A 2025 report from the Missouri Champion of Children and Child Care Aware of Missouri says that majority of Missouri is a “child care desert” for care from birth up to age 12, but even more of the state–97%–is a desert for infant care.

A child care desert is defined as a place where there are three times as many children than there are available licensed child care slots; or no licensed spots at all.

This definition refers to all children, including ones who may be receiving child care at home. But Casey Hanson, Deputy Director for Kids Win Missouri, said that since there are substantially more children than there are available child care spots, it’s inferred that a majority of those children most likely need care services.