Childminder or nursery?

[Tryingandhoping2020]

I'll be going back to work part time when my DD is 1, just starting to think about childcare for when the time comes.

For a 1 year old, in your experience did you prefer a childminder or nursery? (I know that childminders are generally cheaper but is it better for her to be with lots of kids her age, or just a few and have more individual care?)

My DD is 15mo and attends both (2days each). CM she started with at 3.5months old and I picked it because of the homely feel and small numbers. Nursery she started at 11months, she’s in a class of 15, but in a large nursery setting.
Equally she loves both, but if I had to pick one I would say then CM.
CM- they go on days out to the park, woodland walks, bake cakes, and it’s more inline with activities we would do day to day and a homely feel. She’s with 2 older children each day (2yo and 3yo), but I feel this has helped her so much and her understanding and development, as she joins in with the older kids activities.
Nursery - all children are her own age and sometimes she does seem a little bored (but I think that’s due to the CM kids being older and more interactive). But they do great things like sensory room, outdoor play (forest school), singing. This has really helped her social skills with large groups, and eating. She has seem to developed little friends with some of the kids too, which is nice to see.

I know this doesn’t help you, as I’m pro both. But she did have months of “more hands on childcare” before being introduced into a larger setting.

With my DD I used a childminder until she was 3 when she moved to a pre school and I’m doing the same with my son. I like the calmer home environment for a younger aged child

For an under 3 I would prefer a good childminder. Toddlers don't need to be with 20 kids their own age, they just need a nice adult to attach to and a couple of friends to play with, and to go out and about to toddler groups and the park.

I think it depends on the child. My DS adores nursery (he started at 11 months) and the childminders we looked at, including one friends highly recommended, just didn't have the activities. Also the temptation of TV must get so much for CMs. However I know there are some truly fabulous ones!