Need a mask or face covering for 2 year old for Boots appointment this afternoon

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Any genius ideas? None of my masks fit at all and she's quite distressed when I try other things

It's for a chicken pox vaccination at Boots this afternoon. The email confirming appointment said children require face coverings and this was confirmed on phone when I called to check something else

Do you have a scarf that you can put over her the bottom half of her face like they did in those old cowboy films?

Have you got a snood for running, skiing etc?

I give a lot of young children vaccinations and we never require them to have face coverings. If she gets stressed with her face being covered coupled with having a needle put in her arm that’s not a very happy time for her! Sorry, that’s not very helpful ....

I think that’s dreadful

Did you clarify under five?

I thought under 3s weren’t supposed to wear face coverings?

Sarong used like a scarf but pulled up over the mouth and nose?

I thought children under 3 were exempt from face coverings in the UK? I wonder if whoever you spoke to got the wrong end of the stick. I think a very thin scarf or large muslin - and minimise the time you are in there (which I’m sure you will!)

That trick you can do with a sock?

I thought the official advice was very much against masks for under-threes, as they're considered unsafe?

I wouldn’t put a face covering on a toddler, it’s not safe or advised and a vaccination is distressing enough. If they insist I’d cancel.

A time that age a child shouldn’t be wearing a mask. I would

I did, and they said she did - but! I've found a proper FP2 face mask which I can wrap round her head sort of and although massive she finds it really funny and prefers it to scarf type things. I think it will be fine, although I mostly expect the pharmacist when we get there to say it doesn't really apply due to age

She's had a few medical procedures already and we just practice them before and she's been so brave, she knows she's having snacks afterwards so think it will be ok

We wanted the vaccination done now to reduce the risk of catching chicken pox before an upcoming hospital admission etc

I agree it's unlikely it will really be needed but since they insisted it was I wanted to be prepared in case. There's masses of space around her face and it won't take long so if we really do need to and she finds it funny maybe it's a bonus

Children under the age of 11 are exempt but I guess as it’s private property they might have their own rules?

Just googled and it seems (NHS website) that the its-actually-dangerous cut off point is officially under-twos.

I took my 4yo child to an appointment at boots and they asked him to wear one Of their masks (I hadn’t brought one with me because he is 4!). It was far too big so they let him not wear one.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own#when-you-do-not-need-to-wear-a-face-covering

This guidance says under 3s should not wear masks for health and safety reasons

@FAQs

Children under the age of 11 are exempt but I guess as it’s private property they might have their own rules?

Depends what you are doing at what age the exemption is.

Nothing to advise on the face covering but just so you're aware, given your hospital admission, there is a small risk the vaccine can give the child mild chicken pox.
We had DS done and they were really clear on this risk when we were there, but hadn't said much about it before or in the leaflet. You need to have 2 doses of the vaccine and it can happen up to 6 weeks from each dose.

@maryberryslayers thank you for mentioning this, we were aware but if we hadn't been it would be very useful to know

It's kind of why it's time sensitive as the earliest it could be should be past the point of breakout rash for booster. When we decided to just get it done it was mid March and then of course everything shut so I think Boots have just reopened appointments

I looked into it as well as I'm pregnant (another reason as had family whose first born caught chicken pox just as mother due to give birth) but as I've had it and am immune (also checked via blood test) there shouldn't be any risk

@RedRumTheHorse yep well done Captain Obvious 👍🏼

Ridiculous! Kids shouldn’t be wearing them! Poor thing

There was an 8 or 9 year old wandering round the opticians section without a mask when I went for an eye test at Boot's yesterday. The optometrist suggested I pulled mine down to cover just my mouth because I kept fogging up the different lenses.

I doubt if there'll be a problem when you get there.

I'd phone them back and remind them under 3's aren't supposed to wear them as they are dangerous and book elsewhere if they don't allow it. I wouldn't be putting a mask on a 2 year old.