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Original poster

Do you make your child under 11 wear a mask?

114 replies

PickACoolUserName · 13/08/2020 09:06

Or under 5 if you live in Scotland.

We haven't taken the kids anywhere where masks would be required so I haven't really given it much consideration but I've noticed when out grocery shopping that quite a few young children seem to be wearing them.

My understanding is that it's not compulsory for children under 11 (5 in Scotland) so I was curious about how many people are getting their young children to wear them. Also what are your reasons for your choice, and how does your child feel about them?

DS who is 8 has sensory issues and I'm dreading the day when / if he has to wear one. I think DD who is 4 would be fine though.

OP posts:
UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme · 13/08/2020 10:03

LittleBearPad that is reassuring! My elderly mother is of the opinion that she can't wear a mask on the grounds that it's "awful ew" Hmm and that everyone should completely accept her "inability" to wear a mask, and that "lots of people can't wear them", so this also probably skews my perception!

Effy1990 · 13/08/2020 10:05

My just 3yo asks to wear her mask if I'm going shopping so she can be like me (if she comes) when I got them I made sure her mask was in the same pattern as one of mine so we can match which she loves. I have to remind her to not touch it at times but I've also told her that if she wants it off she can usually after a couple of mins she wants it back on again.

reefedsail · 13/08/2020 10:06

My 9yo does in shops, but he's nearly as tall as me and nobody looking at him would ever imagine he was under 11, so it's really for other people's peace of mind. He isn't bothered by it.

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PackagingDisaster · 13/08/2020 10:09

Yep mine wear them. Two are tend anyway but the under 11 happily pops one on. Seen as completely normal now. They have loads of different designs. The teens are now adapting then as a fashion statement and matching their outfits, brands etc :)

mamaoffourdc · 13/08/2020 10:09

I don't make them, they have chosen to wear them.
Even my asd daughter who hated them before and wears a sunflower lanyard wears one now - when I asked my children why they wanted to wear one they said because everyone else is, feel safe and we have really cool masks! 🙄😂😳

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 13/08/2020 10:09

Mine are older than that but if they weren’t I would ensure they had masks. Given the numbers of children in America with the virus I’ve been waiting for our rules to change so that children are expected to wear them from school age.

Woolly17 · 13/08/2020 10:12

My 3yr old has a few mini masks that she likes to wear for a bit, especially when we're wearing ours. The baby obviously doesn't wear one (he's 11months) and will try to rip mine off to give it a good chew.

Given their young ages it's not so much of an issue but I hope to normalise it with my 3 yr old so that by the time winter comes round it will just be seen as another no fuss item to wear. Like shoes or a jacket.

Makegoodchoices · 13/08/2020 10:12

Mine chooses to. He went to the barber who told him it was fine not to but he chose to wear it. He’s been to hospital a couple of times and was fine with wearing it for that too. Now he’s asked me to order cooler ones...

GameSetMatch · 13/08/2020 10:12

No my six year old won’t wear one but my three year old wears one, think he likes the novelty of it. I’m not bothered if they wear one or not.

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 13/08/2020 10:14

My 6 year old doesn't like them so has a snood, but he usually ends up taking it off. I don't blame him. 12 year old doesn't really go anywhere he needs one for long, don't blame him either.

BogRollBOGOF · 13/08/2020 10:20

Absolutely not.
DS (9) has ASD and is very sensory about clothes. Non verbal communication is important to him interpereting society.

DS (7) has asthma. I am not risking triggering unnecessary asthma attacks on another human who may struggle to recognise the symptoms brewing. He often coughs as a symptom, so I'd also rather have an unmasked child who isn't coughing. Air quality/ humidity is a trigger for him.

The DCs know that sometimes adults and children have different rules. I don't apply monkey see, monkey do to drinking alcohol for example.

The evidence leans towards children being more resistant towards the virus and a low risk towards spreading, so risking my children's mental and physical welfare for unnecessary virtue signalling is getting pretty darn close to abuse.

