Community Sauna Baths Mama Swim sessions

London’s Community Sauna Baths is addressing the childcare barrier for parents through dedicated sessions at its Hackney Wick and Camberwell sites. At Hackney Wick, the Mama Swim sessions utilize a crèche-style babysitting exchange, allowing mothers to rotate between the sauna and cold plunge while their children are supervised by other participants. This communal approach to childcare ensures that mothers can access the facilities without the need for external childcare arrangements.

The Camberwell site hosts Mothers Recharge, a weekly Thursday morning session founded by Harieth Sedrick-Ugo. These sessions are scheduled during school hours to accommodate parents of older children, while a newly installed yurt provides a warm, dry space for newborns to facilitate shared childcare on-site. To further improve accessibility, the sessions are subsidised and designed as unstructured time for nervous system recovery and communal support.

The initiative has grown into a diverse community of around 20 regular attendees, with some traveling from outside London to participate. Beyond the physical benefits of the heat and cold, the sessions have fostered a support network where participants exchange childcare and advice through shared groups. Due to the success of the weekday program, organizers are currently discussing the introduction of monthly Sunday sessions starting in April 2026 to accommodate working mothers who cannot attend during the week.