Eliza has cerebral palsy (GMFCS level V). She is non-ambulant and tube-fed, which means she requires constant, attentive support in her everyday functioning. As Naomi points out, caring for a child with a disability can very easily turn into a series of tasks to be completed. Meanwhile, moments spent in the water can become something far more meaningful than basic daily care - offering the child a sense of comfort, freedom, and true presence.
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The importance of water-based activities
Water creates an environment that naturally supports the child’s body, provides a sense of safety, and allows for freer movement. For children with disabilities, this means the opportunity to experience movement in a gentler, less demanding, and often simply more enjoyable way.
As Naomi emphasizes, time spent in the water can help reduce muscle tone, facilitate movement and position changes, improve breathing comfort, promote relaxation, and build positive movement-related experiences.
A safe space to be together
Stabilo Bath Bagel transforms bathing and water activities into something more than a routine task. It provides stable, secure support while allowing the child to move in a natural and unrestricted way. As Naomi highlights, warm water combined with appropriate support helps the body relax, creates a sense of safety, and allows Eliza to simply be - without tension or constant focus on control.
This is the moment when attention shifts from completing a task to building connection, closeness, and shared time. Thanks to its stable support, Bath Bagel enables Eliza to actively participate in water experiences alongside her family or other children, fostering a sense of belonging and strengthening self-confidence. The child is no longer observing from the sidelines - she becomes part of the shared moment.
Lightweight, easy to transport, and quick-drying, Bath Bagel accompanies the family not only during therapy sessions but also in everyday moments, which often turn out to be the most important ones.
We would like to thank Naomi and AAT GB for sharing their experience and knowledge. In her article, Naomi also refers to current scientific publications on aquatic therapy for children and adolescents with disabilities, further highlighting the importance of water-based activities as a form of support and therapy.
References:
Ogonowska-Słodownik, A., Jakobowicz, O., Alexander, L., Marinho-Buzelli, A. R., Devion, C., & Morgulec-Adamowicz, N. (2024). Aquatic Therapy in Children and Adolescents with Disabilities: A Scoping Review. Children, 11(11), 1404
Xiang, A., Fu, Y., Wang, C. et al. (2024). Aquatic therapy for spastic cerebral palsy: a scoping review. European Journal of Medical Research, 29, 569
If you would like to learn more about Stabilo Bath Bagel or explore whether this solution may be suitable for your therapeutic practice or everyday care, please feel free to contact us.
