Ear Tubes and Swimming: What Parents in Singapore Should Know

Ear Tubes and Swimming: What Parents in Singapore Should Know Yes, most children with ear tubes (grommets) can swim, and the current evidence suggests that surface swimming in a clean, treated pool carries little risk once the ears have healed. The usual exceptions are the first few weeks after surgery, any time the ear is draining, and deep diving. Your child’s ENT surgeon has the final word, because every ear is different. This guide explains what the research says, what Singapore doctors advise, and how to get your child back in the water with confidence. OyouguAquatics Swimming Lessons With Safety in Mind Oyougu Aquatics offers children's swimming lessons in Singapore, using the SwimSafer 2.0 program and a coach-to-student ratio of 1:6. Explore swimming lessons Key Takeaways A 2026 study summarised by the American Academy of Otolaryngology found that children with tubes who swim in treated pools are not at increased risk of ear drainage. Expect a short break from the water straight after surgery. One Singapore ENT specialist advises strict precautions for 2 to 4 weeks, so ask your surgeon for your child’s exact timing. Do not swim while the ear is draining. Call the ear doctor if drainage lasts more than 7 to 10 days or keeps coming back. Surface swimming is the low-risk activity. Deep diving, and lakes, rivers or the open sea, are where doctors are more cautious. Tell your swim coach about the tubes, so lessons can be planned around your child’s comfort. Table of Contents What ear tubes do, and why swimming worries parents What the research says about swimming with ear tubes What Singapore doctors advise Getting back in the water step by step Bathing, showers and soapy water If your child’s ear is draining How long the tubes stay in Tell your coach, and ask what the lesson involves Swim lessons for children with ear tubes at Oyougu Aquatics Other things parents ask about swimming health FAQ Sources What ear tubes do, and why swimming worries parents Ear tubes are tiny ventilation tubes placed in the eardrum, usually to help children with repeated ear infections or glue ear. SingHealth explains that for glue ear, grommets may be inserted to prevent fluid building up and to restore hearing. The worry is simple. A tube creates a small opening between the ear canal and the middle ear, so parents wonder whether pool water can travel through and cause an infection with discharge (otorrhoea). For years, advice varied a lot between hospitals. A survey of 1,266 board-certified otolaryngologists in the US found that 13% forbade all swimming, 53% recommended earplugs and only 3% allowed unrestricted swimming , which shows how divided doctors have been. That page is not part of our checked sources, so we note it only as background and focus on the newer evidence below. What the research says about swimming with ear tubes The newer evidence is reassuring, and it points in a consistent direction. Treated pools appear to be low risk The March 2026 study found that children with tympanostomy tubes who swim in treated pools are not at increased risk of ear drainage. Exposure to untreated or natural water was linked to significantly higher odds of recurrent otorrhoea. For parents in Singapore, this matters: lessons at public swimming complexes take place in treated pool water. Earplugs make only a small difference A Cochrane review found that earplugs reduced the average number of ear infections a child would have each year from 1.2 to 0.84. A child would need to wear earplugs for almost three years to prevent one infection with ear discharge. The review notes that current expert guidelines recommend against routine water precautions, because the small benefit is outweighed by cost, inconvenience and anxiety. A 2022 systematic review of nine studies covering 1,299 children aged 3 months to 14 years found no statistically significant difference in ear discharge between children who protected their ears and those who did not. It also found none between children exposed to water and those who were not. Its authors conclude that it is not necessary to prohibit swimming. They add that avoiding water may be inconvenient and may even delay a child learning to swim. They still recommend protection during the first month after surgery and when discharge keeps recurring. Guidelines favour an individual approach The 2022 American guideline, as described by the American Academy of Otolaryngology , says water precautions are best kept for select children. The preferred approach is to allow normal water activity first and add precautions only if problems appear. The children it lists as exceptions are: children with recurrent or persistent ear discharge children with immune problems children who feel ear discomfort when swimming children exposed to heavily contaminated water, or who do deep diving What Singapore doctors advise Singapore advice is a little more cautious than the American guidance, which is why your own surgeon matters. SingHealth’s page on paediatric otitis media surgery advises keeping the ears dry after grommet insertion and not aiming shower spray into the ears. It says older children may swim only with good earplugs and without putting the head under water. It also advises avoiding diving or swimming for children below age 6, and seeking medical advice if