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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

496 replies

Meadow1203 · 29/10/2020 11:58

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

OP posts:
flaviaritt · 29/10/2020 14:41

I'd rather a "distressed" child than a dead mother.

17 people under the age of 40 in the UK have died because of coronavirus, most with other health conditions. This is hysteria. The virus is a serious risk to the elderly and the sick. My 4 YO daughter isn’t going to be forced to wear a mask to protect them. If that is considered necessary I will keep her away from them. Her rights matter too.

notangelinajolie · 29/10/2020 14:42

@Devilesko

All of you wearing masks and the rate still going up, works dunnit?
You are totally missing the point - not all are wearing masks Hmm
murteplod · 29/10/2020 14:43

A mask can be repeatedly pulled off and then eventually they start biting themselves, biting you etc.

My 2-year-old was able to undo his carseat harness seatbelt thing while we were driving. My solution wasn't to stop using a carseat.

Anyway, more to the point, a 6-year-old should not be biting themselves or you no matter how frustrated they are. They should be WELL beyond that.

Anything that hinders kids breathing oxygen is very damaging. To adults also, but worse for children

Fabric masks don't affect your blood oxygen levels though.

saraclara · 29/10/2020 14:43

@wherearemyglassesmum

Anything that hinders kids breathing oxygen is very damaging. To adults also, but worse for children.
A face mask does not hinder oxygen intake.
Hopoindown31 · 29/10/2020 14:44

My children choose to wear masks sometimes. It does not need to be scary. Can you get ones with some fun designs on?

saraclara · 29/10/2020 14:45

@flaviaritt

I'd rather a "distressed" child than a dead mother.

17 people under the age of 40 in the UK have died because of coronavirus, most with other health conditions. This is hysteria. The virus is a serious risk to the elderly and the sick. My 4 YO daughter isn’t going to be forced to wear a mask to protect them. If that is considered necessary I will keep her away from them. Her rights matter too.

Wow. So only the under 40s are people worth saving? I hope your DD doesn't think that when you're in your 60s.
Mumofsend · 29/10/2020 14:45

@murteplod many 6 year olds aren't for various reasons.

Porcupineinwaiting · 29/10/2020 14:45

@Devilesko sorry was that a serious comment? Is critical thinking a problem for you (just so I know how low to pitch my response)?

Soubriquet · 29/10/2020 14:47

So how does this make sense?

You argue that face masks doesn’t stop the coronavirus. Fine

But then in the same breath, argues that it stops healthy oxygen flow.

So which is it? It can’t be both.

saraclara · 29/10/2020 14:47

@wherearemyglassesmum

Maybe read this. Or any of the other results you'll find from reputable institutions if you google 'do face masks hinder oxygen'.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/53108405

HazeyJaneII · 29/10/2020 14:48

@flaviaritt

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.

Anyone who thinks it should be mandatory is suggesting this.

anyone who cannot apply a covering and wear it in the proper manner safely and consistently From the Scot Gov exemptions list Does this not cover children who are extremely upset by wearing them (whether they have additional needs or not)?
MessAllOver · 29/10/2020 14:48

@murteplod. My 2-year-old was able to undo his carseat harness seatbelt thing while we were driving. My solution wasn't to stop using a carseat.

What was your solution, out of interest?

murteplod · 29/10/2020 14:49

many 6 year olds aren't for various reasons

Christ do we have to put a disclaimer on every post on here. Of course some aren't, but the vast, VAST majority are. We're having a conversation about the general majority of kids here.

flaviaritt · 29/10/2020 14:49

Does this not cover children who are extremely upset by wearing them (whether they have additional needs or not)?

It might. It seems open to interpretation to me. Some people on here take the view that there is no good reason a small child shouldn’t be able to wear one. I don’t take that view myself.

WhatNameToChooseNow · 29/10/2020 14:50

@Meadow1203 what will be more frightening is to explain to a generation that grandma and grandad died because we thought it was too scary for you to wear masks....

flaviaritt · 29/10/2020 14:50

Wow. So only the under 40s are people worth saving? I hope your DD doesn't think that when you're in your 60s.

Erm... no. What I said was that I would prefer to keep my child away from vulnerable people than force her to wear a mask.
Please don’t put words in my mouth.

Indoctro · 29/10/2020 14:51

I'm in Scotland and my 6 year old has to wear one on the bus to school and same as adults in public indoor spaces
He complies and doesn't complain.

Tootletum · 29/10/2020 14:51

Rational thought long since left the building in all things Coronavirus. Masks on kids are a waste of time, but hey it'll make everyone feel like they're "doing something" and win a few votes for politicians who stoke the fear factor.

Zilla1 · 29/10/2020 14:52

That cunning corona virus - smarter than and O2 molecule even if it is a few hundred times? larger.

It's always helpful to understand a little biology/medical knowledge of Hb, O2 saturations and suchlike.

YellowBeryl1 · 29/10/2020 14:52

@flaviaritt I agree, way too much hysteria. Covid crazy. Poor children being made to wear muzzles.

HazeyJaneII · 29/10/2020 14:54

[quote YellowBeryl1]@flaviaritt I agree, way too much hysteria. Covid crazy. Poor children being made to wear muzzles.[/quote]
Because calling them muzzles doesn't sound like hysteria

MJMG2015 · 29/10/2020 14:54

@Meadow1203

Given children in lots of places have to wear them from 2, I'm sure 6 year olds will cope just fine if it's just presented matter of dactyl without a lot of fuss.

I hate that they need to, I hate what this virus is doing, but children are extremely adaptable & they'll be just fine.

flaviaritt · 29/10/2020 14:55

Because calling them muzzles doesn't sound like hysteria

They’re masks. Covering nose and mouth, making breathing more difficult. They feel unnatural because they are. I will not subject my small child to one.

Zilla1 · 29/10/2020 14:55

I wonder why there's such emotive language (muzzles, gas masks) to hide poor understanding of science (hindering o2 uptake while having no effect on transmission).

HazeyJaneII · 29/10/2020 14:56

@flaviaritt

Does this not cover children who are extremely upset by wearing them (whether they have additional needs or not)?

It might. It seems open to interpretation to me. Some people on here take the view that there is no good reason a small child shouldn’t be able to wear one. I don’t take that view myself.

Some people on here take the view that there is no good reason a small child shouldn’t be able to wear one Nobody on here has said that.