Swimmers Ear

[Tea Lady]

Just wondering if it's ok to give bub drops to prevent swimmer's ear. Does anyone know? I have baaaaad memories of sore ears and I'd like to spare bub the experience, at least this season. She's 11 months btw.

[xkwzit]

Hi LuWa
Can't help you with the drops but I'm very interested in the answers. I've taken both girls swimming for over a year now, but never given them any ear drops (and they swim in a heated pool - should be festy :eek: ). I've not (yet) had any trouble with swimmer's ear, but often wonder whether I should be doing something. My mum RELIGIOUSLY gave me ear drops to prevent problems.

Has anyone had swimmer's ear with their kids?

Cheers

[reAllytee]

Oooo good question im looking at starting bubs soon he is almost 10mths & i would never have thought of this !!!!!
I didnt even realise there were drops !

[matty's mum]

I 'm not much help and am a swim teacher myself. It never came up in our courses, but just a few weeks ago a teacher at our local pool was saying to her mums to put them in. She's no holidays and have been meaning to ask her why.

in the coarse I went to they said that most ear infections were caused from not the pool water but when the kids put dirty fingers into there ears trying to get the water out. All those bugs they pick up end up in there ears. Little baby’s cant really put there fingers in there ears, so would have less chance at having infections in there ears I would be guessing though.
I haven’t given they to my boy 24mths today his birthday bugger look at the time it was yesterday, He swims 3,4 or 5 times a week and we haven’t needed them.
I will ask the chemist about there safety for baby’s I think.

Hope someone out there knows.

[aardvark]

I'm a lap swimmer, and I have never had an ear infection in the nearly 22 years (agggh) since I took up lap swimming at age 18.

I usually swim only in indoor heated pools, and I have never used the drops.

Neither of my daughters have had problems, either, and they are regular swimmers.

Now my DH, on the other hand........might get in a pool twice a year, and moans about his ears afterwards. Funny, though, if he goes scuba diving when we go to queensland on holidays (he's a certified diver), we don't hear a peep out of him about his ears.

[Tea Lady]

I have a feeling that it may be something to do with the shape of your ear canals (or whatever bit the water gets stuck in) which may explain why some ppl get infections easily but not others. I'm hoping that babies might have a different shape or something (wishful thinking never hurt anyone!).

[matty's mum]

I have a feeling that it may be something to do with the shape of your ear canals (or whatever bit the water gets stuck in) which may explain why some ppl get infections easily but not others. I'm hoping that babies might have a different shape or something (wishful thinking never hurt anyone!).

Yes I agree, I should have said in my original post I had infected ears are a child, and I cant swim with out putty in my ears as the water goes straight in the I lap swim most day. I think its the shape of my ears, my head positions is good so no reason for the water to enter in .

The ear drops that dry out the ears have an alcohol type thing in them and I do know you cant use them in kids with grommets as my son older son had grommets, his ENT said those drops would BURN his ears. So thinking about that putting them in baby's ears probably isn't a good idea.

[Mamaduke]

Originally posted by aardvark
Now my DH, on the other hand........might get in a pool twice a year, and moans about his ears afterwards.
I am sitting here at the moment nursing a 6ft 5 big baby!!!!
I have been to the chemist to get him 'Aquaear' but he says it's not helping...I have to keep repeating everything because he can't hear...if this is a sign of things to come with old age (deafness) I hope I go first!!!!

[matty's mum]

Is he in pain or is it just his hearing ????

i feel for you

[Mamaduke]

He doesn't have any 'pain' but he says 60% of his hearing has gone (I'd believe it, he is talking soooo loud!!!) and he is off balance.

[matty's mum]

Poor guy. Hopefully he doesn’t get the pain. well for your sake anyway.
gee his ear must be full of water, I hate it.