pus discharges from the ears. Dr Jeeve Kanagalingam, a Singapore ENT specialist, describes a middle path . He advises cotton balls in the ears while bathing and no swimming or diving for 2 to 4 weeks after insertion. After that he permits swimming with the head submerged, but advises against diving deeper than 2 metres, because diving raises water pressure and may push water through a tube more easily. He also suggests drying the ear canals with a hairdryer after swimming and considering a custom-made swimming mould for children with recurrent infections. Put together, here is a fair summary of the range of professional advice: Situation What the sources suggest First weeks after surgery Keep ears dry; one Singapore specialist advises 2 to 4 weeks without swimming or diving Surface swimming in a treated pool, healed ears Generally low risk in the research; some Singapore advice still prefers earplugs Child under 6 SingHealth advises avoiding diving or swimming; ask your surgeon what applies to your child Diving or deep underwater swimming Treated with more caution; one specialist advises staying above 2 metres Lakes, rivers, open sea Linked to more ear drainage in the 2026 study Ear currently draining No swimming until it settles and a doctor has been consulted The differences are normal. They reflect individual children, not a contradiction. Your surgeon knows how the tubes sit, how your child’s ears have behaved, and what is right for their age. Getting back in the water step by step Here is a calm way to plan the return to swimming. Check each step with your child’s ENT surgeon. Ask at the follow-up visit. Ask your surgeon how long to wait, whether earplugs are advised, and whether your child’s age or ear history changes the advice. The American guideline recommends that the ears are examined within 3 months of tube insertion , with regular checks until the tubes come out, so you will have a natural moment to ask. Start with the basics. Water play, splashing and floating at shoulder depth is a gentle first step. Our guide to learning through water play has ideas parents can try. Use earplugs if your surgeon advises them. Well-fitting silicone earplugs are a common choice. The American caregivers guide warns never to use Play-Doh or Silly Putty as an earplug, because these can become trapped in the ear canal and may need surgery to remove ( AAO-HNSF Caregivers Guide ). Keep to the surface at first. Floating, kicking and swimming on the front and back keep the head mostly at the surface. Deep dives can wait until your doctor agrees. Dry the ears afterwards. Tilt the head to let water drain from each ear and pat the outer ear dry. Dr Jeeve also suggests a hairdryer on a low setting to dry the canals. Watch for changes. Notice if your child tugs at an ear, complains of discomfort, or if there is any discharge in the following days. Bathing, showers and soapy water Swimming is only part of the picture. UNC’s paediatric ENT team notes that soapy water can get through the tube openings , so at bath time parents should avoid pouring water directly into the ears or submerging the whole head. The same page says that surface swimming in clean pools does not require earplugs. Rinse shampoo away with a cup held at the forehead, tilting the head back, so that suds run away from the ears. After a swim, a quick rinse in a shower is useful to remove pool chemicals from the skin and hair. Direct the spray away from the ears if your doctor has asked for extra care. If your child’s ear is draining Drainage after swimming does not always mean something serious, but it needs attention. The American caregivers guide advises that children should not swim while there is drainage. During bathing, use silicone earplugs or a small cotton ball coated in petroleum jelly to cover the ear canal opening ( AAO-HNSF Caregivers Guide ). For most drainage with tubes in place, the guideline recommends antibiotic ear drops without oral antibiotics ( AAO-HNSF 2022 guideline ). Drops are prescribed by a doctor, so see your GP, paediatrician or ENT rather than using leftover medicine. When to call the ear doctor The AAO-HNSF advises calling the ear doctor if: the tube cannot be seen or seems blocked your child seems to have hearing loss there are continued infections or pain drainage lasts more than 7 to 10 days without improvement, or happens often wax stops the tube being seen SingHealth adds that pus discharging from the ears should prompt a medical opinion. How long the tubes stay in Parents often ask how long they need to think about this. According to the AAO-HNSF Caregivers Guide , most tubes come out by themselves within 12 to 24 months. If a tube is still there after 2 to 3 years or longer, it can be removed. In rare cases a tube falls out before 6 months, and children who keep getting fluid or frequent infections may need a new one. The guide also notes that about 1 to 2 in every 100 children still have a small hole in the eardrum after the tubes come out. Often it closes on its own, and if not it can be repaired as a day surgery procedure. In practice, this means your child’s swimming routine may be adjusted for a year or two, and then return to normal. Our view on swimming with ear tubes We meet many parents who stopped swimming altogether after their child’s grommet surgery, and who then worry their child is falling behind. We understand