Can You Swim with an Ear Infection? A Guide to Ear Infections, Swimming, and Swim Lessons

Childhood is full of bumps, bruises, and sniffles. Managing earaches and ear infections can also be a common task when parenting young children. We’re here to answer your questions about ear infections and how they impact swim lessons, including:

• What are the different types of ear infections?
• Can you swim with an ear infection?
• How long should you avoid swimming after an ear infection?
  

Learn about ear infections and how having an ear infection might impact your child’s swimming, including swim lessons at Big Blue.

Types of Ear Infections

There are two main types of ear infections that affect children: middle ear and outer ear infections. They are caused by different things and are generally treated in different ways.

Middle Ear Infection

One type of ear infection, called acute otitis media, occurs when the middle ear (the area behind the eardrum) becomes inflamed, trapping fluid and leading to an infection. It can develop after a bout with a common cold or flu, or as a result of some bacteria, but it is not caused by water being trapped in the middle ear.

A middle ear infection is a common childhood ailment. A child’s eustachian tube, which runs from the middle ear to the throat, can become blocked more easily than an adult’s because it is shorter and more horizontal during childhood.

Symptom onset of a middle ear infection comes quickly and often includes fever, drainage, and a headache. You may also notice a decrease in appetite. A classic tell for parents is a child tugging on their ear. Other behaviors that could indicate a middle ear infection include increased crying, fussiness, sleep troubles, or being less reactive to sounds.

Many middle ear infections caused by viruses clear up without antibiotics. If symptoms persist for more than 24 hours, a pediatrician can help decide if antibiotics are required.

Outer Ear Infection (Swimmer’s Ear)

When water stays in the outer ear canal for too long, it creates a moist environment that’s ideal for bacterial growth. The bacterial infection that can develop in the outer ear canal is otitis externa, more commonly known as swimmer’s ear. While swimmer’s ear can happen to anyone, children develop it most frequently. The good news for parents is that it is not contagious.

Swimmer’s ear can be extremely painful. Your child may experience pain when pressure is applied to the outer ear or when the ear is tugged. They may also complain of itchiness inside the ear or drainage, redness, and swelling.

Consult your pediatrician if your child has ear pain or drainage. Antibiotic ear drops are needed to clear up swimmer’s ear.

The Wiggle Test

Does your child have swimmer’s ear or a middle ear infection? If you can wiggle the outer ear without pain or discomfort, your ear condition is probably not swimmer’s ear.

Ear Infection Prevention

Since the two primary types of ear infections have such different causes, prevention looks different, too.

Middle Ear Prevention

Middle ear infections may be a fact of life from time to time, but there are a few things you can do to make them less likely:

• Reduce the risk of illness by teaching your children to wash their hands properly when appropriate.
• Avoid secondhand smoke as much as possible.
• Make sure your child is up to date on vaccinations.

Swimmer’s Ear Prevention

To help prevent swimmer’s ear, dry your child’s ears thoroughly after swimming. You could consider a swim cap or earplugs as well. Have your child tilt their head to each side after swimming to get water out of the ear. Some parents use a hairdryer set to low and held several inches from the ear to help move water through the ear canal.

Check with your pediatrician before using ear-drying drops; they are not recommended for swimmer’s ear.

How Long to Avoid Swimming After an Ear Infection

With a middle ear infection, you may not need to skip the pool entirely. The picture looks a little different with swimmer’s ear, however.

Middle Ear Infection Guidelines

If going underwater causes pain, it is not recommended with acute otitis media, but playing in the water without submerging the ears is ok. If your child is not feeling pain, being in the pool will not worsen a middle ear infection.

If your child is comfortable swimming with a middle ear infection, dry your child’s ears after time in the water so they do not also develop swimmer’s ear. Remember, it’s always good to check with your pediatrician for their recommendations. You can swim with an ear infection while on antibiotics as long as you follow the other guidelines listed.

Swimmer’s Ear Infection Guidelines

If your child has swimmer’s ear, they should not resume swim lessons until the doctor approves their return to the pool, usually after 7–10 days.

Remember that this infection was caused by water getting trapped in the outer ear. Adding more water to the equation is only going to exacerbate the issue. Swim lessons could make the ear infection worse, and letting water flow into your swollen, irritated ear is likely to result in a lot of pain. Nobody likes water fun more than we do, but we agree with the doctor on this one: Let the ears completely dry and heal before returning to the pool.

Tips for Supporting Your Young Swimmer

Swim lessons with an ear infection may not be very enjoyable, but that’s okay. At Big Blue, we prioritize fun and safety, so we make it super easy to let us know and reschedule a missed lesson when your child feels a bit under the weather. The Big Blue app is designed for real life and makes it easy to adjust when things happen.

Offer your support in the following ways:

• Encourage and support good hygiene. This will help reduce the risk of ear infections and keep your kid healthy throughout the changing seasons.
• Keep them home if their ears hurt. Swim lessons will be unpleasant for everyone involved if your little one has an ear infection. There’s no rush to get back into the water before they’re ready.
• Equip your swimmer with the right equipment. If they’re prone to swimmer’s ear, a swimming cap or ear plugs can allow for water fun without the painful infection that follows.
• Stick to clean pools. Since bacteria are involved in the average ear infection, you can be smart by choosing well-maintained pools with high standards for cleanliness.
• Demonstrate grace and understanding. Childhood is no time to push through the pain. Establish a safe space so your children can speak up if they feel any pain and discomfort.

Schedule a Free Trial Lesson at Big Blue

A clean, warm pool with no-pressure rescheduling so your kid never has to worry about swimming with an ear infection? That sounds like Big Blue Swim School! Our state-of-the-art, proprietary filtration system goes the extra mile to keep bacteria out, and our highly trained full-time staff is ready to give your kids the attention they deserve.

Find out for yourself. Schedule a free trial lesson—once their little ears are ready, of course—to discover the Big Blue Difference.