Baby Sensory

Every Thursday at Leytonstone United Free Church, four Baby Sensory sessions run back to back, starting at 10:10 and finishing at 13:50. The programme splits by developmental stage: the 10:10–10:50 and 12:10–12:50 slots are for older ages from birth to 13 months, while the 11:10–11:50 and 13:10–13:50 slots are reserved for younger babies from birth to 6 months. Activities are genuinely calibrated to where a baby is developmentally, so each age group works through material matched to their stage.

The classes are led by Sara Marchesi, who has been running Baby Sensory sessions in the Wanstead, South Woodford and Leytonstone area for over 14 years. A session moves through creative play, massage, tummy time, movement and music — all structured around a baby's natural play-rest-play cycle rather than continuous stimulation. Original songs composed by Baby Sensory founder Dr Lin Day, including Say Hello to the Sun and Wave Goodbye, sit alongside traditional rhymes to support early speech and language. Instruments are used, but the programme measures their decibel levels to make sure nothing is too loud for small ears. Every session ends by mimicking the sounds of the womb.

Classes are priced at £63.00 for a half-term block of approximately six weeks — £10.50 per session — and run in term time only. The venue has parking, buggy parking, baby change facilities, and is accessible for buggies. You're welcome to feed or cuddle your baby at any point during the class. All sessions must be booked in advance — there are no drop-ins.