Are ear plugs absolutely necessary when bathing or splashing in a kiddie pool for a child with ear tubes?

Question

my son just got tubes in his ears ... just in time for the warm weather and pool season - boo! he's 17 months old and absolutely freaks out when we put his ear plugs in for bath time. we're going to the beach for vacation in a couple of months and also have been invited to friend's houses to play in their little kiddie pools. i don't want to traumatize the poor boy with ear plugs, but don't want to deprive him of summer fun either. my friend has a son with ear tubes about the same age and his doctor said he doesn't need to use ear plugs, even at bath time, however my son's doctor said they're a must. any advice?

Answer 1

If not going deeper than 3' underwater pools are fine because they are chemically treated.  Lakes/ponds host bacteria and from what I've read you're better off safe than sorry.  Soapy water actually has a lower viscosity and can make it through the tube with very little pressure so you may want to protect his/her ears in the bath too.

I'm not a doctor, but my little one is getting tubes and I've been doing a LOT of research.  This is what I plan to follow.