Does anyone else have a baby / young toddler and really not want to wear a mask

[roarfeckingroarr]

Because of how it might impact their development?

DS is 13 months and is so close to speaking. I talk to him all the time to help his development. I feel uncomfortable about him not being able to see facial expressions, see me speak, hear words clearly etc while we're out and about (a lot of the day).

Anyone else feel this way?

You can get clear face coverings and your child will still be able to hear you.

If someone relies on you to communicate for them you’re exempt so that could be stretched to fit your circumstances..

My asd toddler hates me wearing one so I don’t using the above reason

It won’t impact their development. You won’t be wearing a mask 24/7.
Other countries were big on mask-wearing pre-pandemic, and the children develop just fine.

How much time in a week do you really need to spend either in shops or on public transport?

Masks are mandatory again, I'd be looking what I could do to avoid spending time in places that require them rather than not wearing one.

@FearBreedsCompliance

If someone relies on you to communicate for them you’re exempt so that could be stretched to fit your circumstances..

Erm no

Unless you spend all day inside shops etc having to wear a mask I don't think it will impact his development. Admittedly I don't go shopping with mine but if I have had to wear a mask inside with her, it hasn't impacted her speech or development at all.

I had a baby in May 2021z I don’t feel that wearing a mask for one hour a week when I went to the supermarket impacted his development.
The rest of the time I was at home, in the garden, going for a walk, meeting friends in the park, etc

May 2020 not 2021

My son knows no different he was tiny when we started. He helps to put mine on, we talk loads and it hasn't impacted on his speech. We do have sneaky kisses when we are sat waiting, he does hate me wearing it, but would hate it more if we had covid.

Masks been mandatory in scotland right through and our kids are just fine. Selfish view imo.

The biggest influencer on development is the home environment. So unless you wear a mask in your house then the impact will be minimal.

Small children are actually extremely good at working out people's facial expressions from their eyes and upper face.

My DD knows who is smiling at her and who isn't while wearing a mask so responds appropriately.

Likewise when I've looked at babies and small children when wearing a mask.

Also unless your child is hearing impaired they will have no difficulty hearing you.

I don't think masks "impact" anything.

It will only have an adverse effect on your baby's development if you have one on all the time. Which you won't, unless you spend 12 hours a day in shops.

Where I live, masks are mandatory for everyone age 6 and above unless you are exercising, eating, in your own home or in a vehicle with only members of your own household. That means teachers in my children’s school have to wear masks when teaching phonics etc. They all wear the clear plastic face shields - if it’s something that bothers you that much, can you not wear something like that? Although as others have said, how frequently are you wearing it in reality?!

I don't like wearing a mask around my baby, but we don't spend more than an hour a day on public transport or in shops so it doesn't really matter.

Ridiculous 🙄

You are being a bit unreasonable. I get what you're saying, but realistically, it's shops and transport, a couple of hours a week at most. The rest of the time they can see your face and other people's. And it's a necessary evil.

My DS was 3 when it all kicked off, he started automatically stepping back from people when before, he would have engaged with them. He's much better now
The other side effect I've noticed is him and a couple of his mates are very aware of hand hygiene and keeping clean, more than you'd expect from a 5 yo previously.

I’m sorry it’s public transport and shops it’s not 24/7 so I don’t see the issue .

Do you spend all day on public transport or in shops? Don't wear one if you feel it would hinder your child, but realistically is it really an issue?

Why are you out and about inside so much? Aren’t we supposed to be limiting doing this?

You won’t be wearing it outside or at home ?

I been thinking it is interesting. Whenever I'm wearing a mask and smile at a nearby by toddler/baby in a trolley in a queue for example, they smile back. They interact. They can tell you're smiling. My dc are still able to interpret my facial expressions and emotions even when they can only see my eyes.

I think you're trying too hard to make this an issue.

I can't imagine it's that many hours of a day you'll need to wear a mask. I suppose shops, busses and things likes toddler groups. I wouldn't be worried about that amount of time.

I understand your concerns, and it's lovely to be able to chat to your baby out and about but I don't think it's something you need to worry about long term.

My youngest was 8 months old when the first lockdown hit (and then subsequent restrictions when out and about) and they are an absolute chatterbox now, can't shut them up. I don't think it's had any long term effects.

All of my children just think mask wearing is totally normal, sometimes I find that depressing but I don't think it bothers them in the slightest so it's only my own feelings projected onto them. They don't really know any different as they are all so young.

It's the older kids and teenagers that I feel most sorry for.

YABU. Your baby isn’t going to be negatively impacted because you wear a mask for a few minutes a day.