Tubes in Ears. What to Do for Swimming???

When I was young with tubes, my mom has specail ear plugs made. They were molds of my ears. I also had to wear a swim cap to help keep them in place. Your ENT should be able to recommend something.

I also cannot swim in lakes anymore without ear plugs.

1 mom found this helpful

Just a regular old swim cap worked for me when I was a child and for every child I have ever known who had tubes. I don't know if you can find them in stores anymore but you can certainly find them online.

I haven't read any responses - but my daughter got 2 sets of tubes. One at age 2 and one at age 3 (2nd set of tubes she got her adnoids out as well). She was in swimming lessons. Our ENT said pools were ok. He said pools are ok up to 3 ft deep, oceans and baths are ok but NO lakes. I never used any type of ear plug and she was fine.

My daughter also has tubes in her ears , we had to keep her ears free of water for 2 weeks afrer the surgery , so during bath time/hair washing we put some cotton wool in her ears with some vaseline on it. After that 2 weeks period we were ok to go swimming , but she is not allowed to swim in lakes while the tubes are in her ears , probably something to do with the bacteria in the water , whereas a pool is sterile. So for the next couple of weeks avoid the pool but after that it should be fine , and avoid lake swimming altogether.

I see you have many responses. My son had his ears done at 10 and loves to swim we went with no underwater but if you google ear bands there is a product made out of the material that a wet suit is made out of. It goes around the ears like a head band and works well at keeping splashes out. Used it at the lake and at the pools. I could never use the synethetic ear plugs you don't want to push into that ear either so be very careful. So we used cotton balls with vaseline which makes a natural suction and then put the band over that for the pool. We had a situation that we had use the cotton ball and the vaseline for showers. Good luck and she will do fine.

Just get some earplugs from Target. My son has had tubes since he was under 2yrs old and he loves swimming.

Our 2 year-old daughter has had tubes twice, and the ENT has given the same advice both times.

Swimming in the ocean/chlorinated pools is fine. Lake water should be avoided for 1 year because it is full of bacteria that can reinfect the ears. We've chosen to heed that advice because we don't want a 3rd go around with tubes before age 3.

You can use plugs, but they're not fool proof. I'd err on the side of caution and avoid anything that could make her have to go under anesthesia again, if possible.

For the record, she needed them the second time because they naturally fell out the first time and the fluid trapped was a breeding ground for bacteria/infection.

My son had like Megan special ear plug made at the ENT office that had to be remade(as he had grown after a year.).This is what he was wearing for bath too.For us they told us it is best (although not obligated ) to prevent water in the ear canal until the tubes fall out on their own.Our neighbor son had the same surgery and his tubes fall out after six months,for my son it was two years.(he had the surgery at 3 years old,the neigbor's child was more like five at time of surgery).So, i don't know if age has anything to do with when the tubes will fall out on their own.I like the special made ear plug as it was always the perfect shape as it is a stong plastic plug.We tried cotton balls(cheapest option )and seriously it wasn't neither convenient or proctective enough. They also were not ok with swimming in stream and river for at least six months after surgery(because of possible infection).It was fine in public pool though as long as he had his ear plug on.My son is now five year old and can go swimming wherever he want whenever he want with nothing in his ears anymore.
If your ENT does the special molded plug ,i will invest in it.Ours were like sixty dollars but they did lasted a year. Good luck.
N.

My daughter had this molded plastic stuff that I bought at Wal-Mart. It was like two soft lumps of plastic that I could mold and fit in her ears. It comes in different colors and I see lots of kids at the pool wearing them too. I didn't care for the ear band - it is exactly like it sounds . . . imagine a swim cap with no top, just a big rubber band that goes around the head and covers the ears.

I would get the soft plastic ear plugs and if they don't stay in well, top it off with a swim cap.

Good luck.

I agree with the others here - our Dr told us to keep them 'dry', but that bathtime wasn't an issue. Just not to let her lay down in the tub where she would get a lot of water in them - if they got a bit in while we were washing that was fine. If she went swimming, they also recommend the kind that you 'mold' into their ear. I think they were a silicone one. I think I finally found ours at Walgreens. I had a hard time finding them when I was looking.

