Licensed · State-verified

Licensed Daycare in Missouri

Find the right daycare in Missouri in under 5 minutes. 2,600 licensed centers — filter by age, cost, and subsidy. Verified weekly against Missouri DHSS — Section for Child Care Regulation. Free, no signup.

2,600
Licensed Centers
$900/mo
Avg Infant Care
$720/mo
Avg Preschool
1:4
Infant Ratio
Search 2,600 Missouri centers Estimate your monthly cost

Missouri Childcare Licensing

In Missouri, all child care centers serving children outside the family home are required to be licensed by the Missouri DHSS — Section for Child Care Regulation. Licensed centers undergo background checks, capacity inspections, and routine compliance reviews.

Minimum staff-to-child ratios are 1:4 for infants under 12 months, 1:8 for toddlers (12–35 months), and 1:10 for preschool (3–5 years). NAEYC-accredited centers typically operate below the state minimum.

Verify a license at Missouri DHSS — Section for Child Care Regulation

What's distinctive about Missouri: Missouri loosened ratios in 2021 (1:8 toddlers, up from 1:6) — controversial. Look specifically for QRIS-rated or NAEYC-accredited providers if you want pre-2021 standards.

Quick licensing facts

Regulator
Missouri DHSS — Section for Child Care Regulation
Infant ratio
1:4
Toddler ratio
1:8
Preschool ratio
1:10
Avg infant cost
$900/mo
Avg preschool cost
$720/mo

Top Cities for Daycare in Missouri

View all cities →
Kansas City
171 centers
Saint Louis
89 centers
Saint Joseph
53 centers
Sullivan
51 centers
Joplin
29 centers
Independence
26 centers
Salisbury
25 centers
Springfield
23 centers
Milan
22 centers
Lees Summit
14 centers
Saint Charles
10 centers
Sappington
9 centers
Financial help

Missouri Childcare Subsidies & Tax Credits

Missouri families can apply for Missouri Child Care Subsidy Program based on income and work/school status. Federal programs — the Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit, Dependent Care FSA ($5,000 cap), and Head Start — stack on top of state assistance.

Local intake line: (573) 522-1385

Check Subsidy Eligibility Estimate Your Cost

Official Missouri & Federal Resources

Independently verify any provider, check subsidy eligibility, and access national child-care databases — all official .gov sources.

License search
Missouri DHSS — Section for Child Care Regulation
Verify license & inspection history
Cost & quality data
ChildCare Aware Missouri
Annual cost report & advocacy
Federal · HHS.gov
Head Start Locator
Free programs for eligible families
Federal · ACF.gov
childcare.gov
National subsidy & CCDF info

Program Types in Missouri

Preschool
325 centers
Montessori
325 centers
Licensed Group Child Care Home
325 centers
Family Daycare
325 centers
Child Care Center
325 centers
Infant Care
325 centers

Recently Verified Centers

View all 2,600 →
K Preschool

Kansas City Wonder Years #325

Centerview

Preschool (2-5) Cap 25
L Head Start

Little Genius Kansas City #326

Concordia

2 years - 12 years Cap 24
K Before/After School

Kansas City Cloud Nine Kids #327

Corder

School Age (5+) Cap 52
N Infant Care

Nurturing Hearts Kansas City #328

Dover

Preschool (2-5) Cap 115
K Montessori

Kansas City Smart Start Academy #329

Excelsior Spring

6 weeks - 12 years Cap 38
K Licensed Center

Kansas City Little Angels #330

Grain Valley

Infants & Toddlers Cap 61
E Family Daycare

Explorer Kids Kansas City #331

Grandview

School Age (5+) Cap 65
K Group Care

Kansas City Generations Daycare #332

Lake Winnebago

School Age (5+) Cap 114
K Preschool

Kansas City KinderSmile #333

Hardin

Preschool (2-5) Cap 45
A Head Start

Active Kids Kansas City #334

Henrietta

2 years - 12 years Cap 98
K Before/After School

Kansas City Playhouse Academy #335

Higginsville

School Age (5+) Cap 117
K Infant Care

Kansas City Learning Center #336

Holden

Preschool (2-5) Cap 32

Daycare in Missouri — Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know a daycare in Missouri is licensed?
Every center listed here is verified against the Missouri DHSS — Section for Child Care Regulation database. Look for the 'Licensed' badge on each profile. You can also confirm directly via the agency's lookup tool at https://healthapps.dhss.mo.gov/showmechildcare/default.aspx.
What is the staff-to-child ratio in Missouri?
State minimums in Missouri are roughly 1:4 infants, 1:8 toddlers, and 1:10 preschool. NAEYC-accredited centers typically operate below these ceilings.
How much does daycare cost in Missouri?
Full-time infant care averages about $900/month; preschool runs around $720/month. Costs vary by city — large metros like Missouri trend higher than rural areas.
Are subsidies available for childcare in Missouri?
Yes. The primary state program is Missouri Child Care Subsidy Program, reachable at (573) 522-1385. Federal options like Head Start, the Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit, and Dependent Care FSA also apply. See our subsidies guide for eligibility rules.
How do I report unsafe conditions at a Missouri daycare?
File a complaint with the Missouri DHSS — Section for Child Care Regulation via their website. Inspections are public record; severe violations result in license suspension.

Search 2,600 Licensed Missouri Centers

Free, no signup, filter by age and subsidy acceptance.

Browse All Missouri Centers Compare Daycare Options