Son with Tubes in His Ears.

Each doctor has a different opinion...and it also depends on the type of tubes they used. Some are a larger diameter and allow water through more easily, others are small enough that there also has to be some pressure to break the surface tension.

I agree that your doctor should have given your instructions on "water precautions". Generally speaking, I would say it isn't necessary for treated water, BUT if he just got them two weeks ago he should be avoiding water in his ears period.

Have fun.

My daughter had tubes in her ears. Her EENT doctor suggested wearing earplugs when swimming.

My son had 2 sets of tubes. Some people will say it's no big deal, but I never wanted to let my son get "pool" water in his ears. As the last responder stated, the tubes allow stuff to come out of the ears, but also stuff to go in.
Just my two cents,
R.

YES...it is very important to cover his ears and prevent water from getting into them. Remember, though the tubes allow fluid to drain, they also allow things inside your child's body which would normally never get there. Best thing we found, that worked like a charm no matter where we went swimming, they have wax balls at the pharmacy (any pharmacy), usually you can only find adult size. The specifically say not to put them in the ears, don't. For a 3 yr old, depending on ear size, break a single ball into 2 or 3 pieces, then flatten the piece over the opening of the ear (so it fills the outer space, without inserting any in, some will enter a little, but don't purposely do that). You should be doing this during baths as well, since that water as all the germs from your child on it and it can get into his ear. These try of wax lasted us almost a year, since one piece was enough for both years and we reused it. Good luck.

Definitely!!! He has to wear ear plugs and possibly a swim cap if you want to really be safe. I have two friends who had their children wear both so I would highly recommend it. He MUST wear the ear plus for sure though. Even in the bath tub from what I hear. You may want to call the doc office for that to make sure.

Most definitely yes! The tubes allow the water to get on the other side of the eardrum. If you don't use ear plugs, you're just asking for an inner ear infection. I'm surprised your ENT didn't tell you this. Ours actually has pediatric earplugs for $10 at the office; it's Doc's brand. And since his surgery was only a couple weeks ago, you dont want to risk getting an infection so soon after; his eardrums have barely healed around the tubes. Since your going tomorrow, I would suggest 1.) stay out of non-chlorinated water. Not sure if this is relavant--Some water parks have both chlorinated and non-chlorinated slides/rides; 2.) at age 3, it's gonna be hard to find plastic ear plugs at Walgeens or CVS that sufficiently fit his ears. I would use the swimmers ear wax instead (that should also be sold at Walgeens/CVS?). Try to spread the wax so that the wax not only plugs the ear opening but some area around it--just to ensure that water doesn't get inthrough any unsealed space; 3.) on Monday morning, call his doctor and tell them you're worried he may have gotten water in his ears; ask them to call in a prescription of antibiotic ear drops. You'll have them on hand at the first sign of a possible infection--or you can even start using them immediately for the next 4-5 days as insurance against a potential infection. Again, since it's so soon after the surgery, I'd play it safe. Besides, you'll want some on hand in case he gets water in his ear from the bathtub...

Our ENT says yes for the first month. Then, no, if not going below 2-3 feet.

Absolutely! Your doc should have gone over this with you. He'll need to have ear plugs when he takes a bath as well. I've found that the moldable orange swim ear plugs are the best at staying in and keeping water out. In a pinch though, our ENT recommended a cotton ball coated with Vaseline.