Can Children Swim with Grommets? A Mum's Honest Take

My daughter has had six sets of grommets.

Six.

If you're standing in a chemist right now trying to work out whether swimming lessons are off the table, I want you to know: they're not.

One of the first questions I asked our ENT after her very first surgery was, "Can she still go swimming?"

I remember bracing for bad news.

Instead, I got a shrug and a reassuring, "Most kids are fine, just keep an eye on it."

And honestly, that's still the best answer I've heard.

The short answer? Usually yes. Many children with grommets can swim safely, but every child is different, and it's important to follow your ENT's advice.

At the time, though, it didn't feel like enough. When you're a nervous parent googling at 11pm, you want certainty.

What I've learned after years of navigating grommets, surgeries and ear infections is that there usually isn't a one-size-fits-all answer.

What I've Learned After Six Sets of Grommets

It's mostly about comfort and risk management, not a hard rule.

Some children swim without a second thought.

My daughter isn't one of them.

She's had more ear infections than I can count, so we've always been a little more cautious. Every child is different, and only your ENT knows the specifics of your child's situation.

Deep diving, lots of time underwater, and heavily used public pools are the situations where I tend to pay more attention. Personally, I'm usually less worried at the beach in clean ocean water.

We use ear protection because it gives us both peace of mind, not because it's a guarantee.

Some families use swim bands. Some use silicone putty. Most combine both. We tried a few different options before finding something that actually stayed put and didn't result in constant complaints five minutes into a swimming lesson.

What Works for Us

• We always follow our ENT's advice.
• We always use ear protection when swimming.
• We avoid deep diving.
• We keep an eye out for any discomfort afterwards.
• Most importantly, we don't let grommets stop her from enjoying the water.

Don't Let Grommets Steal the Joy

Some days managing grommets feels like a lot.

Other days it's just Tuesday.

Six sets of grommets in, and yes, we've missed our fair share of swimming lessons because of ear infections, surgeries and recovery time.

But she's never missed out on loving the water.

And that's the bit that matters most to me.

That's honestly why Audry exists.

After years of trying different solutions, I wanted ear protection that actually stayed on, felt comfortable, and came in designs my daughter would genuinely choose to wear.

Because children with grommets deserve to enjoy the water too.

Explore our collection of swim ear bands designed for little water lovers who don't want ear worries getting in the way of a great day at the pool or beach.