Advice please - childminder for an almost 1 year old

[LittleLadysMama]

I'm looking at options for my almost 1 year old who will be with a childminder 3 days a week.
I've met with one who seemed lovely, but had a very small playroom (tiny) and no garden to speak of (although lots of green space close by) and another little one of the same age +3 others OR another who I haven't met yet, but who has sent me photos of a larger playroom and outdoor play space. The other children in this setting are slightly older 3+.

I'm not sure if the space and environment is more important than the company of another little one of the same age?!

I'm feeling very torn so keen to know what others think? TIA!

I think it’s down to the feeling you get from the childminder first, then the care environment. Don’t go too much on the ages of other children they mind because that can change very quickly.
My childminder was amazing (it was a mum and daughter working together)and she used to do normal family things with ds that I’d have done had I not been at work-she used to take him to visit her gran, do food shopping, just everyday stuff. I know that’s the kind of thing a lot of people on MN disapprove of, but I loved it.

In normal times I would say you need to properly visit both (not sure if this will be an option now with covid)- CMs are very much something you just feel is right or wrong for you in your guy in my experience.
Someone friendly, trustworthy, reliable and approachable is more important than set up/ages of other children :)

When I was looking for a childminder I was looking for someone who was experienced and near different green spaces to me. I also wanted one who didn't do loads of school drop offs.

I then found out she would have a maximum of 3 children during the day but mostly 2.

Only once we were in lockdown did I realise that my childminder's garden was bigger than two local nursery gardens. The reason why I wasn't interested in her garden size is because every day before lockdown she was taking the kids out on walks to the green spaces near her plus visiting places baby groups and do food shopping for as long as possible.

I'd suggest meeting the other CM and taking it from there. I was in a similar position with my dd who started when she was 9 months. I only had the choice of two CMs, one with a small house, small garden, 3 other mindees who were aged 3 and she said from the start that she rarely took them out of the house. The second had more mindees of various ages as she had an assistant, had a much bigger house, did lots of playgroups and visited NTs and the shops. On paper the second sounds a lot better but I just much preferred the cm with the smaller house, she seemed very caring and childcare was clearly a vocation for her rather than a job. The 3 year old's all seemed to dote on dd.

The best option will be the one that fits best with your parenting style who you all feel most comfortable with and is most interested I your child does having a smaller house make you a better or worse parent or is it about your attention care and love?