the instinct. Our approach is to keep progress gentle and to make sure a child’s ears and comfort lead the way. Every class we run is capped at 6 students, so your child’s coach can notice when a child is uncomfortable, tugging at an ear or hesitant about putting their face in the water. Our lessons follow the national SwimSafer 2.0 curriculum and are developed in-house, taught by full-time coaches certified by NROC and SwimSafer. We do not outsource our classes. The first step is always the same: once your surgeon says your child may return to the water, tell us about the tubes and any advice you were given. We can then plan the lesson around it, building one foundational skill at a time and letting your child set the pace. Water safety is a life skill, and a child with ear tubes needs it as much as any other child. Oyougu Aquatics Tell your coach, and ask what the lesson involves Before the first lesson, let the coach know about the tubes, the date of surgery, any earplug or cap advice from your surgeon, and any past ear discharge. A good coach will use this to plan the lesson, for example by keeping early lessons on the surface and introducing underwater skills gradually when your child is ready. Some parents also ask about lesson length and how much time in the water is right. Our guide on how long a young child should swim for is a helpful starting point, and so is our page on teaching basic breathing techniques , which can be practised in a way that keeps the focus on blowing bubbles rather than submerging. Swim lessons for children with ear tubes at Oyougu Aquatics We teach children’s and toddler swimming lessons at ActiveSG pools in Singapore, including Bishan, Delta, Jalan Besar and Teck Ghee, following the SwimSafer 2.0 curriculum. Classes are capped at 6 students per coach. There are no registration fees or deposits, and group lessons cost S$130 per month. If you would like to see how your child settles in, book a trial lesson for S$32.50 (one-off). You can also see our children’s swimming lessons and toddler swimming lessons pages, or our fees page for small group and private class details. Remember to share any advice from your child’s ENT surgeon when you book. Other things parents ask about swimming health Ear health is one of several health questions that come up as children start lessons. If your child also has sensitive skin, our guide to swimming and eczema covers what Singapore parents can do. For younger swimmers, see our tips on swimming with toddlers . If you are weighing up open water, the outdoor swimming myths and facts article may help, bearing in mind that the 2026 study linked untreated and natural water with more ear drainage. FAQ Can children with ear tubes swim in a pool? Usually yes, once the surgeon says the ears have healed. A 2026 study found no increased risk of ear drainage for children swimming in treated pools. Some Singapore advice still recommends earplugs, particularly for younger children, so ask your surgeon what suits your child. Does my child need earplugs or a swim cap? It depends on your doctor’s advice and your child’s history. Research shows earplugs give only a small reduction in infections, but they may be recommended in the first month after surgery, or if your child has recurrent discharge. If you use them, choose well-fitting silicone plugs and never homemade materials such as modelling clay. Can my child dive or swim underwater with ear tubes? Deep diving is where doctors are most careful, because water pressure rises with depth. One Singapore ENT specialist advises against diving deeper than 2 metres once swimming is allowed. Brief face-in-the-water skills at the surface are different, so ask your surgeon before introducing underwater swimming. What should I do if my child’s ear drains after swimming? Stop swimming and see a doctor, since drainage with tubes in place is usually treated with prescribed antibiotic ear drops. Call the ear doctor if drainage lasts more than 7 to 10 days or comes back often. Use silicone earplugs or petroleum-jelly-coated cotton at bath time until the ear has settled. How soon after surgery can my child swim? This varies between doctors. One Singapore specialist advises strict precautions for 2 to 4 weeks, and the 2022 systematic review recommends protection during the first month. Follow the timing your surgeon gives you. Sources Study Suggests Children with Ear Tubes May Safely Swim in Treated Pools (AAO-HNS, 2026) Water precautions for prevention of infection in children with ventilation tubes (Cochrane, 2016) Water protection in paediatric patients with ventilation tubes (PubMed, 2022) SingHealth: Ear - Otitis Media (children’s surgeries) SingHealth: Ear Infections (Child) Should water precautions be taken in children with grommets? (entspecialist.sg, 2022) UNC Post-Operative Care Instructions Following Tympanostomy Ear Tubes AAO-HNSF Caregivers Guide to Tympanostomy Tubes (2022) AAO-HNSF Clinical Practice Guideline: Tympanostomy Tubes in Children (2022) Tympanostomy Tubes and Water Exposure: A Practical Approach (survey of otolaryngologists) Recommended Swimming and Eczema in Kids: A Singapore Parent’s Guide The Parent’s Role: Supporting and Encouraging Your Child’s Swimming Lessons in Singapore Swimming Lessons in Singapore: Helping Kids Learn How to Swim How to get my child ready for his first swimming lesson in Singapore?