Masks on under 5’s

[LolaLollypop]

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?!

I don’t put one on my 18m old and won’t. We were in A&E with her 6m ago and the person on the front desk put one on her which she took off immediately and started trying to eat it. the paediatric nurse was surprised they’d done it to a baby (who was being seen for respiratory issues). My husband took her- I would have argued the case.

My 4yo has one in case we have to go to hospital/gp as I thought it would be better to have a frozen one that fits than a large disposable one that would end up round her neck.

There is some ridiculous hyperbole on this thread and also a lack of understanding that all kids are different
My 4yo knows what COVID is (he's discussed it with us, nursery and now school - dads a hospital dr so we really couldn't avoid it) knows how to use a mask without touching it, eating it or licking it. It is not a risk to his ability to breathe, he wears a clean mask each time and only wears it for short periods of time. I do not expect all 4yos to be the same, some will manage some won't.
It's no different from kids wearing fancy dress masks which they wear all the time without people screaming about child abuse

My local hospital says children aged 3 or older need to wear them. I didn't think my 6 year old who has autism would wear one but he loved it.

My 4 year old has a mask which she seems to like and has worn on occasion. The reason I purchased it was that if we need to still wear one in 6 months time she will turn 5 and be expected to wear one where we live. I would therefore like her to try wearing them. She calls them 'happy masks'. My 3 year old would not wear one so easily and so doesn't.

Other countries ask for children to wear masks.

Some states in America its as young as 2 in all public spaces with no exemptions. Disneyland is the same, no exemptions 2 and up.

Theres a case of someone suing an American disney store as she had an autistic child who wasnt allowed in due to that states rules coverings in all public spaces

Not taking my children to busy shops and restaurants in masks doesn’t mean we are staying home all the time, far from it. We go out approx 5 days out of 7 I would say. Just not to the busy places where people are going to be expecting them to masked up. Again, I understand not everybody can do that. But to suggest its a choice between putting masks on young children or else staying at home all the time is quite limited thinking to be honest. Masks should not be for children, that’s my belief.

Surely a strangulation risk on a baby (from the straps/elastic) if nothing else.

Older toddlers/preschoolers/young children - I can’t get that exercised about it, they might just be wearing on because they want to wear the same as mum or dad. But it does feel like hygiene theatre and for show on the part of the parents rather than something that’s actually going to make a difference.

My 5 year old niece has a unicorn one and loves it. Don't see the problem. We don't pin her down and force it on her.

My 5 yo wears hers without complaint if we go in shops/hospital. My not quite 2 year old would probably hang himself with one, or just fling it somewhere. So won't be starting to introduce one to him for a while... I've only just got him to mostly stop attacking mine (still goes for glasses though)!