Can you get a two year old to wear a mask?

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Has anyone tried ?

@PurpleFrost

I live in Thailand and it's mandated that everyone over 2 wears a mask when out in public (even outdoors) except when eating or drinking. It's enforced as much by social expectation as anything else, I've never seen anyone TELL anyone to wear a mask in the street, but it is the done thing. You certainly can't enter a shop without one but how strict it 'feels' has changed with the ups and downs of each wave.

My youngest was born into covid and seen everyone around her, including siblings and other small children, wearing masks. She actively sought out wearing one by the time she was 18 months old. We have let her as she will probably need to wear them when she turns 2 (masks will not go away quickly in SE Asia!)

She just has thin paper ones and can easily take them off herself, but you'd be surprised how well a very young child can wear a mask if that's all they've ever known. I'm not saying it's right (it's pretty sad that she knows the word 'mask' when she is just learning to speak!) but in answer to the OP, yes, a 2 year old CAN wear a mask but I think it would be very difficult to make a child who isn't used to it suddenly start wearing one. If you want to use one on a flight, definitely introduce it earlier, make it something to play with and reward proper wearing etc. I don't know how to advise really, as my children have all worn them when out and about throughout covid and all the children here just learnt together and improved with practice!

For me, there is no point worrying about whether my children should or shouldn't be wearing one. It is just life here. They had never worn a mask pre-covid (neither had I) but they have to wear one if they want to leave the house, to go to school etc. We are lucky that they are able to play outside without masks, as we agreed in our compound to accept this risk as a group.

It isn't child abuse
Even before covid it was culturally normal here for small children to wear masks to protect against pollution when the air quality was especially bad, and also if they're just under the weather. It might seem alien to Brits but here, we are the ones considered gross and disrespectful if we DON'T wear a mask when we have a cold or whatever.

Sensible! If one thing endured from this pandemic, I’m hoping it will be the normalization of mask wearing when ill. Common courtesy!

I wouldn't try putting a mask on a 2 year old. My 11 year old chooses to wear one in shops, but my 9 year old really doesn't want to and I don't make him. He wears glasses to and a mask makes them fog up. Kids have been through enough, interrupted education, not seeing friends and family. It's up to adults to protect themselves by getting vaccinated.

Poor child

Wow what a terrible mother I am, for even considering it !

Thank god you're all fucking mothers of the year.

@Arabelladrinkstea

No - because that’s called child abuse!

There is no reason to try and force a 2 yr to wear a mask FFS!

Child abuse... please.

@Svara

That’s just not true is it? Yes, I believe it is. You are teaching a child that they need protecting from a virus, that teaches them that it is something to fear.

That’s on you then, are you teaching your children not to wash their hands because it’s instilling fear? It’s a pretty basic infection control measure much like a mask. How on earth are you talking to children about illness and germs in general to believe this?

Just realised that cottonninja was being pedantic/correcting my use of language and not actually making any comment about whether it is normal/natural for human beings to cover half of their faces

Yes, sorry, but my point stands I think. Humans have evolved to this point in history partly due to our ability to adjust outside what is normal or natural. Masks are a tool which, granted dependent on your beliefs, we can use as an infection control method.

I couldn’t get my kids to keep their socks on when they were two, never mind a mask.

Although 2 is a bit extreme...
England's age of 12 is a lot higher than most places for masks! Losts of countries have had 5+ year olds wearing them in public etc. Not saying its their favourite thing in the world, but they can cope.

No. If you're worried just use your rain cover whilst they're in the pushchair.

My 2 year old has covid and I had to take him up to A&E because of a rash and I just put his rain cover over whilst we stepped into the building.

I wonder if the way I give my child Calpol and other medicine would also be considered child abuse by you lot. Probably.

Do you think it might be best to step away from the thread? It’s clearly got underneath your skin.

@blablablablablablablabla

Wow what a terrible mother I am, for even considering it !

Thank god you're all fucking mothers of the year.

Could I ask why you'd like to? Is he vulnerable? You haven't really given lots of context to your question. If you just want him to wear it just incase then yes that's not hugely reasonable, but if he has a medical vulnerability which means he could become seriously ill or die then, no, you're not being unreasonable at all

@PurpleDaisies

Do you think it might be best to step away from the thread? It’s clearly got underneath your skin.

Maybe. But I'm seriously wondering if how I give my child calpol would be considered child abuse on here.

We’ve just had a massive thread on the use of Calpol. Please dont start another one.

@RickyZooom

We’ve just had a massive thread on the use of Calpol. Please dont start another one.

What was it about ? The methods of giving it to a toddler ?

@Mulhollandmagoo I’m obviously not the OP but I imagine it’s more to do with travelling and risking a positive while they’re away because that would be a massive ballache. I understand the desire to take every precaution you can to avoid that even in the knowledge it’s not 100% guaranteed.

Yup mine has been fine wearing it since they were 2. Some very busy important cunts thought it was fine to lean over the buggy hacking in early covid so got nice one and they automatically put them on going into the shops. They're fine.

This site gets more crazed by the day

I’m interested about an hour long flight that can’t be substituted with another form of transport - perhaps you aren’t flying from the UK though.

I wouldn’t put a mask on a two year old. I’ve been glad my two are younger than the mandated ages throughout this mess

@blablablablablablablabla how much is too much, which parents have only given it once in twelve years blah blah blah

FWIW - I don’t think you can compare the two. One issue is medicating a sick child, the other is putting a face covering on a very young child to protect from an illness that would almost certainly have no impact on them. Infact, all you’d probably need is a dose of Calpol

@blablablablablablablabla

I wonder if the way I give my child Calpol and other medicine would also be considered child abuse by you lot. Probably.

Maybe. Hard to say without knowing how you give it.

@WouldBeGood

This site gets more crazed by the day

Agreed.

@RickyZooom ah I see.

It definitely is different. But my DD just won't take it, so we have to force it in her mouth and it's horrible.

When she's really sick she won't drink either, so it can't be hidden. They also gave it to her forcefully at the hospital and I spoke to several doctors if they have any other suggestions and they said you just have to get it in their mouth somehow.

I can imagine on here that would be considered abuse. We hate doing it and aside from maybe getting a suppository, which we haven't been advised to do so far, it seems the only way.

Completely agree with this. I am gobsmacked that the cult of mask is so powerful that people have been conditioned into masking up their two year old children. Horrifying.

Jesus Christ. Those banging on about child abuse are probably the same ones filling their homes with fabuloso and bleach concoctions - there are everyday things more damaging for kids lungs than a mask.