Once again, Singapore No.2 in Global survey

[childminder]

The difference between and childminder and a maid is like apples and oranges.  A childminder is QUALIFIED in childmining, a maid has hands-on experience of looking after kids - two very different things.  If I was working, I would choose a qualified childminder over a maid.

Each to their own. I'd choose the one with the experience.
 

the childminder will have plenty of experience because that's what they do for a job.  they also have to be vetted by the authorities and their house has to conform to safety standards - safety glass in doors, plug socket covers, cots that conform to safety standards etc before they can be registered to work as one.  They're usually parents themselves and have experience because of that.  There are many more safety aspects to using a childminder than using a maid I think.  You can get good and bad childminders for sure, but at least you've got some background on them before you start using them.

I'd go for the childminder.

[No, lah]

A childminder does NOT need to be qualified. A nanny does.

A childminder is looking your children in their own home together with (possibly) other children, including their own.

You can baby-proof your own home.

And then if you get a sensible maid who has her own kids, has maybe a teaching/nursing qualifiation, why is that necessarily worse?

[Yes]

that's correct.  A childminder in the UK does not have to be qualified - don't even have to have O levels.  They're usually SAHM wanting to make extra bucks.  They have to do the household chores just the way a maid would have to except that they get to do everything their way, not your way. 

If you get a maid who has experience in bringing up her own children and then is sensible and coached in the way you would like your children looked after then i'd say that option is much better.  It's so economically viable you can afford to have a part time maid come and do the weekly / bi-weekly jobs so the maid can concentrate on the children.