OT - kids, ear tubes and swimming

[mom in 2005]

Do any of you have kids with ear tubes that still go swimming? I have a dd3 who wants to go swimming (splashing in the pool) this summer and we have been leary because of the tubes and water in the ears. We have one of those ear bands and it works in the tub for bathing but do they really prevent water from pools and splashing and maybe submersion? Any other ideas? Or should I just wait until the tubes fall out?

Thanks.
N

 

[2Kds2K9]

DS 14 is on third set of tubes. We were told that pools are okay, but when they take showers and swim in lakes or the ocean, they are to use covers. We've always just used the wax.

Also, you can't go deep in the water, but don't think you'll have that problem.

Good luck,
Leigh

 

[jlstwinmommy]

My 4 year old is on his second set of tubes. We didn't have any luck with the ear plugs you buy in the store (they kept falling out). My ENT gave us a couple sets of ear plugs that come in different sizes. They gave us the size for his ears. They have worked great for swimming in the pool. You may want to check with your ENT.

 

[GoofyG]

My DD is 2 and she swims all the time in the pool. The Dr said not to go deep, but that isn't a problem. My DN also has tubes and she swims without any plugs also.

 

[scouthawkk]

When DS had tubes, we used Mack's earplugs. They are silicone and spread over the outside of the ear canal, not in it. We also use them for loud events (sporting events, fireworks...) because he doesn't like very loud noises. It blocks the sounds enough for him to be comfortable, but he can still hear...

http://www.macksearplugs.com/kids_silicone_earplugs.htm

In fact, he somehow managed to perforate his eardrum a short while back. His doc originally said no swimming for 2 weeks...not good because his summer camp is an aquatics camp, and he is in the pool 3 times a day. When I mentioned these ear plugs, the doc said swimming with the plugs after 48 hours of anitbiotic. We really like them!

 

[WantToGoNow]

My dd4.5 is on her 2nd set of tubes (had them since she was 4 months old). She wears the wax plugs when we remember to take them. She's not interested yet in going under the water so when we forget them, it's not that big of a deal.

 

[Jeanne515]

Earbandit.com - My dd had to use earplugs while swimming and bathing for 3 years. We have our own pool and these things were a life saver. She used their plugs and the headband together and never got one drop of water in her ears. Her ears were so bad (tubes, ruptured eardrum, etc) the ENT said absolutely no swimming at all. But I tried this and the ENT was amazed that her ears stayed dry. We used the plugs only for showering too. Her ears are now healed and this is the first summer without the Earbandit.

 

[Chelley00]

Earbandit.com - She used their plugs and the headband together and never got one drop of water in her ears.

I'm a huge fan of earbandit! My son has tubes and he's never had any problems swimming in pools (he takes swimming twice a week) lakes, taking showers or baths or anything. Their earplugs are the best because they are so squishie you can get them in any little ear shape. We told him that if he took off the headband, it was an automatic get-out of the tub/lake/pool.

You can get them at OneStepAhead.com It may be cheaper.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

We used the Macks ear plugs that a PP mentioned. They worked great. Our ENT told us that if DD was just wading and splashing around, but not putting her head under, that we didn't really have to worry with the plugs. And he said it's a bigger problem with lakes and ponds rather than chlorinated pools. I stopped putting them in for bath after a few months and he was fine with that.

 

[Simonbunch]

My kids, age 12, both had ear tubes 2nd and 3rd sets, and since we have a pool the ENT suggested custom earplugs, they were like $100 not sure what they cost now as that was10 yrs ago. (I think the insurance covered some it it) They are definately worth the money, they still fit now and even though their tubes have fallen out they still wear them. They ech got to pick two colors that they liked to make them (which I think helps make then want to wear them at first) and they fit exacly into their ears and stay in. I high recommend them!

Annette

 

[siobhan1997]

My DD is 14 and just had her fourth set in Feb 08, only for the first two weeks did she use the vaseline on the cotton balls for showers. Has never used any type of plugs in pools. During the summer she is underwater most of it ,as we have a pool in our backyard. We do 4 month check ups with the specialist and never any problems. In fact he has always said don't worry about plugging the ears.

For flying tubes are the best thing as it keeps the tube open and the pressure cannot build up. In fact he told us that many people in the air transportation industry ask for tubes.

 

[CraftyCrissy]

I second the custom-made ear plugs made by an ENT or Audiologist. My daughter (7) is on her 4th set of tubes and we've always used them. She's on swim team and in a pool about 6 days a week. They cost me $100 and insurance didn't cover any of it. The ENT told me its like hearing aid batteries - anything to save a buck! Anyway - talk to your ENT and find out how necessary plugs and what type will be.

 

[sohappy]

Our ENT said that he could go swimming without ear plugs. Weird. We asked, but she said to just keep our normal schedule. This is his 2nd set of tubes. We will probably have to have them removed this summer and new ones inserted (they are starting to fall out, but not totally falling out and building scar tissue around them).

 

[wendylou922]

I will thrid the custom ear plugs. DD had tubes for 22 mths and they were great. She is a major swimmer and never had a problem. They were a little expensive but they worked great and she is still wearing them 3 years later. She no longer likes the way it feels when you go under with out the plugs. Also one other note I always bring her antibotic ear drops with us whenever we go away. That way if she has a problem I use it for a few days and she is ok.

 

[bjscheel]

DD6 has them. We got 2 sets of plugs from the ENT for $5 and a $10 headband. Her best friend has tubes and her ENT said they don't need to worry about it. There are different schools of thought. I sent the plugs to daycare and she has been wearing them. She is not a big swimmer yet anyway and probably has her head above water 99% of the time. Hopefully we never have to do this again.

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

I had tubes for many years when I was a kid, like 20 years ago... But at that time my ENT was making custom ear plugs that were covered under our insurance. They would stick some putty in my ear to get the right mold then we went to pick up my new set a week or so later. They came in lots of different colors too!

Don't mean to hyjack here but DD is on her 4th ear infection in less than 6 months. When she had her 3rd one the Amoxicillian didn't work and we had to step it up a notch, that was only a month ago. Either it never cleared up or she got another one right ontop of it. But the Dr opted not to do antibiotics this time because she thought it was clearing up on it's own. When should we start thinking about tubes?

 

[bear_mom]

Our ENT was under the "you don't have to worry about it" camp. Dd had two sets of ear tubes for 5 years and we never did anything to protect her ears from water and never had a problem from it.

Emily

 

[cruiserkaren]

Our ENT was under the "you don't have to worry about it" camp. Dd had two sets of ear tubes for 5 years and we never did anything to protect her ears from water and never had a problem from it.

Emily

This is what our ENT says too. DD 9 months had tubes put in 2 weeks ago. He said the "no water in ears" was old school thinking. Told us not to give it a second thought. I guess we'll see.

 

[notsosnowwhite]

Been there, done that! We had no problems at all when we used the silicone ear plugs (my sons loved the bright orange kind!). We used the head band ear cover as well as the plugs when we went to large waterparks just to be safe. With my second son I was a little more lax (on many, many things! ) and he has never had a problem swimming without plugs in his ears.

 

[WantToGoNow]

I posted earlier, but I'll add in something. We use the silicone plugs but not because the ENT says to - he never said one way or another. She cries when she gets water in her ears - like it's really hurting - not just "my ear is clogged with water and bothering me" cry. She actually cries that it hurts when we put the plugs in - she just had surgery on her nose Monday and the ENT checked her tubes then and there was no infection so she must just have extra sensitive ears.