The routine is, we go on holidays, kids are like fish in the pool and the sea....

[HuwEdwards]

...and inevitably after 3 days max. DD1 (almost 6) gets an ear infection. We go to the chemist, they give us some drops (smelling of oil of cloves, but it also numbs the pain), DD1 whinges while we administer, after a couple of days we can't keep her out of the water then it returns and we add drops, whingeing etc. ad infinitum till we come home.

DD2 and us - no problems.

Anyone else's kids get this? And is there anything we can do to prevent it..?

Those ear plug thingies to stop her getting water in?

is it an ear infection or what is called swimmers ear (here in usa)? DD1 gets in , drops from supermarket sort her - I usually suggest she stays out of the water for a day or two but she doesn't always - sorry I don't know of anything preventative

Mrs A, yes, maybe it's that - no discharge, just a bit of redness and obvious pain for. Ah well, maybe it's just something we have to deal with.

it is for us - and we are the same, the children swim alot in summer here, only dd1 gets it - I keep the drops in now so i'll be ready, it clearly is very painful

There are drops you can buy in the chemist and superdrug called swimmers ear. They dry out the trapped water.