Adjusting Sleep for Playgroups & Scheduled Activities for Infants and Toddlers: Part I

By Robynn Yip, Certified Gentle Sleep Coach®

As a Hong Kong-based mother, I come face-to-face with the challenges of this parenting ecosystem that relies heavily on domestic helpers and often neglect the needs of working mothers, who may not have a choice but to sleep-train, wean from breastfeeding sooner than they prefer. We often get bombarded with marketing information that have their own agenda, and may not know that there are many viewpoints surrounding baby care and child care. Hence, I share all of this with love, and with the expectation that this may not resonate with every parent, nor does it have to. We all simply have to do what works for us. With that said, I would love to bring up a type of question that I get asked way too often:

"Our 10 month old is starting playgroup soon, but it directly clashes with her current nap schedule. What should we do, and how should we adjust her nap schedule?"

My quick and short answer is this: Adjust the day around sleep, not the other way around.

However, in a city like the one we are in, I understand how that can be hard. But let me explain.

When a 10 month old’s playgroup schedule clashes with nap time, the gentlest and most sustainable approach is usually to protect the nap first and adjust the activity around sleep, rather than the other way around. At this age, most babies still need two naps, and sleep is essential for brain development, physical growth, emotional regulation, mood, and overall immunity and health.

Playgroup offers valuable social exposure, sensory play, and connection, but a tired baby is often less able to enjoy or benefit from the experience. When nap time is consistently pushed aside, many families notice the effects later in the day: shorter naps, increased fussiness, more crying, earlier waking, tons of nightwakings, or a harder bedtime. These are common signs that they need to nap more, not less.

If possible, try to adjust the activity timing around the naps. In the case of infants, a shift in nap timing by 10 to 15 minutes, or an accidental 5 minute car nap, can already make the world of a difference for them, for better or for worse. I would love to say that before playgroup, protecting the nap is non-negotiable, to reap all the benefits that sleep can bring for brain and physical development. If you see that overnight sleep is starting unravel upon starting playgroup, you may need to reassess whether or not the playgroup is suitable at this time. In rare occasions when the night's sleep is not affected, then that would be your best sign that your baby might have lower nap needs than average, or wider wake windows than average. However, more sleep during infancy is always better than less.

During infancy and toddlerhood, an important note to keep in mind is this: Sleep is not separate from learning and development; it is a core part of it.