Ear plugs: when they earn their keep
Ear plugs have the strongest case of the two, because for some children they are a medical recommendation rather than a preference. They are especially worthwhile for kids who:
Get frequent ear infections. Keeping water out of the ear canal can reduce the moisture that contributes to outer-ear infections, commonly called swimmer's ear.
Have ear tubes. Children with tubes are often advised to keep water out, and a doctor may recommend custom or molded plugs. Our guide to swimming with ear tubes covers this in detail.
Have had ear surgery or a perforated eardrum, where keeping the ear dry matters for healing.
For these children, plugs are a sensible, sometimes essential, tool. For a typical healthy swimmer with no ear issues, however, ear plugs are entirely optional — many kids swim for years without them and are perfectly fine.
Choosing and using ear plugs
If your child will wear ear plugs, a few pointers help:
Use swim-specific plugs. Soft silicone or moldable plugs designed for swimming seal better and are safer than foam plugs meant for noise.
Get the fit right. Plugs that are too big or small won't seal or could be uncomfortable; some families get custom-molded plugs from an audiologist for kids with tubes.
Still dry the ears afterward. Plugs reduce but don't eliminate moisture. Tilt the head to drain water and dry the outer ear after swimming. See our full guide to swimming and ear infections.
Ask the doctor for medical cases. If your child has tubes or recurrent infections, let your pediatrician guide the choice.
Nose clips: comfort versus skill
Nose clips pinch the nostrils shut to keep water out of the nose. Their value is more about comfort than health. They can genuinely help a child who:
Hates water going up the nose, a sensation that makes some kids avoid submerging at all.
Is learning backstroke or somersaults, where water is pushed up the nose and a clip can prevent that stinging rush.
Does synchronized swimming or lots of inverted work, where nose clips are standard.
For a hesitant child, a nose clip can be the small change that gets them comfortable putting their face in the water — a real win. But there is a trade-off worth understanding.
The breath-control trade-off
Here is the catch with nose clips: learning to exhale through the nose underwater is a foundational swimming skill. Blowing bubbles out of the nose keeps water from going up it and is how swimmers manage breathing on every stroke. A child who always wears a nose clip may never learn this, becoming dependent on the device. Our guide to blowing bubbles and breath control explains why this skill matters so much.
The smart approach is to use a nose clip as a bridge, not a crutch. If it helps a nervous child get comfortable, great — but keep teaching them to blow air out through the nose, and gradually phase the clip out for general swimming. Reserve it for backstroke or inverted work where even skilled swimmers use one.
The water-safety angle
This is the heart of the matter. Swim gear should never come between a child and the ability to save themselves. In a real emergency — an accidental fall into a pool or lake — there will be no nose clip, no ear plugs, no goggles. A child needs to be able to hold their breath, open their eyes if needed, submerge, and perform basic survival skills with nothing on. Gear that makes practice more pleasant is fine; gear that a child cannot function without is a hidden risk.
So whatever equipment your child uses, make sure they also practice without it regularly. A child should be able to put their face in the water, blow bubbles, and float bare-faced. The same logic applies to goggles, which are wonderful for comfort but should never be the only way a child will put their head under.
Putting it together
For most families, the practical guidance is simple. Use ear plugs if your child has ear tubes, frequent infections, or a doctor's recommendation; otherwise they are optional. Use nose clips to help a nervous child get comfortable or for backstroke, but keep teaching nose-breathing and don't let the clip become permanent. And no matter what, make sure your child can submerge, hold their breath, and do survival skills with no gear at all. Equipment is there to make swimming more comfortable — the skills underneath are what keep your child safe.
The bottom line for parents
Nose clips and ear plugs are neither magic nor menace. Ear plugs are a real help — sometimes a medical necessity — for kids with ear issues, and a comfort option for everyone else. Nose clips can ease a child into the water and are standard for certain strokes, but should not replace learning to breathe out through the nose. The guiding principle is dependence: use gear to support comfort and health, but ensure your child is always capable in the water without it. That balance gives you the best of both — happy swimmers who are also safe ones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should kids wear ear plugs to swim?
Ear plugs are most useful for children prone to ear infections, who have ear tubes, or who have had ear surgery, and are often doctor-recommended in those cases. For a typical healthy swimmer, they are optional. Choose swim-specific plugs, ensure a proper fit, and ask your pediatrician if your child has ear concerns.
Do nose clips help children learn to swim?
Nose clips can help children who struggle with water up the nose, especially during backstroke or somersaults, and can reduce discomfort that makes some kids avoid submerging. But learning to breathe out through the nose underwater is important, so clips should support practice, not replace teaching breath control.
Can ear plugs and nose clips affect water safety skills?
They can, if a child becomes dependent on them. A real emergency will not include gear, so children still need to be comfortable submerging, holding their breath, and blowing bubbles without any equipment. Use plugs and clips as comfort or medical aids, and practice without them too.
Are ear plugs necessary for swimmer's ear?
They can help reduce the moisture that contributes to swimmer's ear but are not a guaranteed cure. Drying the ears thoroughly, tilting the head to drain water, and following a doctor's advice also matter. For frequent infections, ask your pediatrician about custom or molded plugs.