Won't Keep Ear Plugs In

Before you go to the water park, tell him that while he is there he has to wear his ear plugs. Tell him that if he takes them out, it will be time to go home. Tell him often.
Take him to the water park.
Tell him if he wants to stay he has to wear his ear plugs.
When he takes them out, you go home.
It only takes once.
YMMV
LBC

If you haven't tried this already, get a speedo bathing cap to put on to help hold them in. Maybe he will leave them alone then. It worked with my son.

Then, when you have to wash his hair give him something to hold in his hands and get someone else to talk to him and play with his hands to try and keep them away when you are rinsing his hair.

My son got plugs when he was 9 months old. We never used plugs - ever. The doctor never told us to use them. And we went to the pool and ocean often when he had them. And he never had a problem with it at all. He is now 3 1/2 years old and no longer has them. I think they fell out about 9 mo ago.

2 of my boys have had tubes...we never used ear plugs and were fine. My doctor did tell me the same thing as DanaW. Although, my youngest is uncomfortable in the tub if water gets in his ears b/c of the tubes. So, he plugs his ears with his fingers when I wash his hair.

Our daughter just had tubes for the second time, and we were not told on either occasion that plugs were needed for chlorinated or salinated water. Lake water, yes. But not ocean or pool water.

Here are a few reputable medical sources that recommend that plugs are NOT required after tubes based upon recent studies:
This is the professional organization for ENTs:
http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/Ear-Tubes.cfm

Dr. Greene is a popular pediatrician with a strong internet presence:
http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/Ear-Tubes.cfm

You may infer that needing tubes twice is because she didn't have plugs, but actually, it had nothing to do with that. She had tubes 2/09, and did great until January when the tubes fell out, fluid backed-up, and infections started again. The ENT assured us that some kids are just prone to them no matter what you do.

I'd verify with the ENT and your pediatrician that the plugs are necessary at this point in time.

Here's a site from Pediatric Surgeons in TX who discuss plugs as very controversial with newer studies NOT supporting the use of plugs because of lack of scientific evidence.
http://www.pedisurg.com/PtEducENT/tubes.htm

I'm so sorry for you. My daughter has to have tubes in and tonsils and adnoids removed this summer as soon as she gets out of school. She will be 6 in July, so it'll be much easier for me to "convince" her to protect her ears. I've also thought about a swim cap. I had the same procedure done to me when I was 6 and my mom bought me a couple of swim caps to wear. It also seems like they would offer more protection than just plugs. Not sure where to find them yet, but I need to start looking!!