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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:
Dottyandbet · 28/09/2020 12:54

My just three year old and five year old have both happily worn them while having their hair cut and shoes fitted. They are comfortable wearing them and they helped to protect our hairdresser and the girl fitting their shoes and also provide an extra layer of protection to them too. Children can spread coronavirus just as much as adults. I understand that some children aren’t happy wearing them and that’s fine but I’m unsure why you’d see it as an issue. Though yes a baby wearing one is worrying.

unmarkedbythat · 28/09/2020 12:55

@LolaLollypop pp's questions seem reasonable enough. You saw a baby struggling to breathe and walked past? Or you saw a baby looking uncomfortable but decided to make your MN post about masks more dramatic by pretending you'd seen a baby struggling to breathe... which is it? Are you the sort of person who leaves a baby in danger when you have noticed they are struggling to breathe, or the sort of person who makes up bullshit for attention online?

TheTrollFairy · 28/09/2020 13:01

My 4 y/o wear one. I am fully aware that the mask doesn’t protect the wearer fully but my 4y/o goes to school and therefore she can be a potential spreader. She doesn’t fuss about it and if she doesn’t want to wear the mask then we will leave the shop.

I’m glad I’m being judged on my decision to mask my child though Hmm

Original poster
LolaLollypop · 28/09/2020 13:07

@unmarkedbythat I’m really not sure what you want me to say...
I didn’t get close enough to the baby to be absolutely sure whether it was finding it hard to breathe, whether it was just uncomfortable, or whether it was wriggling around for some other matter. It could possibly have been any, or all of the above.
As I’ve said, I didn’t confront the Mum because we had already walked past each other - I hope the mum only had the mask on temporarily and was on her way out of the shopping centre. If I’d had more time I probably would have said something, maybe that makes me a bad person, if that’s how you see it then so be it.

FWIW my 3 year old has also tried a mask on, at her request, for 30 seconds before pulling it off. I’m still of the opinion that as per the guidance, kids shouldn’t be wearing them. Especially if they aren’t old enough to tell you they want to take it off.

OP posts:
Twigletfairy · 28/09/2020 13:10

My 3 year old has a mask. She doesn't wear it, she's not fond of masks. But my husband made her one and she chose the same fabric as one of my masks, so it's there for her to essentially play with and get used to over time.

If we needed to go somewhere like hospital or the drs, I would encourage her to wear it while there, but I wouldn't make her. My youngest is almost one so we have no intention of one for her anytime soon.

If I saw a young baby struggling to breath with a mask on, I do think I would chase the person on the off chance they hadn't realised their baby was struggling to breath.

nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut · 28/09/2020 13:13

I think they are great for toddlers, to them its an accessory that makes them feel grown up. A baby that was too young to ask for one and too young to pull it off if they needed to, hell no.

LM101 · 28/09/2020 13:13

100% wouldn’t put them on an under 1 Or 2 year old. However my 4 year old has one I made as he wanted one, sometimes he wears it and other times he doesn’t. I can’t keep a hat on kid so there’s no way he’s keeping a mask on it doesn’t want to wear it 🤣

OverTheRainbow88 · 28/09/2020 13:13

How are you explaining the masks to 2-4 year olds?

My son is almost 4 and has no idea about covid, and I’ve just not taken him to shops or on public transport.

Gardenista · 28/09/2020 13:14

My 5 year old is happy to wear a mask and if it makes others safer this is a good thing. If children don’t mind wearing them then it’s only protects others

110APiccadilly · 28/09/2020 13:17

Under 3s should not wear masks (WHO says so). Surely it's common sense that any child that easily can't pull it off if it's affecting their breathing shouldn't be in one. But it's if not and people are putting literal babies in them, then there needs to be a public information campaign.

WidowTwonky · 28/09/2020 13:17

YABU. Nothing wrong with a 5 year old wearing a mask. Why wouldn't they be able to tell you they want to take it off?? Hmm

Mylittlepony374 · 28/09/2020 13:18

My 3 year old wants to wear one because everyone else is. Not a chance would I put one on my crazy 2 year old. Parents can decide what's safe/ appropriate for their own children.

