Last week, New York City launched the Birth-to-2 initiative, offering free child care for children ages 2 and under, regardless of their parents’ income or immigration status, at 15 sites in “neighborhoods with the greatest need.” Here’s how to apply.

Last week, New York City launched the Birth-to-2 initiative, offering free child care for children ages 2 and under, regardless of their parents’ income or immigration status.

The $10 million pilot, announced in last year’s city budget agreement, is targeted at the most vulnerable communities and high-needs neighborhoods, officials said.

The initiative is part of the NYC Bright Starts program, and it was pitched to reinforce New York City Public Schools’ existing infant and toddler programs through the federal Head Start program, which offers a variety of services to support school-readiness for children from birth to age 5 for low-income families. Last year, the Trump administration attempted to bar undocumented immigrant children from enrolling in Head Start programs, but a federal judge’s injunction put the effort on hold nationwide in September.

New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) oversees the Birth-to-2 initiative, which will provide approximately 200 seats to infants and toddlers across 15 community-based providers in “neighborhoods with the greatest need,” officials said.  

The new seats are subsidized for up to 10 hours a day, year-round, unlike most seats in the city’s 3-K and pre-K programs, which provide approximately 6.5 hours of care per day from September through June.

The expansion is one of several recent local initiatives aimed at easing child care costs for New York families. Last week, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a $4.5 billion investment for child care initiatives across the state in the upcoming fiscal year.

That includes funding the first two years of a free child care program for 2-year-olds in New York City, called 2 Care, in partnership with new Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who campaigned on the promise of universal child care. That effort will focus on “high needs areas” during its first year, but will expand citywide by year four, officials said.

Child care has become increasingly unaffordable for New York families. A report released by the City Comptroller’s Office last year found that the average price of placing an infant or toddler in a child care center was $26,000 a year in 2024, up 43 percent since 2019.

And a recent survey by Columbia University’s Center on Poverty and Social Policy and Robinhood* found that more than a fifth of city parents reported a “child care” hardship in the last year—meaning they had to cancel or cut back on care because of costs, or place their child in a setting they felt was “inadequate.”  

City Limits has prepared this guide to give an overview of the enrollment process for the Birth-to-2 initiative, based on information shared by NYCPS and providers. The Birth-to-2 initiative pilot began operations on Jan. 5, 2026, and applications opened in late December of 2025. 

There’s no deadline to apply. NYCPS officials confirmed to City Limits at press time that seats in the program are still available, but declined to say how many and where, adding that it’s a shifting number and that they don’t want to discourage potential applicants.

Who’s eligible for the Birth-to-2 initiative?

All New York City children residing in the five boroughs from six weeks old to 2 years old, regardless of the immigration status of the family or child, or parents’ income levels. However, not all participating providers offer care for kids under 1 year of age.

How do I apply?

In person. Families should contact participating programs (listed below) directly to inquire about the registration process, and they should live in or near the providers that they are applying to. Participants are selected on a first-come, first-served basis.

Liza Otano, building principal at Beanstalk Academy in the Bronx, one of the 15 locations taking part in the initiative, encouraged parents to visit in-person to ensure their applications are  complete and, while there, to take a tour of the facility.

What documentation is required to register?

• The city’s school registration package for children 0-2, available in 14 languages: English, Spanish, Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (simplified and traditional), French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Russian, Ukrainian, Urdu, and Uzbek.
• Two proofs of address that are no older than 60 days
• Child’s birth certificate or passport 
• Child’s immunization records, with all vaccinations, and a recent flu shot.

How long does the application typically take to complete? 

When all the documents are brought in, “no more than 20 minutes,” Otano said. Families will be notified of acceptance immediately upon review of documents. “They should complete all documents and submit immediately as seats cannot be held,” she added. 

Which organizations were selected and where are they located?

Bronx

Beanstalk Academy
2901 White Plains Road, Bronx, 10467

Brooklyn

Aleph Day Care
975 E 13th Street, Brooklyn, 11230

Bumble Bees R Us
5721 6th Avenue, Brooklyn, 11220

DMI Prep
2720 86th Street, Brooklyn, 11223

First Step NYC
225 Newport Street Brooklyn, 11212

Friends of Crown Heights
1435 Prospect Place, Brooklyn, 11213

Marie Durdin Childcare
2700 Linden Boulevard, Brooklyn, 11208

United Community Centers/Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation
613 New Lots Avenue, Brooklyn, 11207

Wiser Choice Learning
311 Saratoga Avenue, Brooklyn, 11233

Manhattan

Hudson Guild Children’s Center
459 W 26th Street, Manhattan, 10001

RENA Day Care Center
639 Edgecombe Avenue, Manhattan, 10032

Urban Concepts of New York, Round the Clock Nursery
301B W 130th Street, Manhattan, 10027

Victoria Children’s Center
323 Grand Street, Manhattan, 10002

Queens

Sholom Daycare Briarwood
83-78 Daniel Street, Queens, 11435

What will happen when the slots are filled, but demand continues?

The providers and the NYCPS said they will create waiting lists for any future seats that become available.

The post What You Need to Know: NYC’s Free Child Care Pilot for Kids Under 2 appeared first on City Limits.