To not want nanny to wear a mask around DS?

[Rainallnight]

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).

She is unreasonable. Picking up kids lurgies comes with the territory. Wait until she catches norovirus, there is no mask to prevent that!

Two things, if she's constantly picking up colds, she isn't washing her hands enough. And you can get masks with see through panels so you can still see the mouth.

Im a nursery nurse, there are lots of masks worn all around the nursery, most staff started off by not wearing them but as numbers have risen and bubbles are getting larger most of our staff are opting to wear them inside. Tier 3 area.

I find it strange the amount of parents who couldn't care less if their child's nanny /childminder/nursery nurse gets sick or worse because their precious child can't be around adult wearing a mask. They need to get used to it.

Ah yes how on earth did all these childcare practitioners cope and not drop dead of the common cold before covid came along and made mask wearing common place... Maybe they washed their hands and practiced good hygiene

I don't get this, your toddler has a cold which is infectious and has the potential to make someone sick, they would like to take precautions to stop themselves from getting sick and you think that they are being unreasonable???

Most employers have to provide safety or protection equipment to prevent their workers from being hurt, getting sick from airborne particles such as dust, paint spray etc etc. I would have thought she would have a good case here that you are being negligent if you refused her request.

Yes she should be wearing a mask. Here in HK not only teachers but toddlers have to wear masks . Something you class as an overreaction is not really is it. She could catch a cold from your child and then it would develop into something more serious. If you insist she doesn't wear a mask you are liable as her employer.

I would not work for you with your attitude. Only on Mumsnet ...

All nursery staff here wear masks all of the time, regardless of a pandemic or not. Parents would not allow their child to go to a nursery, kindergarten etc if there was a staff member not wearing a mask. It is normal in some places and I guess will be a new normal in many others soon.

the wearing of one does not prevent her from caring for your child, playing and creating a good environment.

It prevents her child learning.masks muffle speech and block facial expressions. Toddlers learn a huge amount of communication through imitating adult caregivers etc. Not to mention forming bonds through smiles etc. Its madness to spending all day with sole charge of a child wearing a mask. Its grossly unacceptable

Masks for children under 3 are a suffocation risk.

Whether or not a mask protects you from Covid, it does NOTHING to protect from colds.

As has already been pointed out, the advice on minimising colds has always been focused on other measures.

To be clear.

I would find another nanny.
My kids’ nursery absolutely don’t wear masks apart from when interacting with parents at the gate. I’d be removing him if they started.

@MessAllOver

Masks for children under 3 are a suffocation risk.

Over here the upper limit on not wearing a mask where it is required/requested is 2. Not a single child in the country has suffocated yet in the last 6-8 months. So yes it is a risk but it seems that it is not that much of one after all.

I don't get this, your toddler has a cold which is infectious and has the potential to make someone sick, they would like to take precautions to stop themselves from getting sick and you think that they are being unreasonable???

What if they decided they would prefer not to cuddle the toddler, change his nappies or administer medicine to prevent themselves getting sick? Would that be acceptable?

I don’t believe you can effectively look after a small child in a mask all day so I wouldn’t be happy with it. I see the change in my 1 year old when I have a mask on and it is not something I would be happy with for hours on end.

I think there has to be a certain acceptance that caring for small children is not the same as other workplaces. The negatives of ha int slightly muffled communication in a supermarket are not on the same scale as a main care giver not being able to communicate effectively.

At our nursery, masks are worn at drop-off and pick up only for interaction with adults.

Over here the upper limit on not wearing a mask where it is required/requested is 2.

Child abuse.

Find another nanny.

Interesting so as @Alexis21 points out in HK childcare centres require mask wearing from toddlers and childcare providers. I am unaware of any disadvantages in child development in HK so where is the evidence that wearing a mask impacts on children’s development?

@wombat1a. It may be different where you are, but NHS advice here is not to put face masks on children and young toddlers: what0-18.nhs.uk/parentscarers/keeping-your-child-safe/face-masks-and-children.

@wombat1a

I don't get this, your toddler has a cold which is infectious and has the potential to make someone sick, they would like to take precautions to stop themselves from getting sick and you think that they are being unreasonable???

Most employers have to provide safety or protection equipment to prevent their workers from being hurt, getting sick from airborne particles such as dust, paint spray etc etc. I would have thought she would have a good case here that you are being negligent if you refused her request.

I have been working for the last 20+ years and have never once been issued with a mask by an employer to protect me from a cold. That just doesn't happen.

@MessAllOver agree, No limits to how far we will go now to be “ safe”

It’s not about Covid is the new cancel the cheque.

The thing is OP, it kind of is. If we werent told to wear masks to not catch Covid, she would never have dared ask this. I think she is BU esp given the speech issues. And I would cancel her cheque and tell her its a no

No this would be new nanny time for me. We have just been through this with nursery who have said they feel very strongly that small children shouldn't be close cared for by people in masks for developmental reasons and I agree. I wouldn't accept this in my home and it isn't the early years guidance. She is free to find an employer who will accommodate her wishes.

I am unaware of any disadvantages in child development in HK so where is the evidence that wearing a mask impacts on children’s development?

Presumably this only started with Covid, so no time to assess yet.

A speech therapist would have a pretty good idea though.

OP I dont think either of you are wrong. She is no longer fulfilling your requirements of her, and at the same I dont think it's ok for you to expect her to just to accept getting sick if she isnt happy with that. Maybe you need to look for someone else

Rediculous
Find a new nanny