Form 2441 is asking how many months the TP and spouse were either disabled or full time student. Both were full time students for the full year so 12 months for both questions but it will not accept this answer

[AndreaG]

In order to claim the credit, both spouses have to have earned income. According to page 4 of Pub 503 under the heading, "rule for student spouse or spouse not able to care for self", it says, "your spouse is treated as having earned income for any month that he or she is: a full time student....if you are filing a joint return, this rule also applies to you. You can be treated as having earned income for any month you are a full time student....This rule applies to only one spouse for any one month. If in the same month, both you and your spouse dont work and are full time students....only one of you can be treated as having earned income in that month." https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p503.pdf