twelve months. After that, most families move into the Toddler Program.
What's the caregiver-to-infant ratio?
1:3, Maryland's cap for licensed family childcare under COMAR 13A.15.04.03. I don't run higher than that, ever.
Do you have current openings in Infant Care?
Maryland caps my license at 8 children total, no more than 2 infants under 18 months, so openings depend on enrollment. Call and ask — I'd rather tell you the truth on the phone than have you show up for nothing.
How much does infant care cost?
Home daycare in the Laurel area typically runs $1,000 to $1,350 a month for full-time infant care. I'll give you my actual rate on a call — those are area ranges, not a quote.
Is Lisa's Rascals licensed for infant care?
Yes. Licensed under COMAR 13A.15 as a Maryland Family Childcare provider, with annual health and safety recertification.
What questions should I ask before choosing infant daycare?
Ask about the ratio, not just the price. Ask who's actually in the room every day, not just at drop-off. And ask what happens if that person is out sick — at a one-person program like mine, the honest answer is enrollment pauses until I'm back, which is worth knowing upfront.
Ready to Talk About Infant Care?
Schedule a visit and see the room where your baby would actually spend their days — not a brochure photo of it.