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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want nanny to wear a mask around DS?

218 replies

Rainallnight · 20/10/2020 09:57

DS is two. He’s with a nanny three days a week. He’s prone to colds and runny noses, as are lots of toddlers. The nanny has complained that she has twice picked up a cold from him, and has suggested wearing a face mask around him.

I think this is (a) a massive over reaction and (b) not good for DS. He has speech delay and really needs to be able to see people’s faces to develop his communication.

Surely picking up kiddy colds is a bit of an occupational hazard for nannies?

But tell me if I’m missing something.

(Obviously I have no problem with her wearing one in shops or other situations where it’s Covid-mandated. This would be all the time, including at home).

OP posts:
NativityDreaming · 20/10/2020 11:11

Of course as an employer you should make reasonable adjustments and allow her to wear a mask. It is easy enough to source masks with the clear insert.

Marzipan12 · 20/10/2020 11:11

Which part of pandemic are certain posters overlooking?OP you have a duty of care towards an employee in your home, your child's speech problems do not trump your employees right to a safe work environment in the current situation.

LittleMissLockdown · 20/10/2020 11:11

Unfortunately, this year is shit for everyone, and all kids are getting a crap time with schooling/ childcare etc and your DC is obviously going to have increased difficulties due to masks.

That's simply not at all true. If the OPs son was in a nursery or any other form of childcare there would be no one wearing a mask preventing him from seeing how the mouth looked when words were formed.

Buddytheelf85 · 20/10/2020 11:11

As the only way you can properly protect yourself from Covid - and, I assume, the deadly toddler cold - while caring for an infected person is by wearing full medical grade PPE, I think the only rational thing to do is to go to the local hospital and raid the local Covid ward for your nanny. Photo of appropriate gear attached.

To not want nanny to wear a mask around DS?
Aridane · 20/10/2020 11:15

It's her place of work,she has every right to wear a mask. As her employer you must make adjustments during a pandemic 😠

This (and she deserves a better employer). Get a new nanny

flaviaritt · 20/10/2020 11:16

Which part of pandemic are certain posters overlooking?OP you have a duty of care towards an employee in your home, your child's speech problems do not trump your employees right to a safe work environment in the current situation.

What part of “exemptions” are you overlooking? It is not an absolute that anyone who wants to wear a mask in the workplace can do so. And that’s right, because sometimes it’s not appropriate. A one-to-one caring situation with a child, where you are the only carer, is low risk, and it is detrimental to the child for you to be masked all the time.

Aridane · 20/10/2020 11:18

(Obviously I have no problem with her wearing one in shops or other situations where it’s Covid-mandated. This would be all the time, including at home)

That’s very generous of you

Marzipan12 · 20/10/2020 11:18

@flaviarItt unfortunately due to so many employers having your views childcare workers are now considering leaving in droves. Well done.

BumbleNova · 20/10/2020 11:20

I wouldn't be happy with that at all OP. I'd be getting another nanny. I'm sorry but it's just tough. She isn't providing the interaction your child needs. No nursery workers are wearing masks.

flaviaritt · 20/10/2020 11:22

Marzipan12

It’s not surprising that I’m going to put my daughter’s needs first when hiring childcare. Within reason. And this is within reason. If people want to leave because I don’t want my toddler cared for by masked people day-to-day, that’s up to them.

TheKeatingFive · 20/10/2020 11:25

No nursery in my area have staff wearing masks.

OP, I wouldn’t be happy with that.

OwlBeThere · 20/10/2020 11:26

As a SALT, we wear visors or the clear masks at the minute, that might be a good compromise?

Buddytheelf85 · 20/10/2020 11:27

unfortunately due to so many employers having your views childcare workers are now considering leaving in droves. Well done.

But where is the evidence a non-medical grade mask offers any significant protection to the wearer if they’re in very close proximity with another person? It isn’t just @flaviaritt‘s ‘views’, it’s evidence.

Meanwhile it’s absolutely obvious mask-wearing will prejudice the OP’s son.

