I'm writing this for my friend.
Her daughter is 2 1/2 years old and gets ear infections constantly. She is getting tubes put in her ears tomorrow morning. My friend is unsure about bathing though. She has been practicing giving her daughter shallow baths and trying to avoid getting water in her ears while rinsing her hair. She said that her daughters ears don't get soaked in water, but that a little bit of water does still go in them. She wants to know how other parents whos children have had tubes put in have done baths and what they did about water getting in the ears. She just wants to make sure that nothing goes wrong with the tubes.
My daughter also had tubes in her ears. The doctor told us that water from her bath was fine to get into her ears. She told me that I didn't have to use wax in her ears unless we went swimming in a pond or lake.
My dtr doesn't have tubes, but hates getting water into her ears during bath time. I highly recommend putty buddies soft silicone ear plugs. They do not go in the ear but cover the outside of the ear. They are great.
Hi! my son is nearly 4 and on his 2nd set of tubes. The first time the ENT told us to use Vaseline and cotton balls. Unfortunately our ENT moved out of state shortly before my son had issues the 2nd time. This time we were told as long as the water was 'clean" (meaning not lake, ocean, pools) all should be fine unless he regularly goes under water.....
I was leary since this was the 2nd time he needed tubes - I should also say my son has sensory issues so many things bother him - when giving a bath we simply put our hand around his ears when rinsing his hair (he never dips his head or takes showers). Otherwise we use the vaseline/cotton ball suggestion from the first ENT (however, our new ENT doesn't recommend but my son won't tolerate plugs).
Best of wishes with the tubes - honestly it was harder on us than our son - didn't seem to phase him!
My daughter has tubes and the ENT doctor told us to keep her ears dry for a week after the surgery , so no hair washing and and be really careful when washing her , after the first week it was fine to let some water run in her ears while bathing , after our first follow up appointment we were then given the all clear for swimming (in a pool) but she can not swim in a lake at all while she has tubes (because of the bacteria).
Our doc said the water from a bath is clean water and not like pool water where everyone is dirty going in and the water has so many chemicals in it. We have not a single ear infection since getting them in our 3 year olds ears. He bathes and gets water in his ears every time.
The Dr. should explain this well, but... the point of the tubes is to allow drainage. Without them, if water gets in the ears (which happens, adding to the moisture already there), some kids aren't able to drain the liquid which builds up and creates a mucas/infection. The tube puts a tiny hole in the "wall" that blocks it, allowing it to drain whatever liquid gets in there. Therefore, getting a little water in the ears shouldn't hurt her daughter in the slightest because it should drain right back out.
My son had tubes on his 1st bday and again on his 5th (sometimes the kid grows fast enough that the tubes fall out, but the ear has not developed its own efficient draining ability). The tubes stopped all infections, pneumonia and asthma attacks he had... greatest thing we ever did!
When my daughter had her tubes in as a toddler, we were given rubber ear plugs by the doctor. They worked perfect. Good luck.
Many years ago when my son had tubes we were told not to get water in his ears. We used ear plugs that were made of wax and even silly putty to keep water from getting into his ears.
we were told to avoid getting water in her ears in the bath if we could, but a little wouldnt hurt. she's had her tubes for over 2 years with no problems.
My daughter started having tubes put in at 2.5, she is now 8 and unfortunately, due to her anatomy, she still needs tubes.
Her ENT is specific about bath water (interestingly, pool water is fine). After a bath it is requested that we use a hair dryer on warm to dry her ear canals. If I know that a bunch of water went into her ears, he has me use the antibiotic drops they give you after surgery (floxin, or similar). She has never had a problem with her ears using that routine. Note that it can be quite painful for them to get lots of water in their ears with tubes so it is something she will likely try very hard to avoid herself.
Your friend will receive custom fitted ear plugs that she will insert into her daughter's ears every time she's around water... bath, shampooing, swimming, etc. The ENT physicians are very cautious and don't want to create even a bigger problem.
She should make sure to ask any and all questions she might have of the doctor before and after the procedure.
