Tubes in ears and Kali River Rapids

[Stitch'sCousin]

I'm hoping somebody can help me out with this question. My daughter (almost 6) had to get tubes in her ears last year. Now whenever she showers or plays in a pool she must wear ear plugs and a headband to keep the water out. I've read that you get soaked on Kali River Rapids. Should I be bringing the ear plugs/headband with us when we go on the ride? Does anybody else have kids with tubes and what do you do at WDW?

 

[WVParkfan]

Our children do not have tubes, so I can't speak from experience. (Though our son did when he was 2).

But, as far as getting wet on Kali, it is hit or miss. YES, you can get soaked. But there are times when you'll come out without a drop (it's true, I've remained completely dry at least 4 times on Kali).

Best bet is to take the earplugs.

 

[1rockinmamato2]

My son just got tubes a month ago (Thank goodness! He's had so much relief from ear infections since then.)

Our ENT does not require ear plugs IF he's bathing at home with city water or he's swimming in a chlorinated pool. We still dump water over his head at home to rinse his hair and we haven't had a problem.

However, since your ENT does recommend ear plugs and since I'm doubting that the Kali River Rapids is chlorinated water, I would recommend your daughter wear her plugs on the ride. I'd rather be on the safe side than risk some ugly bacteria getting into her ear.

Will the ear plugs fall out if she doesn't have the headband on? If not, maybe you can go with just the ear plugs since she won't be immersing herself in water, like in a pool.

HTH!

 

[Stitch'sCousin]

The plugs can come loose which is why we have to use the headband too. I never thought about the water not being chlorinated so I think I'll bring them along to be on the safe side.

 

[LilGMom]

You can get pretty wet on that ride but it isn't like your head is going under the water. My son has tubes and I wouldn't worry about putting the plugs and headband on.

 

[starbox]

DD had tubes and we did not worry about Kali. You can get wet, but it's "caught in a rainstorm" wet and not duck-you-head-under-water wet. I've been totally drenched on Kali and have never had water go in my ears. You can also tell ahead of time when a big soaking is coming, and it would be really easy to just have her put her hands over her ears.

I'd also bet the water is chlorinated.

 

[checkwriter]

Our youngest has had three sets of tubes but the kind of wet you get on Kali is not the kind we ever worried about. I'd compare it to running from the house to the car in a a rainstorm kind of wet, not a dunk your head underwater kind of wet. The splashes are intermittant, not constant, and are over very quickly.

 

[Hannathy]

I don't work there but common sense says the water is chlorinated for heavens sake! Customers are regularly getting soaked with it can you imagine the risk that would be present if it wasn't. I can just see an insurance company saying yeah go ahead and drench kids with parasite infected water we'll write that policy. I wouldn't want to drink it but I'm sure you could swim in it. Actually it probably is drinking water to start with cause I can't imagine them having a separate source of untreated water.

to the OP how long does your DD have to go to such extreme measures with her ears? I never heard of having to do that much that long. Poor kid,That must get old for both of you. Maybe call the ENT nurse and ask their opinion.

 

[pirate&princessmom]

My son is on his 2nd set of tubes and the ENT told us to only worry about bath water and getting the soap in his ears, that is the only time we hear earplugs. But if you are worried, I agree with the others who have responded that it's like a rainstorm or someone splashing you, not dunking your head. You can have your child sit next to you and lean against you to protect one ear and you can put your hand over the other ear when the water is coming. It's mostly your shirt and shorts that get wet, and we have gotten soaked.

 

[2Pirates_1Princess]

The only extra step I would take is to make sure and pack the ear drops in case something does happen. When my DD4 swims frequently even with ear plugs her ears can still drain. Since, I know she will want to swim everyday it is on my list to get a perscription for the ear drops and fill it before we leave. I wouldn't want her to need them and not have them.

 

[SummersMom]

My son has tubes and we didn't worry at all on KRR. Like others said, it's more the getting soaked in rain wet rather than dunking your head underwater wet. Honestly it's more of a water down your back and all over your shorts kind of wet.

 

[Stitch'sCousin]

Thanks for all your replies. I've got to take my DD in for her 6 month checkup in June so I'll ask the Dr. what he thinks based on your feedback.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I went on Kali with three girls that I babysit, all who had many sets of tubes in their ears over many years. Their mom never thought twice about letting them riding the ride. The 12 year old I went with had so many sets of tubes for so many years that she now has two permanent holes in her eardrums, and she now needs surgery to close them. But even so, she still rode Kali with no problems!