Hardbackwriter · 20/10/2020 11:28

@Buddytheelf85

I wouldn’t be happy about that OP. Particularly with a toddler with speech delay. I don’t think that’s appropriate child-centric care and I’d be a bit concerned that she’d seen fit to suggest it - i.e. it’s a bit worrying that a childcare professional doesn’t see the obvious developmental concerns with that.

Is there any evidence that a mask would even protect the wearer against colds anyway?

I think colds are an occupational hazard of working with small children. They’re an occupational hazard of many other working environments too.

I agree with this - it would worry me a bit that she doesn't think wearing a mask at all times would affect the care she's giving your child. It would make me wonder how much warmth and bond there is in general - and that's surely the main reason anyone has a nanny as opposed to any other form of childcare, the one-to-one attention and bond. Like others, I'd be really unhappy if the staff at DS's nursery all wore masks as I just don't think that's a suitable environment for a baby or toddler to be in all day.
MessAllOver · 20/10/2020 11:31

The OP's primary concern needs to be whether her toddler is being cared for appropriately.

If the nanny can't provide an appropriate level of care for the OP's toddler wearing a mask, then it doesn't really matter how 'reasonable' her request is. The safety and wellbeing of the child comes first.

People may have different views on this, but personally I don't think a mask-wearing adult can appropriately care for tiny children. The mask is scary and depersonalising, inhibits communication, creates a physical barrier between them and discourages cuddles and physical affection.

ThatDamnScientist · 20/10/2020 11:33

As her employer you need to make her environment covid safe. She should be allowed to wear a mask.

Original poster
Rainallnight · 20/10/2020 11:35

It’s not about Covid is the new cancel the cheque. It’s not about Covid. She doesn’t want to catch a cold.

OP posts:
iluvgab · 20/10/2020 11:37

I wouldn't be happy with this at all. Communication is very important for small children, especially when the child already has a speech delay. They need to be able to hear clearly and also see the lips moving. It's much more difficult to hear and understand when someone is wearing a mask.

As a compromise you could suggest a clear face visor - one which covers the whole face (not one of those half ones where the nose is sticking out anyway). A visor is not as effective at preventing infection as a mask but is better than nothing.
However, masks reduce the chance of the person wearing it infecting others. It does not protect the wearer from infection.

I'd probably want to employ someone else if she insists on wanting to wear a mask all day as it would be detrimental to your child's development - but I don't know where you'd stand legally if you were to sack her because you refused to let her wear a mask.

trixiebelden77 · 20/10/2020 11:37

Sounds like what she actually needs is better hand hygiene.

TheKeatingFive · 20/10/2020 11:38

As her employer you need to make her environment covid safe. She should be allowed to wear a mask.

So why are no nurseries doing this then?

Marzipan12 · 20/10/2020 11:39

@flaviaritt I agree your priority is your child's needs,also keep in mind tne nanny's priority is her safety and that of her own family. A Balance needs to be found to suit everyone because like it or not as an employer you do have a duty of care.

PerseverancePays · 20/10/2020 11:39

She’s looking after a child not a potato!

What about chatting, singing, cuddles playing silly beggars? All with a mask on? Doesn’t sound like she gets the essence of childcare.

mynameiscalypso · 20/10/2020 11:40

I'd question whether she'd ever actually met a small child; one of the staff at DS' nursery said that one of the reasons they don't wear masks with the children is that it's impossible to get them to stop touching them/pulling them off etc which makes them almost entirely pointless as you're constantly having to touch it and readjust. Plus, on a purely practical level, they tried it for a few days and found they couldn't smell when a child had done a poo.

Florencex · 20/10/2020 11:40

@Rainallnight

It’s not about Covid is the new cancel the cheque. It’s not about Covid. She doesn’t want to catch a cold.
But if you would be prepared for her to wear a mask for covid reasons, why would you not for cold reasons. If it makes her feel better and safer then her reasoning is not really the point.

Anyway if she has been there less than two years the best thing to do is probably to give her notice to terminate the contract.

TheKeatingFive · 20/10/2020 11:41

like it or not as an employer you do have a duty of care.

Based on what? There are lots of jobs where masks are not appropriate and are not worn.