Choosing a Family, Friend, or Neighbor Caregiver for Your Child

More than half of Colorado families rely on someone they know—like a grandparent, aunt, friend, nanny, or neighbor—to care for their child.

These caregivers are often called license-exempt providers, which means they’re not required to have a child care license.

Because license-exempt providers aren’t monitored by the state like licensed child care centers are, families need to take extra steps to make sure the care is safe and high-quality.

License-Exempt & Licensed Care: What's the Difference?

Is My Child's Provider Required to Have a License?

¿El proveedor de de mi hijo debe tener una licencia?

Talk about Safety: Safe Childcare Checklist

Even if your child’s caregiver is a close family member, it’s still important to talk with them about how to keep your child safe.

The Safe Child Care Checklist is a great place to start. It includes:

Key questions to ask your child’s provider
Important things to look for in the space where your child will be cared for

Use the checklist to help you decide if the care is safe and high-quality, so you can feel confident your child is in a safe, nurturing place while you’re away.

Get the checklist in English.
Get the checklist in Spanish.

When Is a Child Care Provider Required to Have a License?

Use the following questions, in order, to determine whether a child care provider needs a license in Colorado.

1. Does the Provider Care for Children Often or on a Regular Basis?

If no: The provider is license-exempt. Occasional child care that does not follow a regular pattern does not require a Colorado child care license.
If yes: Continue to question 2.

2. Does the Provider Care for Any Children Who Are Not Related to Them?

If no: The provider is license-exempt.
- A person can care for children who are related to them and children from one other family without getting a child care license.
- Colorado law defines “related” as a parent, grandparent, brother, sister, stepparent, stepbrother, stepsister, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew or cousin through blood, marriage or adoption.
If yes: Continue to question 3.

3. Are the Unrelated Children From More Than One Family?

If no: The provider is license-exempt. The exemption described in question 2 applies.
If yes: Continue to question 4.

4. Does the Provider Care for More Than Four Children or More Than Two Children Under Age 2?

Include the provider’s own children when counting the total number of children.

If no: The provider is license-exempt. The provider can care for up to four children, as long as no more than two are under age 2. This applies regardless of the children’s relationship to the provider or to each other.
If yes: Colorado law requires the provider to have a child care license.