My oldest had tubes. Adnoidectomy too. Not a tonsilectomy tho. The doctor ad vised ear plugs. The pharmacy at CVS usually has this stuff that's really pliable and supposed to be air tight. But I would use ear plugs and double up on it with a swim cap.

Don't worry about the doctor's reaction. You're right; he doesn't have kids, and is too busy being a doctor to understand kids' joy at going swimming. It's been too long since that was him. Also, remember the doctor's only a temporary figure. If he's an ear/nose/throat specialist, this is short term to see him. If you went to your general doctor, it's no wonder he gave you a clueless look. It's not his specialty.
Have fun.

My son had tubes put in, and we were told that after the 2 week "dry" period, if he did go swimming & go underwater we should (1) try to avoid dirty lakes, etc and (2) the night he does go underwater (pool, etc) to put the ear drops they gave you in his ears just before bed to be safe....nothing to stress about. Every case is different, however, so I would recommend finding a new ENT with more experience, having them look at your daughter's records and have them make the best decision for her.

My son has ear tubes and his ENT doc told us that we didn't have to worry about water getting into the tubes for normal swimming and bathing. He said that he would have to go at least 6 feet underwater for the pressure to be enough to get inside the tubes (yes, you get water in your ears when you swim, but not deep within the ear where the tubes sit). If it makes you feel more comfortable, you can buy wax ear plugs at Walgreen's that you can just press at the entrance of their ears to block the water. We used them the first couple of times our son went swimming after he got his tubes since we were a little nervous and they didn't seem to bother him too much. However, we stopped using them and he's had his tubes for 2 summers with no problems.

You can go to any cvs, walgreens, riteaid, or any pharmacy by the pharmacy theres a rectangler box with 4 blobs of wax. you split the wax ball in half and rub it to warm it than stick in her ear lobe and form it to the whole so water can't get in one ball should work for both ears. I use to use them when I was smaller I just don't remember the name of them. They are for swimmers. Check that out or maybe theres something better check by the pool stuff even go to a pools tore and inquire but your best bet is a pharmacy or swim section at meijers or walmart. good luck hope she feel better soon the tonsil and adnoid thing will take 10 day before she feels well. I have talk to others after my daighter had hers done and they said the same as i it take exactly 10 days on the tenths day after her tonsil adnoid removal she will return to normal in like mins.

I'm sure you have probably already gotten this answer but just in case here goes. I used regular ear plugs from the drug store. I know Rite Aid carries them because I recently purchased some. They are orange and made of a gummy like material. With my daughter (who had tubes twice) we would break one in half and they fit perfectly. She had to use them every time she got in the bath tub or swam. They are inexpensive and I think you get a dozen or so in one pack. WE would even reuse them a couple of times. I have seen the swim band. It is just like a tight head band that goes all the way around the head. Looks uncomfortable to me but kids may not mind.
You can most likely purchase this at a swim store or maybe even a drug store. Hope I helped.

I did the exact same thing with my son that Megan below describes. Although as an adult he CAN swim without plugs.

I would advise you get your daughter on probiotics and keep her on them. Could prevent ear infections in the future, even after the tube push out.

My son got tubes in his ears at 16mo and is now 2 years old and still in first set of tubes (should come out on their own in the next few months). Our ENT said pools, baths, etc were fine and try to avoid dirty water such as ponds and lakes. When he had his 2 day check-up to ensure placement was good and there was no sign of infection we were told there was no need for earplugs or any other form of "protection." He is doing great and loves bathtime and swimming. Only one minor ear infection since tubes were placed, lasted only a few days and cleared with no meds.

We used the Ear Band-it with Puddy Buddies. It was easy to use and easily purchased at Amazon.com.

First of all for a dr. to say to use "cotton balls" is really weird. It sounds like he doesn't know much about tubes! Did you ask a ENT Specialist? If not just call one near you and they should be able to tell you what to use. Go to Walmart and near the pharmacy they have several "MOLDING PLUGS" that are good for swimmers.All you have to do is wram them up in your hands and put them in the ears and shape it to fit the ear. I would also use a hair cap..................But I would wait for a wk or until her throat and things are heeled before I let her in the water. Because she can get infections really easy. And it is easier to rule out things that way.