BogRollBOGOF · 28/09/2020 13:23

It's incredibly dangerous to be encouraging children to cover their airways and not worth the miniscule benefits that masks are supposed to provide in optomised conditions, not the average fished out of the pocket face rag that most people use in places like shops. Reusing them gets covered in bacteria and viruses then reapplied back to the ideal warm, damp environment on the face. Then hands transfer that all over anything they touch, and children are not going to mindfully ignore that tickly nose...

The monkey see, monkey do argument is ridiculous. Do people letting their children copy them also apply that to other adult actions like drinking alcohol or going for a walk on their own, or do we conceed that adults and children behave differently due to different risk/ benefits.

Ponoka7 · 28/09/2020 13:24

My 5 year old GC wants to wear one because, as others have said, to copy everyone else. She has a funny mask with teeth and a comical smile on and likes the reaction she gets.

My 3 year old GC has to be shivering/soaking wet, before she'll wear a coat/hat, so I'm impressed by anyone who can get a mask on a toddler.

I agree that they aren't needed and are dangerous on babies. The problem is that when oxygen levels fall, we get sleepy.

Perhaps they hospital visit, attend appointments etc and they are getting into the habit of wearing one. I hadn't realised that children have to wear masks in hospitals.

mindutopia · 28/09/2020 13:25

I don't have my 2 year old wear a mask (I can't imagine he would tolerate it for more than a second, he has actually asked to put one on as my friend made one for all of us - her choice, I didn't specifically ask for one for my toddler - but then changed his mind and took it off, fine!). But my 7 year old does wear a mask in shops/pub/etc. Because she wants to. She understands that it's the socially responsible thing to do and asks to always put her mask on if I am wearing mine. She also just thinks the design is cute, so it's fun to wear. I can't see the issue if the children are happy?

Popcornriver · 28/09/2020 13:28

Masks do offer the wearer some protection though. My sister got my under 5 nephew one to wear round the shops when he wanted to copy his sister. Obviously a suffocating baby isn't the same as that though!

marmite79 · 28/09/2020 13:30

Dd aged 5 wears one occasionally. But it doesn't tend to stay on long. I cannot get DS aged 9 to wear one. I don't force it... they don't have to wear one so yeah you are right.

MoreToExplore · 28/09/2020 13:33

A baby a few months old with anything over its mouth is at risk of death.

I doubt any parent would not know that, given all the information about cot deaths - blankets needing to be tucked tight, sleep on back, no cot bumpers etc, and just human instinct, but that is terrifying if true.

goose1964 · 28/09/2020 13:34

My 3 1/2 year old grandson wears one , it's his ninja mask and he wears it because his mummy and daddy wear one.

BusySittingDown · 28/09/2020 13:36

My 9 year old wears a mask to protect others, also this might happen again or we might be in it for the long haul, therefore it makes sense to get her used to it.

DifficultPifcultLemonDifficult · 28/09/2020 13:37

My 3 and 5 year olds wear them as much as possible, I have cancer and cant risk getting ill right now so everyone in my house is doing as much as possible until I get my operation.

Hope that's an acceptable excuse for doing what the hell I want within my own family for our protection Confused

Rudolphian · 28/09/2020 13:38

My 6 year likes to wear one. Her 3 year old sister tries to copy her.
But i don't make them wear a mask if we are out

BusySittingDown · 28/09/2020 13:39

I appreciate that she isn't under 5 but I would still encourage her to wear one if she was.

A mask on a baby is madness though.

DappledThings · 28/09/2020 13:39

How are you explaining the masks to 2-4 year olds?
Just with as much as we've told them about the last few months in general. Lots of places we used to go to have closed because some people aren't very well. That's why we have masks now too. To help everyone get better. He seems happy enough with that.

He hasn't asked to wear a mask though. If he did I'd just tell him children don't need to. If he really pushed it I would get him one but it would have to be completely at his behest before I'd put one on him (age 4)

trunumber · 28/09/2020 13:40

@OverTheRainbow88 - it will be hard to explain if he knows nothing of covid. Does he really know nothing? How did you explain lockdown and not doing normal things? Does he not see other adults wearing masks?

My son is 3.5 yrs old has has know about coronavirus from the start, so masks was simple (the coronavirus can come from peoples breath, wearing a mask helps to catches the virus so people don't catch it) he has a mask because we have one and wears it when he chooses (he knows the rule is that he doesn't have to because he's under 5)