Nursery requires babies to wear masks

[Peridotty]

Just to clarify we live in the USA in a state where masks have been mandatory for over 2s since March and takes covid very seriously.

I was viewing a nursery and found the one of our dreams (ok slight exaggeration but it’s got what we’re looking for). However! This owner wants all kids to wear masks. They start taking babies from 12 months up and our baby would start when she is 13 months old.

The national guidelines are that masks on babies and toddlers under 2 is a suffocation and choking hazard and should not be worn but this is only a guideline and the owner can do what she wants. The owner says that the parents of the babies are all happy with it and the staff members help the babies wear masks. She says that the babies will wear them when they see other babies wearing them too. I don’t think they wear them when they’re sleeping or eating. Only when supervised by three staff. The ratio is 8 kids to 3 staff.

What would you do? Keep looking for another nursery?

Just echoing everyone else, but (assuming this is true - can’t tell any more!) no, no way would I be sending a baby/young toddler into that environment. DD has just turned 3 and there’s no way I’d make her wear one either (not that it would stay on long anyway).

Don’t be so bloody daft !!

Hell would freeze over before I sent my daughter there

No chance would my baby be going there

Not only would I not send my child there I would be reporting them on safety grounds! The information is clear it is a suffocation risk!

I said what if they don’t want to wear one? She said the teachers will help put them on.

The only way anyone is going to manage to keep a mask on a baby is if it's tied on tightly. That or the daycare providers are pulling them back up constantly against the baby's efforts and therefore distressing them hugely.

I'm strict about mask wearing and do think it's good to encourage young children 2 or 3+ to wear masks as this shit is going to be a part of their lives for years to come probably, but babies? That's ridiculous! Impossible.

You don’t ‘think’ they have to wear them whilst sleeping?? 😱 No, just no way on gods green earth.

What state is in mandatory from 2?

I think that's crazy! They are absolutely a choking hazard for babies and with 8 kids to look after, the staff can't possibly guarantee they'll notice a danger in time. I would look for a new nursery.

For the posters doubting that over 2s have to wear a mask:

A quick Google op I can’t find this please send the link where it’s mandatory for children from age 2 .

Suffocation risk so they’re putting one year old’s lives at risk. There’s also no way any one year old I’ve ever known would keep a mask on, they don’t even keep hats on.

No way, it's at least an accident or at worst a death waiting to happen.
The owner needs to be asked if her public liability insurance covers accident/death caused from suffocation or strangulation by mask.
I suspect it wouldn't & I can then see the policy being dropped.
The owner is setting herself up for a multi million dollar lawsuit.
I cannot believe the idiocy of some people demanding a baby or a child under 5 having to wear a mask.

@islockdownoveryet
brooklinecovid19.com/face-coverings/

www2.illinois.gov/Pages/Executive-Orders/ExecutiveOrder2020-32.aspx#:~:text=Wearing%20a%20face%20covering%20in,a%20six%2Dfoot%20social%20distance.

@cathcath2
I don’t live in Illinois.

I'd be reporting the nursery to social services

www.mass.gov/doc/guidance-for-face-masks-in-public-settings/download
It’s ok I’ve found it for you ,
Children over 5 to wear a mask and children under 2 should Not wear a mask .
I suggest you show that to whoever suggesting this nonsense.

Here are the state by state requirements:www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2020/states-mask-mandates-coronavirus.html

In many states it's required from ages 2 and up, the one I live in included. So yes, toddlers in the day cares are wearing them.

I'm in the US (Midwest), our local mask order is also for age 2 and up. It's definitely not safe for under 2's though- no way would I want that and it's not the norm for infant care here.

For other posters- our 3-year-old nephew with behavioural issues does just fine wearing his mask all day at daycare; he was 2 when the pandemic started. They won't accept them if they don't so it's a case of getting them used to it or you leave the workplace. It's just the norm for them now.

Wouldn’t they just pull them off?

My very nearly 2 year old wouldn't keep a mask on. If we leave a mask out by accident, she brings it to us and shoves it at our face for us to put on (cute but also a bit sad, isn't it), but she would never keep one on herself. Nor should she. I would be terrified to put a mask on my 8 month told.

Awful nursery. Diabolical behaviour and clearly ran with someone who is lacking any common sense or morals.

So thankful that UK is not like this! I’m sorry that sounds bonkers.

No way on earth would I let a baby wear a mask. There's too much that could go wrong.
Look for another nursery. They can apply whatever policy they like and if you don't like something to the extent of it being a deal breaker then look for another nursery. It would be a deal breaker for me.

Oh come on everyone.