Baby Sensory

Every Wednesday, Dell Lane Scout & Guide Hall in Stoneleigh hosts Baby Sensory — a programme developed by Dr Lin Day (PhD, M.Phil, FETC, PGCE) for ages from birth to 13 months through to 13 months. Cindy Smallwood runs the Baby Sensory Epsom franchise and leads the Stoneleigh classes herself, as well as sessions in Epsom on Mondays and Cobham on Thursdays.

Each session follows a baby's natural play-rest-play cycle, so the pace shifts and breathes rather than building relentlessly. Activities draw on 40 core lesson plans plus 28 seasonal and special-event plans, which means the content rotates across a term. A session typically moves through tummy time, sensory signing, massage, movement, textured objects, and a mix of original and traditional songs — the original music was composed by Dr Lin Day and includes pieces such as 'Say Hello to the Sun' and 'Wave Goodbye'. Every session closes with sounds that mimic the womb, settling babies gently at the end. Past Stoneleigh summer terms have included themed weeks — Summer Carnival, Rainforest, Celebrating India Day, and Water Week — each threaded through the same structured session format.

The programme divides into two developmental stages: birth to six months, and seven to thirteen months. For very new babies, the Hello Baby add-on covers newborns aged 0–3 months more specifically, with sessions on reading behavioural cues, understanding different cries, and gentle touch techniques including baby massage and reflexology. Activities across the programme are adapted so that babies with physical or sensory impairments can fully participate. The instruments used are measured for decibel level, and the sensory display area is set up at the distance a young baby can actually focus on — considered details that reflect the programme's developmental grounding. You are welcome to feed or cuddle your baby at any point during a session.