These "tubes" are called grommets and they allow the excess gunk that builds up due to colds etc to drain from the ears.  The procedure to have them put in your ears is really simple.  He had an anasthetic to put them in and remove them and came through both procedures with flying colours.  My son had his grommets put in when he was 12 months old and had them removed when he was 3 years old.  They are supposed to fall out by themselves but for some reason they didn’t.  He had the grommets put in due to recurrent chronic ear infections but has not had any problems with his ears since they were removed.  I wouldn’t worry about it it’s a very minor procedure and well worth doing if your child is having ear infections.

Good luck with it

Jane