ear tubes and ear plugs for bathing/showering???

[mtemm]

my DS8 is scheduled to get tubes in his ears next week. we've never been thru this, so trying get my ducks in a row. the dr said we would need to get ear plugs for bathing/showering, but I forgot to ask where I would get these.

has anybody needed these? where did you find them? any encouraging words about tubes would be helpful as well. he doesn't get infections, but has had a lot of fluid in his ears that just will not go anywhere and has been going on for quite a while at this point.

thanks!

 

[pooh17]

My DS had tubes at that age. His ENT gave him a set of plugs fitted for his ears.

 

[tiggger1]

we have the putty buddies.. http://www.earbandit.com/go2/puttybuddies.cfm

but honestly we only used them for the first week or so for the bath or the pool. My son would not keep them in and since I wash his hair, i was just careful.. he was also given some drops that we used if I knew he got water in his ears..I just use them after I give him a bath, if needed...he has had the same tubes for 2 1/2 years and no problems!

 

[ccgirl]

I got the ones fitted to my DD's ears at the ENT. I actually got two sets. Although they were more expensive than the puddy ones I didn't have to worry about moulding them each time and found that the puddy ones just didn't provide adequate coverage for my DD.

Edited to add, for the custom ones they are good for a very long time. You will not need to purchase new ones unless you lose them. They are not disposable and are already moulded for your child.

 

[golfgal]

We just used Silly Putty and our ENT basically said that unless they are laying with their head in dirty bathwater for an extended period of time they don't really need them at all. He said the only time we really should use them is if she went swimming in a lake or river. This is from the head of the ENT dept at the U of MN that wrote most of the books used for ENT studies in medical schools so we were comfortable with his information.

 

[2binak]

You can get silicone ear plugs at any drug store or larger store like Target & WalMart. We've used them with our 2 yr old DD for the last year & 1/2, since she had her tubes put in and never had any problems with them. They're nice because you can cut them to fit your child's ear & toss them out when then get dirty.

We use these:
http://www.amazon.com/Macks-Pillow-Soft-Silicone-Earplugs/dp/B0034CBRMG

 

[bonoriffic]

The ENT gave us our ear plugs at the first checkup after the surgery a day or two later. We also got a head band to hold the plugs in place, called the ear band-it. They have them at amazon, but also most audiologist offices will have them. (A destination you may be sent to have hearing checked after the tubes are placed)

My son was under a year old when he had tubes, so the use of ear plugs was a bit more critical than older kids. Older kids can tell if they have water in their ear and take steps to remove/prevent it so you may not need them for everyday events like showering.

As to tubes in general, they are great. My son went from a constant 6 month infection to none. His tubes are now out 2 years later, but still inside the ear, and he already has fluid buildup. Hopefully we won't have to do tubes a second time.

 

[BalooTheBear]

We used cotton balls with a Vaseline coating, recommended by the ENT. This worked great for bathing and swimming....