Gook Luck and I hope She as ALOT of POPCYCLES and NOT ICE CREAM it can make her cough and build flem.

Hi,
my daughter had tubes too. Hers have fallen out so we are ok to swim, however, when hers were put in, her aftercare papers had a number to call for custom fit ear plugs.they mold her ear and fit her personally. My suggestion is to call other ENT's and ask them if they fit kids for ear plugs. If water gets into the ear it will ruin the tube and cause a major infection in the ear. You should not be dumping water over her hear in a bath either for thesame reason. I live in Michigan here is my ENT's number maybe they can direct you to a place near you where you can get plugs for her. ###-###-####. Best of luck hope I helped!!!

Both my kids have tubes. Our ENT said to protect them for the first week or so, after that - nothing to worry about. They did recommend using the prescribed antibiotic drops after swimming in lake water (but not pool, bath, etc.)

My stepson had 6 sets of tubes total, and we were always told NOT to get any water in his ear. he wore ear plugs every time he took a bath or shower. For the pool, we bought these big orange looking ear plugs, so they could be easily seen if they fell out. BUT we never allowed him to put his head under water at all. We made sure he always kept it above water.

We were told early on that water can damage the tubes, and can sit in the ear and cause the infections. As he kept going through sets, we were told that somehow water was getting in the ears at times, and that would be the cause of so many of his ear infections.

We went to a pediatric ear speicialist.

Whoa!! Is this doc an ENT??! Our ENT had us fit our daughter for ear plugs right after her tube surgery. We use the brand called Doc's Proplugs...and we got them from her doctor's office because they fit her with them. They are also pink and made for underwater swimming...because are you really going to tell her she can't swim underwater??? Her tubes might fall out in 6-8mo...but our daughter has had her second set in for over a year now. Yup, she had to get them twice. I would seriously find another ENT in your area that can fit your child with ear plugs.

Hi Mama-
I know they make wax ear plugs that you can warm up and will stick in your child's ears. My sisters pediatrician was telling her about that. There are silicone ones, too. I have seen some at target, but you may want to call your ped's office and ask the nurse which are the best ones. They may even get you a prescription. Basically, you just want the opening to be blocked. Loads of kids had them when I was younger, and I only every saw them use the wax.
put some in, let it sit, and then try it in the tub our shower. As long as your little ones are careful, they should be fine. You can also wear one of those swim caps that goes over the ears to protect the wax/silicone. It molds to the ears when warm, and your daughter should be just fine. Try the ones at Target- they are $5-$6 for a pack of 3 sets, and they are reusable. =)
-E. M

I have twins and they both had to undergo tubes twice. I'm surprised the doctor/nurses were so clueless especially if they are ENT's because my ENT wanted to sell me the special made ear plugs but I opted not to buy because they were too darn expensive.
Go to Walmart they have pretty much the same thing as the ENT pushes on you. The ones I found were orange and they were quite big for the ears because I think they were made more for the adults than children but I just cut them in half and used in the ears. My girls have to be half fish so I understand what you are talking about. I actually had a discrepency with my ENT because one of them said they really didn't need to have ear plugs unless they were submerging their heads under water and then another one said why chance it? Even if in the bathtub I would make them wear them so I did because I didn't want to chance an infection.......Oh and I think have seen the same ear plugs at Target too but they are like maybe silicone rubbery strechy material-lol. I can't think of how to describe them if you have never seen them before.

my son used a swimming cap....we found a navy blue and he wore that when swimming. it did pretty good on keeping out the water in the ears!!

My son had tubes put in his ears at the beginning of June and he swims like a madman with nothing on his ears. In fact he just went for his check up yesterday and they told me again that he doesn't need to wear anything over his ears when he swims. And his ears looked perfect. I say relax and just let her swim, if she has any discharge just start the antibiotic drops and that should just do it :) Good luck.