How to do anything around baby's schedule

[AlwaysPurple]

I am struggling to see how I can anything in the day to fit around baby's nap. Baby is 8 months and typically wakes around 7am, with wake windows around 3 - 3.30 hours, so is ready for sleep around 10/10.30, will sleep for an hour or so, then is ready to nap again around 2.30/3pm ish, then bed around 7.15pm.

My struggle is that activities and groups don't really fit in. Her nap times typically coincide with most baby/toddler groups. She will sleep in her cot or in the pram if we're moving like on a walk, but otherwise she won't sleep. If I go to a play group or class from 10-11, she's then late for sleep, and then isn't ready for sleep at 7pm. Afternoon groups tend to be 2-3ish, again her ideal nap time. Do I skip naps and take her to things? I'm not obsessed about going to lots of groups, but I can't spend all day every day just at home waiting for her to go to sleep/wake up, and it's good for her to be exposed to different environments and start to meet other people, and I need to get out for my sanity!

How did you work this? Do I have to accept we're at an awkward stage and once she drops to one lunchtime nap it will work better to go to things?she is my only child so don't have to worry about others at the moment!

She doesn’t necessarily need groups at her age. And when she’s older and will get more out of them she’ll be on 1 nap and it’ll be easier to coordinate. But if it’s about you getting out of the house could you not put her down at 9 in the pram, walk the long way to the group/activity and then at 10 when it starts she’ll be done with her nap? Then bring the lunchtime nap forward a bit if she’s getting tired. I wouldn’t skip naps at this age as I’d fear the repercussions but a little flexibility should be doable. Also, do you have a Rockit and a snoozeshade for the pram? They’re great at keeping baby asleep so you can get out and have a catch up with a friend e.g. lunch or coffee and not be held hostage in the house by naps! And… finally, have you looked at baby swimming? The classes are usually only 30 minutes with a more varied of choice of times than your typical playgroup so it might be easier to slot that into your day.

currently still on a two nap schedule with my DS who is 13 months. ever since we've been on a two nap schedule we don't go to groups as they are all the wrong time. but we've alwaaaays still got out. about 8/9/10 months we'd go out for lunch, or go see the animals in the pet shop, or meet a friend for lunch, or just go out and do errands. now he's fully walking and can climb a bit so soft play is more fun, and we've started play cafes too although sometimes he's more into it than other times. once he's on one nap we might look to see what classes are about as like you say they are morning or afternoon.

I never skipped naps and we always had cot naps from a young age maybe like 4 months as he sleeps best there, so I get it. but with 3-3.5hrs awake time to play with there are defo things you can still get out and do, it doesn't have to be classes.