MarshaBradyo · 13/08/2020 10:23

I don’t make them but ds decided to for music lessons, he’s 10, 11 in Dec, and his teacher is fairly old so it’s no bad thing, if it helps.

He doesn’t in shops though.

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 13/08/2020 10:26

I bought my 10 year old one, it lives in the car with mine, she chooses to wear it most of the time. She's also aware that because of her height she looks more like a 14 year old than a 10 year old and doesn't want to be confronted.

Florin · 13/08/2020 10:28

My 8 year old ds wears one, He just accepts it just something you wear like pants or shoes. He will only wear one with horses on though thank god MIL can make them for him!

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 13/08/2020 10:28

I think if I lived in a more densely populated place or were using public transport I would make her wear it. As it is there havent been that many cases in the area so I don't feel like it's essential.

MadeleineMaxwell · 13/08/2020 10:30

5yo DS wears one no problem. Doesn't ever complain about it. Seems to like being like everyone else, really.

justwinginglife1 · 13/08/2020 10:31

My children are 10 and 7, I bought them both masks and carry them with me but I let them decide if they want to wear them or not. My 10 year old does most of the time but over the last week or so she has found it too hot so hasn't. I have explained to her that next year it may still be compulsory and when she turns 11 she will need to wear it but for now if she doesn't want to then she doesn't.

My 7 year old wore one for the first few days as I think it was more as a novelty but he now hates wearing them so doesn't

BellaintheWychElm · 13/08/2020 10:54

@HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime

I bought my 10 year old one, it lives in the car with mine, she chooses to wear it most of the time. She's also aware that because of her height she looks more like a 14 year old than a 10 year old and doesn't want to be confronted.
Even if she looks like a 14 year old it is quite awful that she even has to worry about being confronted. Anyone who would even think of confronting a child (or anyone tbh) needs to take a look at themselves and I would hope that this isn't happening but looking at how people have been acting I wouldn't be surprised.
LockdownMayhem · 13/08/2020 10:54

The evidence leans towards children being more resistant towards the virus and a low risk towards spreading, so risking my children's mental and physical welfare for unnecessary virtue signalling is getting pretty darn close to abuse

I think saying that other parents whose children wears masks are virtue signalling is slightly ridiculous to be honest. If you don't want your children to wear them that's up to you, but please don't imply others are doing it to make themselves look better. Perhaps they just feel that the more people who wear them, the less chance there is of spreading even further. That's not virtue signalling, it's doing things for the greater good. If you/your children can't/won't wear masks for medical reasons, then rather than insulting those whose children do wear them, perhaps you should be grateful others are prepared to wear them and help keep yours safer?

I hate this attitude that people who are trying to do the right thing must be virtue signalling.

DinosApple · 13/08/2020 11:10

My youngest is 9 she sometimes chooses to wear one. I got DC and DH those buff neck scarf things so they wear them. Less faffing and dual purpose when the heat goes.

SalamanderWhale · 13/08/2020 11:10

My dd (just turned 5)and ds (2) both wear them every time we go to a shop, doctors etc. Im lucky that they didnt mind them, we practiced wearing them lots at home (pretending to be superheros). I bought some bright, fun designed masks that are adjustable so they're comfy for them.

Carouselfish · 13/08/2020 11:11

5 year old does, absolutely. What's the point in other family members doing it if not?

AriettyHomily · 13/08/2020 11:14

@slipperywhensparticus

He wears it but he has a wheezy chest and has respiratory problems anyway so it's for the best
It won't protect him though, it protects other people
UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme · 13/08/2020 11:18

AriettyHomily that's not completely true. Masks primarily protect others from the wearer, but they do provide the wearer some (less) protection.

Aragog · 13/08/2020 11:19

My 7y nephew has a mask through choice. He wanted one to match his daddy. He wears it on and off, though not all the tine. He's not made to wear it.

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