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Original poster

Am I bad parent for not putting a mask on my 4 yo?

151 replies

Mummypig2020 · 21/07/2020 13:02

Iv seen SO many young children wearing masks and gloves. Iv decided not to make my Dd wear one. Does this make me a bad parent? I really struggle to wear one.

OP posts:
DidSheReallySayThat20 · 21/07/2020 20:47

My 2 yr old Does because she wants to and thinks it's fun.. When I purchased ours from a local lady I got her a couple as I knew she'd want what we have.
It often falls off behind her ears though.
But if she decides to fully remove it that's fair enough.

In fact seeing people wear them has become so normal to her that when she plays her role play shop. She asks to wear it 😂

frasersmummy · 21/07/2020 20:48

kids wear them in scotland because its the law..or the guidance or the advice or whatever they call it

basically Nicola Sturgeon said anyone over the age of 5 (with the usual health exceptions)

CaptainMerica · 21/07/2020 21:48

My 6yo has to wear one (Scotland), so my 3yo always wears one too, as he wants to be like his big brother. I wouldn't force him if he didn't want to, but he's pretty good at keeping it on and not fiddling.

JenandFlo · 21/07/2020 21:51

I’ve bought one for my 7 year old if he has to go to GP. But he has no need to go into shops, he hasn’t been in a shop for 4 months.

Iliketeaagain · 21/07/2020 21:54

I bought one for my 2 yo dd, mainly because her older sister has one, as do me and DH and she'd just want what we have.. if she wears it, fine, if she doesn't, at least she has one so she doesn't want ours!

Iliketeaagain · 21/07/2020 21:54

I bought one for my 2 yo dd, mainly because her older sister has one, as do me and DH and she'd just want what we have.. if she wears it, fine, if she doesn't, at least she has one so she doesn't want ours!

BogRollBOGOF · 21/07/2020 21:55

My 7 yo with asthma will not be wearing a mask, particularly as one of his asthma triggers is warm, humid air.
My 9 yo with ASD and sensory processing issues that mean he can't wear trousers or long sleeved t-shirts or most textures of jumper will not be wearing a mask.

There are growing reports from around the world that indicate that u15s are very unlikely to transmit the virus and they present minimal harm to adults, and therefore it is unjustifuable to risk DS2's physical health and DS1's mental health by putting virtue signalling masks on with minimal public health benefit.

Passmethecrisps · 21/07/2020 21:59

My 3 year old wears one because we asked her and she agreed. I wouldn’t have fought her about it if she had refused. Randomly recently she got distressed while I was putting it on but she has been fine 99% of the time.

Early doors (months ago now actually) I bought some very cute buffs in unicorn and mermaid patterns and presented them as face masks. They don’t get used at all as actually the disposable ones are nicer to wear but I think the mental Prep was good

Personally I think it’s nice to try but don’t get all caught up about it.

Passmethecrisps · 21/07/2020 22:01

I am also in Scotland so that probably makes a difference as it is currently unusual to see anyone without a mask.

anothermansmother · 21/07/2020 22:07

No, my dd10 doesn't wear one, but my ds 13 does and has been for months if we've gone inside anywhere except our house.

Pebblexox · 21/07/2020 22:11

Yanbu. Masks aren't compulsory for children under 11, and aren't advised for much younger children anyway.

Poppydaisie · 21/07/2020 22:17

I think anyone aged 5 and over should wear a mask out in public if they can. That's the best way to avoid spreading the virus.

FeeeelixTheChat · 21/07/2020 22:29

My 4 year old wears one. He genuinely couldn't care less, jabbers away to me as normal. He's just accepted it as something that he does now.

I think a lot of parents project their anxieties and discomfort about mask wearing onto their children. NT children are a resilient and adaptable bunch. It's the adults who have the problem.

LilyPond2 · 21/07/2020 22:41

If you are taking your DD into enclosed public spaces such as public transport or shops and you think she might be capable of wearing a mask properly, I think you should at least try to get her to wear a mask and see how she gets on with it. I don't think the issue is whether or not you are a "bad parent". At age 4 the risk of your DD getting a serious case of Covid is very low. The point is that if she is able to cope with wearing a mask properly then if she does get Covid she is at less risk of passing it on to others who may be at higher risk. If your DD refuses to wear a mask, I wouldn't make an issue of it. She is still very young. However, if that's the case I think the morally right thing to do is to only take her into shops or on public transport if it's essential.

VashtaNerada · 21/07/2020 22:46

In London I’ve seen loads of children wearing them. DS (8) wears one on the tube without problems. I can see that a younger child might struggle though.

LilyPond2 · 21/07/2020 22:47

Completely agree with Feeeelix. Young children are generally resilient and very good at coping with change. The issue with masks is that many adults are projecting their own anxieties on to their children. Children are often much more idealistic than adults and by age 4 most children have developed empathy, so I think many children will be happy to wear a mask if the reasons for doing so are explained to them in a calm age appropriate way.

GFqueen · 21/07/2020 22:54

My GP surgery requires all children over 2 to wear a mask or face covering in the building. So it's not just over 11s.

APurpleSquirrel · 21/07/2020 23:12

I've got masks for both DC (5 & 2). However, as it's not compulsory I haven't made either wear them. I took them both to a supermarket yesterday & as I was wearing a mask DD (5) wanted to try hers but she lasted only a few minutes & wanted to take it off. She may change her mind again as time passes & sees more people out with them but for now I'm letting her decide.
I'm only going to use DS (2) if absolutely necessary.
You are not a bad parent.

Thegentleman · 22/07/2020 01:20

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the request of the OP due to circumstances out of their control.

Discobar · 22/07/2020 03:07

My 4 year old loves wearing his spiderman cloth one

Scottishgirl85 · 22/07/2020 07:19

My 2 and 5 year old will absolutely not be wearing masks!

Sailingblue · 22/07/2020 07:29

I haven’t seen a single small child in a mask. Maybe it’s area dependent though as I don’t use public transport with them. My 4yo chews hers sleeves at the best of times. A mask has no chance.

Poppydaisie · 22/07/2020 07:53

Our GP surgery also requires anyone aged over 2 years to wear a mask.

It's not been a problem- most young children will happily wear one.

U8myufo · 22/07/2020 07:53

I've bought one for my 4 year old just in case we need to go on public transport. I realise she doesn't have to wear one at that age its more to save us getting verbally abused. I won't be forcing her to wear it otherwise. I haven't seen many kids in masks around here so it must be a regional thing.

Makinganewthinghappen · 22/07/2020 08:01

I bought my older children masks (teenagers ) and my younger ones were asking for some. I got my 4 year old a paw patrol mask and she was so pleased she wore it for hours when it arrived.

She just sees it as a dress up thing I think! And she happily keeps it on on the train etc.