Help and advice

To get on and off a bath lift the child slides from the side of the bath back on to the seat and swings their legs over the bath rim (either independently or with assistance). The bath lift then gently lowers the child into the bath and the child stays on the seat to have a bath. After the bath, the lift raises the child back to the top of the bath from where they swing their legs over the bath rim. The child then stands or transfers from this position.

For older children, an adult bath lift may be able to be adapted using a vacuum support cushion on the seat to provide a smaller, more supportive seat. A harness may also be necessary to provide postural support.

When considering bathing equipment, an individual assessment with an occupational therapist may be appropriate. Your child's safety in the bathroom is very important and there may be individual factors that determine which bathing equipment best suits your child's needs. The information on this site is not a substitute for individual assessment.

The equipment listed here may be provided by your local authority, depending on their eligibility criteria. If your child is eligible, the equipment will be provided on a long-term loan basis. Alternatively, you may be eligible for a direct payment from your local authority to purchase something suitable.

To read further information on whether a bath lifts is suitable for your bath, see Rica's checklist of things to look for in a bath lift.