Licensed Daycare in Brooklyn, New York
3,107 licensed daycares in Brooklyn, verified weekly. Compare cost, age groups, and Head Start spots in your ZIP — directly from official New York licensing records.
Brooklyn listings updated May 2026 from official New York records.
Daycare in Brooklyn: what parents should know
Brooklyn has 3,107 licensed childcare providers in our directory, with Family Daycare the most common type (about 26% of local listings). Every provider here holds a current New York license at indexing time, sourced from NY Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) — Division of Child Care Services.
For age coverage, 158 centers in Brooklyn report infant care (roughly 5% — infant slots are the scarcest and fill fastest, so start early), and 765 offer preschool programs for ages 3–5.
Licensed care in Brooklyn spans 8+ ZIP codes, so families can usually find an option within a short commute. About 30% are family child care homes — typically smaller group sizes and 10–30% cheaper than centers, a good fit for infants and toddlers.
Combined, Brooklyn's licensed centers hold about 157,629 licensed seats — a practical gauge of how much local supply competes for each opening.
Brooklyn childcare by the numbers
The Brooklyn childcare landscape
Brooklyn is New York City's largest borough by childcare supply, and it is really a dozen markets in one — from pricey brownstone neighborhoods to dense, multilingual immigrant communities. The free citywide programs apply here, but what you pay and how easily you find a spot depend heavily on which part of Brooklyn you are in.
Free pre-K across Brooklyn
Brooklyn families have full access to Pre-K for All (free for all 4-year-olds) and 3-K for All (free for 3-year-olds) through NYC Public Schools — apply via MySchools. Brooklyn was an early focus of the 3-K expansion, so 3-K availability is comparatively strong in several Brooklyn community school districts, though it still varies block to block.
Subsidies and Head Start
For infants and toddlers, ACS vouchers and subsidized EarlyLearn and Head Start seats are concentrated where the need is greatest — Sunset Park, Bushwick, East New York, Brownsville, and Bedford-Stuyvesant have a high density of free and subsidized programs.
Neighborhoods and culture
Supply is dense across Park Slope, Cobble Hill, and Brooklyn Heights (premium, often play-based or cooperative), Williamsburg and Greenpoint, Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst, Flatbush, and Sunset Park — the last with a notable concentration of bilingual (Spanish- and Chinese-language) programs. Brooklyn's parent-cooperative preschool tradition is one of the strongest in the city.
What it actually costs
Brownstone Brooklyn — Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill — sits near the top of the national price range, with full-time infant care often $2,000–$2,700/month. Move into central and southern Brooklyn and prices fall substantially; licensed family child care homes are the most affordable route.
When to start looking
Use MySchools for Pre-K and 3-K on the winter application cycle. For infant rooms in the most in-demand neighborhoods, expect waitlists measured in months — popular Park Slope and Williamsburg centers fill well before the start date, so tour early.
Childcare costs in Brooklyn
ChildCare Aware reports the New York average full-time cost at $2,050/month for infant care and $1,430/month for preschool. City-level prices in Brooklyn vary by ZIP code and program model — Head Start sites are free for eligible families, family daycare homes typically run 10-30% below center rates, and accredited centers run above the average.
The Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit and a Dependent Care FSA ($5,000 max) reduce effective cost regardless of program. New York families may also qualify for NY Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) (intake: (800) 345-5437).
Full New York licensing & cost overviewQuick facts
- State regulator
- NY Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) — Division of Child Care Services
- Infant ratio
- 1:4
- Toddler ratio
- 1:5
- Preschool ratio
- 1:9
- Avg capacity
- 50 kids
Largest licensed centers in Brooklyn
By licensed capacity on file — bigger programs often mean more openings and age groups. Always verify the current license before enrolling.
All Brooklyn licensed centers
Page 1 of 37Tap any card to view the full listing including the state license number, capacity, and inspection history when available.
Common parent questions about licensing, ratios, and how to compare programs in this area.
How many licensed daycare centers are in Brooklyn, New York?
What's the average daycare cost in Brooklyn?
What staff-to-child ratios apply in Brooklyn daycares?
Are subsidies available for daycare in Brooklyn?
How do I verify a Brooklyn daycare's license?
Where to get childcare help in Brooklyn
Free, official channels for finding licensed care, checking quality ratings, and applying for assistance — no account or fee required.
Child Care Resource & Referral counselors help you find vetted local options.
1-800-424-2246 · Find yoursUnited Way's free, confidential line connects you to local childcare, food, and family aid.
Call 211 · 211.orgFree early education for income-eligible families and pregnant women.
Find a programNY Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) can cover most of your childcare cost by income.
(800) 345-5437 · How to applyCheck NAEYC accreditation and your state's quality-rating (QRIS) for any provider.
Find quality careConfirm any provider's current license & inspection record with NY Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) — Division of Child Care Services.
Official license searchChildcare resources for Brooklyn
Data and guidance on this page draw on official government and nonprofit sources.
How this data is sourced. Listings for Brooklyn, New York are compiled from official NY Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) — Division of Child Care Services licensing records and cross-checked for current license status — not paid placements or user star-ratings. Rankings never depend on advertising. Provider details change often, so always confirm directly before enrolling. Reviewed by the DaycareHub editorial team · May 2026 · methodology
Search 3,107 Licensed Centers in Brooklyn
Free, no signup, verified directly with NY Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) — Division of Child Care Services.