My 2yo son has had grommets (ventilation tubes) fitted in both ears due to constant ear infections.
I want to teach him how to swim and was wondering what people with similar experiences have done to keep their ears dry.
I have bought a set of doc's pro plugs for him but they seem to fall out easy - any suggestions?
He loves the water (like all of us on this site 
) but I would like to minimise the chance of him getting another ear infection.
Thanks
Be sure he doesnt go too deep whith the air plug as is could be dangerous, pressure difference couls pop is ear drums.
yeah, i had that, grommetts installed when i was about four, i grew up on scottland island, so not being in the water was not an option, we had special ear plugs that had been molded to the whole ear, but i did keep getting ear infections for years, it sux, like tooth pain, it can be really difficult to cope with, but i cant remember my last one, i guess maybe 10, so maybe those grommetts work, im not sure if the continuing ear infections were related to going under water, or in the water, but yes, i did continue to go into the water, and yes ear infections continued
I had them when I was younger and at school. To go to swimming lessons I used to mould Blu-tack as ear plugs I then used a swimming cap that went down over my ears to stop the Blu-tack from falling out. Never had a problem. If You have proper ear plugs I'd just suggest a swimming cap to go over them.
My daughter still has 1 left. We purchased ear plugs from her specialists practice. She hated them, and sometimes let small amounts of water in, but they let her learn how to swim, and she's now jumping in the deep end with little problems and doing laps.
We bought the neoprene headband which covered them to help keep them in, but I would also recommend wearing a swimming cap to cover all that, then the headband doesn't come off etc.
If water does get in, it can be a weird sensation, I dont think it's painful, just make sure you shake shake to get it out.
I get swimmers ear which can keep me awake at night, gets pretty painful and will get worse if it advances to surfers ear...do not want.
I've tried different ear plugs when surfing and they have all been sh1t, the best thing by far is Blu tak..if you get just the right amount, mould it right and put it in then it's great. Cheap too. I find it goes in better if you reach around the back of your head and pull the opposite ear back, fill in all of the surrounding gaps by moulding with your finger and it works a treat.
Won't use anything else.
Thanks for your advice, much appreciated. I have just bought one if those neoprene headbands( little grommets) but I also like the idea of blue tack and a swimming cap.
It means a lot to me to get him to be able to swim so eventually we can paddle out together... 
My young fella just had his grommets recently, after a couple of years of them being in. You can buy mouldable ear plugs from the chemist, though the majority of them were rubbish that just fell out. The brand that sells the orange/red ones were the pic of the bunch. Then a neoprene headband over the top to try keep them in. They were a pain in the arse with a four year old who had discovered pulling into shoreys on his booger, but got him through his swimming lessons. Best of luck.
Our 2yo had grommets in and adenoids and tonsils out all at the same time - not a happy chappy for a couple of weeks 
We've been using Docs Pro Plugs (http://www.proplugs.com/swimming.shtml) in conjunction with the neoprene headband when swimming.
Just the Pro Plugs when in the shower, wee bit of vaseline to help them stick. Pull up the top of the ear to help them seat.
Boyo aint too stressed by them at all...
