By Beata Ksiezarek, Turtle Tots Louth
Swimming is such a magical bonding experience, but it can sometimes feel a little daunting if your little one regularly suffers from toddler ear infections or has recently had a grommet procedure.
First things first: your doctor or ENT consultant will always be the best person to advise whether swimming is suitable right now, or if it’s better to pause the pool time for a little while.
If your medical professional has given your family the green light to go swimming, but you still need to keep those little ears dry, don’t worry! There are a few fantastic, tried-and-tested gadgets that can make your next family swim or Turtle Tots lesson completely stress-free.
Keeping it Fun and Pressure-Free
If your child is old enough, it’s worth having a gentle chat with them before you arrive at the pool about avoiding putting their head fully underwater for now. At Turtle Tots, we are passionate about a child-led approach. The key is to keep your pool time relaxed, positive, and completely pressure-free—we never want our little turtles to become over-cautious or fearful about water around their faces.
The great news? You can still both enjoy lots of fun water activities! From blowing bubbles and gentle face dips to practicing those essential, life-saving water safety skills, you can do so much while keeping their ears high and dry. Over the years, we’ve welcomed lots of little ones with grommets into our baby and toddler swimming lessons, and they love living life to the fullest in the water!
A Mum’s Perspective: As a mum to a now 6-year-old who had grommets, I’ve tried and tested all the products out there. Some were definitely better than others! Along the way, I found a few absolute keepers. They do take a bit of patience and practice at first, but they are total lifesavers—not just for our swimming lessons, but also for bath time, showers, and the dreaded hair-washing at home!
The Ultimate “Dry Ear” Toolkit for Swimming
If you need a reliable routine to keep pool water out of your child’s ears, here is the ultimate three-layer toolkit that worked wonders for my family.
1. The Foundation: Kids Swimming Earplugs
The first and most important step is a good pair of children’s earplugs. Make sure they are specifically designed for your child’s age, as little ears vary massively in size and shape. Expect a tiny bit of trial and error to find the perfect pair!
The correct fit is everything; earplugs that are too large or long will be uncomfortable and won’t create that essential watertight seal.
- Top Recommendations: The mouldable silicone kids’ earplugs by Putty Buddies or the soft silicone options by Alpine are both fantastic choices for little swimmers.
2. The Secret Weapon: Waterproof Ear Stickers
For extra protection and peace of mind, I love adding waterproof ear stickers over the plugs. They are brilliant for keeping the earplugs securely in place. Plus, they reduce the sensation of water splashing right inside the ear, which is incredibly helpful for children who dislike that feeling.
They can be a little fiddly to apply at first, so give yourself a few attempts! Top tip: If your little one has long hair, tie it back securely first to avoid a sticky situation. After swimming, the stickers should peel off easily, but a splash of baby oil or moisturizer helps shift any leftover adhesive. Brands like Aolso offer great, budget-friendly packs.
3. The Ultimate Seal: A Neoprene Earband
To lock everything together, top it all off with a comfortable neoprene swimming earband, like the ones from Zoggs.
This headband acts as the ultimate anchor, holding both the earplugs and the stickers firmly in place while muffling loud pool echoes. It gives your little one the freedom to splash without you worrying about an earplug floating away!
Ready, Steady, Splash!
Now, using all three layers together might sound like you’re preparing for a deep-sea dive! While this combination is incredibly reliable, we still wouldn’t recommend testing them during deep underwater dives or games like collecting sinking toys from the bottom of the pool. It’s best to avoid submersions completely for now.
However, from my own experience, this clever setup works perfectly for:
- Practicing back floats
- Splashing across the surface
- Accidental splashes from friends
- Gentle face-dipping activities
At first, managing all these extra bits and pieces in the changing rooms can feel like a lot. But we promise, it gets so much easier with practice! Before you know it, you’ll have your little turtle fully geared up and ready to splash in just a couple of minutes.
Have questions about swimming with grommets or want to chat about how our teachers support children with ear sensitivities? Get in touch with your local Turtle Tots office today—we’re always here to help your family love the water safely!
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