Hydrotherapy is a branch of physical therapy that uses water to treat various conditions. There are many methods and forms of performing water procedures. Water affects all systems and organs, and its impact varies depending on the method of application and its physical state. Hydrotherapy in babies is a therapeutic practice in which newborns and infants are immersed in water to support their physical and mental development.
Aim: To study the awareness and attitudes of mothers regarding the application of hydrotherapy methods in babies.
Materials and Methods: This study included 108 mothers with babies aged 0 to 12 months. A survey method was applied using a Google Form.
Results and Discussion: The results indicate that nearly half of the respondents are familiar with hydrotherapy methods for babies (44.9%), and more than a quarter have used the therapeutic properties of water. A positive finding is that 56.4% would consider using a hydrotherapy method after receiving additional information. The highest percentage of respondents believe that the appropriate age for applying hydrotherapy is between 4 and 6 months, once a week. The main factors influencing the non-use of hydrotherapy methods are unfamiliarity with the method and fear of side effects. More than half of the respondents (70.4%) would trust a midwife in applying hydrotherapy methods for babies.
Conclusion: Hydrotherapy is an effective and innovative method that stimulates a baby's development by influencing muscle tone, improving range of motion, and enhancing neuropsychological development. Respondents show a willingness to apply hydrotherapy methods after being informed about the benefits and forms of water therapy for babies. A high proportion of mothers identified the midwife as the key specialist in implementing hydrotherapy for babies.
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