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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Masks on under 5’s

84 replies

LolaLollypop · 28/09/2020 12:11

Why why why are people doing this?! I’m out shopping at the moment and I’ve seen two toddlers in buggies wearing masks. Even more disturbing was a baby around 4-6 months old in one, the poor little thing was thrashing around in its pram like it was struggling for breath 😫 Why don’t people take any notice of the guidance?!

OP posts:
FourPlasticRings · 28/09/2020 12:12

Some people mistakenly think the mask protects the wearer. The parents probably mean well but are a tad ignorant as to the purpose of masks.

IcyApril · 28/09/2020 12:14

My two year old and four year old have one that they generally don’t wear. They requested it from a museum shop. To then it’s dress up. My four month old does not have one!

justanotherneighinparadise · 28/09/2020 12:15

God I haven’t seen this! The baby wearing a mask is bloody disturbing!!

Porcupineinwaiting · 28/09/2020 12:17

Do you really believe that the baby you saw was struggling to breathe? What did its mother say when you spoke to her (you didnt just see a baby suffocating and walk on by right)?

Original poster
LolaLollypop · 28/09/2020 12:20

Wow @Porcupineinwaiting you certainly are prickly. It was in a shopping centre, we walked past each other and as I turned and watched her walk past, she got into the lift that I had just exited from. I didn’t chase after her or search the shopping centre for her, no. The baby didn’t look happy to me.

OP posts:
OverTheRainbow88 · 28/09/2020 12:21

Some people mistakenly think the mask protects the wearer.

They do give the wearer some protection.

And really it’s non of your business- maybe a family member or one of the kids is vulnerable.

Xuli · 28/09/2020 12:23

My 4yo happily wears one. I don't think it's a bad thing, it protects other people from lots of germs, just a bit. I wouldn't force him to wear it if he wasn't comfortable but he's fine and asks for it when we go on shops, probably because everyone else is wearing one. He doesn't touch it when it's one and I put it on and remove it for him.

This could be here for a while so no harm kids getting used to them if they're happy.

mummytothree87 · 28/09/2020 12:23

My 3 year old wears one when he's out and about but this is because he sees everyone else out wearing them and decided he wanted one too. He has one for each day of the week Grin if I thought for 1 minute he struggled with them he wouldn't get to wear it. But I make sure they're quite loose anyway .my 1 year old doesn't and wouldn't have one

Porcupineinwaiting · 28/09/2020 12:24

Your first post said you thought the baby was struggling to breathe, now you say it didnt look happy. Which was it?

smilingthroughgrittedteeth · 28/09/2020 12:26

My 2yr old, 3yr old and 5yr olds all have one, they wanted one because mummy and daddy have them and they put them on occasionally but arent made too. Tbh im not taking them to shops so they dont really have a need to wear them.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 28/09/2020 12:27

I give my 3yr old (near 4) the choice as to whether he will wear one in shops. He will often happily wear one. I do this to protect others. He goes to a preschool where he isnt required to distance, he is probably a high risk factor for spreading it.

Young children routinely wear them in other countries. I would far rather have kids wear masks in high traffic areas where you cannot always keep a safe distance, than either a) schools close or b) lockdown recommence.

Original poster
LolaLollypop · 28/09/2020 12:27

Jesus Christ @Porcupineinwaiting have a day off would you?!

OP posts:
SionnachRua · 28/09/2020 12:28

A toddler is hardly going to leave a mask on if they're unhappy, are they? Sure many I know won't tolerate shoes and socks for that reason. I wouldn't be worried about that one.

Mask on a baby is ott though.

wonkylegs · 28/09/2020 12:28

Our 4yo (reception aged) asked for one like everyone else in the family.
He has no problem wearing one and picked out the fabric for his ones. His have paw patrol or fishes on them.
He doesn't struggle to breathe in it, isn't distressed, is happy to wear one and would quite vocally tell me if it was anything else- so why wouldn't he wear one?

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 28/09/2020 12:29

I've also noticed if DS wears one, elderly folk we see around are visibly less worried if he runs a bit close to them. I don't really like him experience people in the street avoiding him like he has the plague, if a simple colourful mask like mummy's can limit that then great.

SionnachRua · 28/09/2020 12:30

And I don't see why you're getting pissed at porcupine tbh. They're just asking you simple questions about your post. If anyone is prickly, it isn't them...

1940s · 28/09/2020 12:30

Anyone who thinks a 4
Month old should have a mask over its face should have social services involved

mediumperiperi · 28/09/2020 12:33

Under 2s should never wear masks

The young kids in masks that I see (pre-school to say 7ish) look happy enough to be in a mask. They often have characters like LOL. I guess they want to be "grown up" , "dress up" or understand the purpose of maps and want to wear one even for 2 mins.

HavelockVetinari · 28/09/2020 12:33

Actually Porcupine is right - that baby could have suffocated and you didn't say anything? That's not on.

No baby or toddler should wear a mask, it restricts their breathing too much.

EwwDavid · 28/09/2020 12:35

Government and NHS guidance is that masks should NEVER be put on children under the age of 3 as they pose a suffocation and strangulation risk.

masks on children

Original poster
LolaLollypop · 28/09/2020 12:38

@SionnachRua because I’ve already answered the question. I walked past the mum in a shopping centre and she went up in the lift. No, I didn’t chase after them.
Rather than discussing under 5’s wearing a mask, it’s turned into a typical Mumsnet witch-hunt.

OP posts:
Cam2020 · 28/09/2020 12:39

My 3 year old wanted one because she sees everyone else wearing one and the one she saw in the shop we were in had a unicorn on it! It lives in my handbag and if she fancies wearing it, she can, but that's her choice - I certainly wouldn't force her to wear it.

I don't know what people are thinking putting masks on babies!!

Littlecaf · 28/09/2020 12:41

I had to take DS (5) into the doctors and asked if he needed a mask, Doctor said no, but then told me off on arrival for not trying to put one on him! So I go some kids ones from F&F at Tescos. Just in case he needs to go anywhere that requires them. He likes the idea of wearing one and to him it’s dress up! There is no way DS3 would wear one. He won’t even put his shoes on let alone wear a mask.

Babies shouldn’t have them on at all.

SionnachRua · 28/09/2020 12:42

Actually you made the prickly comment before the question had been answered. Being asked a few questions doesn't equal a witch hunt. If you can't stand over your post and have to get aggressive, that's not someone else's fault.

1940s · 28/09/2020 12:49

I also would have made whatever effort required to tell a parent that a 4 month old can't wear a mask. There's certain things I couldn't have on my conscience

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