To expect toddler groups to not be at lunch time?

[Gigitree]

I’m trying to find some new groups locally for me to take my 1 year old to, but pretty much all of the ones I can find start at 12pm or 1pm
It just seems bonkers to me as the vast majority of toddlers this age seem to be having lunch and the an afternoon nap at this time.
AIBU to expect a toddler group to start in the morning so they can be entertained before lunch?

Uh yeah same here OP. It's annoying for us as my toddler has lunch at 12 then sleeps 12.45 - 1.45 and I'm not keeping her awake for a toddler class as she would be a tired nightmare in the afternoons.

Bit odd. They were always mornings in my area.

That's strange, mine is 10.30 to 12 which is perfect. When my eldest was wee it was 9.30am!

This also perplexes me too - I regularly see things advertised that I’d like for us to attend but they are are prime sleep and nap time!
But perhaps enough toddlers don’t sleep after lunch to make them commercially viable?

That's odd, all in my area are 10-1130

1pm is sort of logical as the afternoon preschool session often starts at 12.30 (so drop preschooler then straight to toddler group.)

maybe you could organise a morning one?

Yes, that's a odd time considering most would be having their nap at that age. I'd think you'd get mostly two to four year olds at that time rather than toddlers, unless some are still on two naps.

A lot of the 1-2year old ones here are the same. It baffles me as the group leaders also have kids. I wish they were better times!

Odd, round my way they are mostly 10-12! I had a couple of friends with babies who had long morning naps who wanted groups at lunch time and could never find anything to go to.

Some are still on 2 naps, what's the target age range?
If its a business it'll sink or swim, if it's volunteers running it they can do as they please really.

I think it is to accommodate parents who pick up an older sibling from school nearby straight after.

My toddler doesn't sleep. Never has, so it doesn't really effect me, though probably stops me meeting mum's with similar aged first babies.

There are a pocket of mums where I live though who all rely heavily on walking pram naps, whos kids basically have an hour or so in the pram whilst they walk at 10.30, then they go out to lunch a lot, then their kids grab another shorter nap when they walk out for school run.

One of these mums is a friend of mine and conceded she was determined to avoid the after lunch nap as she isn't good at getting up and out in the morning, she basically stays in her pjs until her youngest wakes from a nap, and then goes out. So I can imagine there are people doing that type of routine.

I meant to add, we are on one nap now so want a lunchtime group
Until about 16m old we did two naps so actually lunch time was perfect then!

That wouldn't work for a lot of people - I'd take DD1 to school and walk to the group for 9.30am. Done by 12, back 12.30pm, lunch and nap from 1 - 2.30pm when it was time for the school run.

It meant she slotted into morning preschool easily, too, as she was used to following those times. And it meant I actually had time to both do housework and sit on the sofa for half an hour.

I run a toddler group. Only available slot in the village hall is the afternoon as other user groups hire it in the mornings. We mainly get tiny babies and children over 3 or thereabouts who have dropped their naps. It may not suit you now but will be a godsend when your kid drops his nap as afternoons are loooooong when you don't have that break when they sleep and are desperately looking to fill the afternoons (and there's very little else to do with them). Nothing stays the same for long in kidland 😅

We went to several when DC were small, all started 930/10 then home in time for lunch

Mornings are much more sensible. My 2yo has dropped her nap but is often pretty crabby around lunchtime so it wouldn’t even work for us in a non-napping household.

9.30 - 11.30 here. I did use to go to a baby and toddler class which was 12.15 - 1pm. I used to take DCs straight to a cafe after as we had a 40 minute bus ride home. Cost me a fortune.

I run a toddler group at the moment (as a volunteer). I'll tell you, it's impossible to please everyone. We used to run from 1-3, which suited those who had older children to pick up from school. Since covid we've had to move to 10-12, because we need to hire a bigger hall, and some people like the change while others complain. A lot.

Honestly, people are getting a free group with a cup of tea and a biscuit, if they don't find it suits them, they are welcome to set up their own.

Dd3 goes to one at 11-12.15 and it's perfect for her but she doesn't nap.

When DS10 was little they were all in the morning apart from one that was at 12.30 until 2pm. It was a bit of a bugger time wise but he loved it so I always took him.

I always chose groups/classes based on their availability rather than the purpose of the class for this reason. Many had waiting lists for the morning classes but free slots in the afternoon sessions though.

Things do change so quickly though and so what you rule out now might be perfect in a few short months!

I agree with you on this. Quite often people do expect alot. Most don't realise the effort that goes into running these groups and certainly wouldn't dream of/couldn't commit to running one. It's a pretty thankless task at times but it can be vitally important for the carers and kiddies so we keep doing it and trying our best so even if it helps one mum then that's a good day 👍

Maybe it is time to Start your own:)this one obviously caters to kids that still have 2 sleeps?

I'm making a mental note of afternoon groups for when DD drops her nap! Most are in the morning though which suits us now.