Thanks and routine advice needed!

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Just wanted to say thanks for the advice about my nannying job, I am loving being back and my DD seems more settled too, just had 'back-to-work-itis' I think!

Just wondering if could have a bit of advice really with regard to routines etc -

Before Christmas we were going to MAD academy music class on a Monday, leaving about 10.20, which was okish but I did have to wake them up to leave... but again on a wed/thursday we go to groups and were having to wake them up to go - The little one I look after is 1 (next week) and my DD is 7 1/2 months - My DD gets up anywhere between 6.30 and 7.30 - has her milk and we leave home at 7.45, get to work and their little one sometimes will have been up, had her milk (not usually breakfast) and be back in bed, or may not even be up - really varies. If she is up I give them both breakfast and try and get them to bed by 9/9.30ish to get an hours sleep in before we go out, but is their little one is still in bed etc then she misses her morning sleep and is really grumpy!

I am just looking at other classes etc to do on a Monday and have a choice of one that starts at 10 (having to leave about 9.30) or one at 1.15 (so leaving after lunch - again sort of nap time, but would be easier to drag out i think) - part of me is saying to go for the morning though to try and sort out the nap problem as will be starting a new group on a tuesday, where will be leaving at about 9.30 I think and the other groups I tend to go to late as wait until they wake up (or dont go if they have gone to sleep late) - I really enjoy (and need) to get out each day and it is great for them - I think I am just asking for advice onhow to deal with the missing of morning naps, - I can get round it by getting my DD up earlier, so get their and she has breakfast and nap, but as a nanny i dont think i can really ask that they get their dd up as they are getting ready for work etc... saying that I think their little one will be able to drop her morning nap soon (at least some days) - so should i bite the bullet and just go to this new class on a Monday morning?

sorry is so so long and rambling... just wondered what childminders do about groups etc when they look after little ones who nap oin the morning (why couldnt i have just said that!?) sorry

As I childminder I can't commit to any groups that require termly fees. Most of those here are restricted to certain age groups anyway. So as well as thinking about nap times, meal times and school runs I also need to consider that at any time in the future I may be caring for different age children or have changes in drop off/collection times.

I try to keep as close to children's routines as home as I can. Its challenging, as routines and parental wishes can vary tremendously! And it has meant at times we've spent most of the day indoors, where naps have not overlapped and they've all been asleep at different times. There are times when I can't avoid disrupting a nap - I can't miss a school run or a preschool run of course! But I hate waking children, so avoid it when I can.

I make more use of places I can turn up when it suits me - parks, farms, libraries, soft play, museums etc and I arrange meet ups with other childminders from time to time. If I can't fit anything else in, we'll just go on a local walk (I mean a fun walk, not the school run!)

I do go to session groups like toddler groups, when I can fit it in, but I make clear to parents that I have to strike a balance between the needs of all the children in my care and this means I can't guarantee to make any particular group every week.