Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Best swimming earplugs for toddlers?

14 replies

Unsure4589 · 22/05/2025 10:25

DD (almost 3) has got a perforated eardrum. It happened on Sunday after a snap infection (literally a day of her whining but no temp, no other signs). She's been on antibiotics since Monday morning, and doc says it'll be 2-3 weeks healing.

Only problem is we go away with friends to a resort on 1st June! We considered cancelling but would lose ££ unfortunately, and we know it'll be hell to keep her out of the pool totally (her little friend is coming and will be swimming nonstop). So, we've tentatively decided to go nuts on the ear protection. I figure plugs, those plastic covers, and a headband should do the trick.

Can anyone recommend reliable swimming plugs for toddlers?

Also, are we mad to let her swim at all? It's bloody typical this has happened. Our first beach hol since before the pandemic!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Dreichweather · 22/05/2025 10:27

I would seek medical advice before going in the pool.

We used putty buddies and band-it head bands when DD had grommets but water some times got it.

Dreichweather · 22/05/2025 10:28

Are you flying? Have you checked she is OK to fly?

Dreichweather · 22/05/2025 10:29

Just looked at the NHS advice. It says no swimming.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

GoldLash · 22/05/2025 10:33

This

Best swimming earplugs for toddlers?
Unsure4589 · 22/05/2025 10:35

Yep I've seen the NHS advice, but there's a good chance she'll be healed by the time we go away.

I think we'll book a docs appointment and double check before we fly. Doc said she'd be fine to fly as it stands, but the swimming does worry me. I'd rather not go on holiday right now if she can't swim because she LOVES it, and it's really the main thing to do at the resort. It'll also be very hard to explain to her why she can't do it and her friend can. 😕

OP posts:
GoldLash · 22/05/2025 10:42

The best earplugs are the rubber ones thst look a bit like a screw. They stay in the best. I use an adult version. Don’t bother with the putty ones especially as you wouldn’t want a piece to dislodge into her ear

GoldLash · 22/05/2025 10:44

These

Best swimming earplugs for toddlers?
CosyLemur · 22/05/2025 15:07

No! Don't do this at all! I went swimming with a perforated ear drum I used ear plugs and now I have lost the earring in that ear.
I did it as an adult, I knew the risks but didn't want to disappoint my children (we were going on holiday and I'm a single parent).

Words · 22/05/2025 15:14

Please be careful. If she swims and gets water in the ear not only risk of infection but at the least appalling pain.

I had a perforated eardrum in my 20s. It self repaired but ever since the pressure has never properly equalised during descent in a plane. The pain every time is utterly indescribable. Fortunately it goes as soon as plane has landed but during descent it is excruciating. Nothing touches it. Maybe I was unlucky.

Get medical advice.

CosyLemur · 22/05/2025 15:39

Words · 22/05/2025 15:14

Please be careful. If she swims and gets water in the ear not only risk of infection but at the least appalling pain.

I had a perforated eardrum in my 20s. It self repaired but ever since the pressure has never properly equalised during descent in a plane. The pain every time is utterly indescribable. Fortunately it goes as soon as plane has landed but during descent it is excruciating. Nothing touches it. Maybe I was unlucky.

Get medical advice.

I get the same for take off and landing. I know exactly when we start to descend. I also get problems in tunnels when travelling by train. I'm literally in tears trying not to scream.

PurplGirl · 22/05/2025 15:46

The NHS advice is there for a very good reason. My perforated ear drum took 2 months to heal. It’s not a quick fix. I’m surprised your dr says flying was ok tbh, but swimming definitely isn’t. You risk infection in the middle ear, which can lead to huge problems. I got silent infections, which led to a cholosteatoma. I was lucky that surgery restored my hearing but it’s not always the case. we postponed our summer holiday by a year to allow proper recovery. It sucks, but bring deaf sucks more.
Please don’t mess about with ears. When it says infection, we’re not talking a bit of pain/weeping. With the ear drum broken, the long term risks are nasty. You should be very careful with baths/showers too.

PurplGirl · 22/05/2025 15:49

Also, maybe your dr can be a bit more helpful with the fit to fly for your travel insurance. I’m sure you can find a dr who would confirm that she shouldn’t fly with a perforated ear drum - it was the first thing my dr said.

thismummydrinksgin · 22/05/2025 16:00

My child had a band that went across her ears https://amzn.eu/d/4BH7ySS

Dreichweather · 22/05/2025 16:04

Unsure4589 · 22/05/2025 10:35

Yep I've seen the NHS advice, but there's a good chance she'll be healed by the time we go away.

I think we'll book a docs appointment and double check before we fly. Doc said she'd be fine to fly as it stands, but the swimming does worry me. I'd rather not go on holiday right now if she can't swim because she LOVES it, and it's really the main thing to do at the resort. It'll also be very hard to explain to her why she can't do it and her friend can. 😕

Why do you think there is a good chance it will be healed? She is going on holiday 3 weeks after it happened and the NHS website says it takes up to 2 months yo heal. Can you get appointment with a nurse just before you fly to see if it has healed?

New posts on this thread. Refresh page