Childminder or nursery
I’ve noticed that most people in the UK talk about nurseries and how expensive they are, but hardly anyone mentions childminders. From what I understand, childminders are often more affordable, more flexible (for example, if you need to pick up your child a bit later), and they provide a more home-like environment.
They also usually involve a single main caregiver, which I feel can be really positive for attachment, especially for younger children.
So why don’t more people use childminders? Is there any stigma around them in the UK?
I’m asking because my baby goes to a childminder and I’m starting to worry—are they seen as a worse option? Personally, I see some downsides to nurseries too: they tend to be more expensive, and because there are many more children (often of different ages) in the same space, I feel like that can lead to a higher risk of illnesses spreading.
So I’m curious why nurseries seem to be the more popular choice.