AIBU to think a 6 year old is too young to be forced to where a mask?

[Meadow1203]

This is now the law [in France] edited by MNHQ for clarity. I think this could be very frightening for a small child.

[MessAllOver]

What age are people ok with masks from? Is anyone putting a mask on their baby? If 2 year old can wear them, what about 18 months?

[MessAllOver]

For instance, would it be ok for a doctor to refuse to treat an 18 month old because they were not wearing a mask?

[Aragog]

Whilst it might not be the ideal, it is true that most children are very adaptable and will manage well, especially if their parents don't make a fuss over it.

It won't be forever. These times will end, masks won't be the norm going forward I'm sure.

[SchrodingersImmigrant]

@MessAllOver

For instance, would it be ok for a doctor to refuse to treat an 18 month old because they were not wearing a mask?

No because in general the advice is not to use masks on children that young.

[Aragog]

flaviaritt

And that's your choice.
But the reality is that for most children it won't actually be an issue as they are such more adaptable and resilient than any adults.

Would you give your child a choice in the matter?

[emmathedilemma]

Over 5's have been wearing them in shops etc in Scotland for months and they all seem to have survived just fine.

[occa]

Mandatory for over 2s where I live.

I don't know any DC who've had a problem with it.

[NetflixWatcher]

My little nephews wears his mask just fine. It's got elephants on it it's so cute.

[HazeyJaneII]

Most kids will be fine wearing a mask
I don't think any child should be forced to wear a mask
I think some kids with additional needs or medical needs will be happy to wear a mask and others won't (ds with complex needs can't at all, his friend with complex needs loves wearing his)
Masks are fine when worn properly, they ate not a magic bullet, but as part of other measures, they help....I protect you, you protect me.

[Aragog]

All of you wearing masks and the rate still going up, works dunnit?

I most likely caught Covid, which I am still recovering from, from my work place - where there are NO masks, NO social distancing, etc.
Who knows whether that would still be the case if masks and SDing had been possible?!

[Noti23]

My son is nearly 2 and there’s no chance in hell I’d be able to get him to keep a mask on! I can’t even get him to wear a hat 😖

[flaviaritt]

Aragog

It’s not as easy as that. If I send her to school it is on the understanding that she will follow the rules. So I would be saying to her, “Ignore your teacher. Ignore the law.” I don’t want to do that. I will just keep her off if needed.

[murteplod]

It's 4+ where I am. I'm sure there are isolated cases where young children have an issue with it, but since OP seems to be asking about in general, I would say yes YABU, it is not scary for the vast majority of kids. I haven't met any that care about it either way.

[Yeahnahmum]

Fine. Kids love to play dress up. Pretended like it is a game for them. And get a mask with a cute pattern. A piece of cloth is not scary. Only if you make them scared of it

[Strugglesjob]

Frightening? guess they’ll never wear a halloween mask 🙄

Haha what? How is it comparable?

[halloweenagain]

All of you wearing masks and the rate still going up, works dunnit?

Masks aren't magical.
They give some protection to others when you are wearing them.
They need to be worn while practicing social distancing and regularly washing your hands.
Doing all three things slows transmission.

You do understand that transmission could be higher without mask wearing?

[Binsella]

My 5 and 3 year old wear theirs, it’s taken a little training but they now see it as no different to wearing a hat or gloves. Both have SEN too. Not all children will wear them easily obviously but I wouldn’t say it’s ‘scary’ unless an adult presents it as something to be nervous or scared of.

[murteplod]

@Devilesko

All of you wearing masks and the rate still going up, works dunnit?

Where I live, people are wearing masks and the rate is going down. So by your logic, they definitely DO work!

Contradictory results though, how strange. Almost like there must be other factors at play. No, that's crazy talk. Impossible.

[Aragog]

But flaviaritt - this IS a choice you're making.

You could just let her wear one and see how she goes. Or you can say she can't wear one, assuming no exemption, and this means you - and as an extension your DC - can not go to anywhere where they are mandatory.

Obviously if your DD has a genuine exemption that would be different.

[flaviaritt]

Aragog

No, what I would be doing by saying “it’s your choice” and then sending her somewhere where it’s mandatory would be putting her into conflict with the law. I won’t do that. It IS her choice, but that means that in order to protect that choice I can’t send her places where it’s the law that she has to wear one. What happens when she tries to remove it because she’s hot or breathless? Someone contradicts me and forces her to put it back on. No chance.

[Tissueboxcover]

There was an interesting item on TV yesterday about SE Asian countries that have done extremely well at containing the virus. Little toddlers in pushchairs and nursery/primary school children were all wearing masks.

[rosesandcashmere]

Unless there are additional needs it shouldn't be scary. They're 6, not 2.

[ClickandForget]

So you would force a sobbing 5 year old into a face mask?

I don't think anyone who has posted would do that. The point is that the vast majority of 5 year olds would be fine with it. It's the parents who are objecting.

[Idroppedthescrewinthetuna]

My kids aged 4 and 6 wear them. We popped them on around the house for 10 mins here and there. They were fine.

[GoatCheeseTart]

Men DC2 was younger she got very distressed about being forced to use her car seat. It was still either that or we didn't go.