Children and masks.

[QueenofmyPrinces]

Is anyone using masks for their young children?

I’m referring particularly to children aged 5, 6, 7 etc

My nieces and nephews (6,4,2) all have them. Not sure how often they wear them but they are encouraged to do so. 6 year old is high risk though

Granddaughter age 5 in Scotland wears them, not here in England though.

My DS (6) has to wear them in Scotland and it is a right pain because he wears glasses and cannot often see. Don't see the point to be honest as none of them fit particularly well ...

I know they are a suffocation risk on under 3s. I have a 4yr old and a 1 yr old and DH is shielding group. No they aren’t wearing mask but I haven’t taken them anywhere inside. My 4 year old would fiddle with it all the time so it wouldn’t be effective.

where I am all children from 7years old are expected to wear face coverings.
most children wear bandanas though.

I've taken my 8yr old to a couple of shops recently and she's worn hers, my 6yr old point blank refuses to wear one, he is also more than happy to stay at home though so it doesn't really matter at the moment. When I do have to take him to get new school shoes and a haircut I'm not going to force him to wear one.

In England, those under 11 are not required to wear a mask. Those under 3 should not wear a mask as they are a strangulation/suffocation hazard. Mine will not be wearing masks. They go to nursery anyway and there's no masks there. The rest of the time we spent outdoors or at home. Very rarely take them into a shop.

I have a 6 year old and the thought of making him walk around with a mask on just makes me feel a little sad for some reason.

My friends keep posting photos on FB of their young children wearing masks (Disney and Marvel designs etc) and it just seems so strange.

Maybe it’s because I hate the though of children being raised in a world where everyone has to wear masks and cover their faces when they leave their house.

I went to the supermarket earlier and it felt so surreal to not be able to see any faces and there being masks everywhere.

It just made me feel unsettled.

My youngest thinks they are brilliant. Her and her BFF have quite a collection, rainbows, unicorns, lurid pink with sequins etc. She is 6, I only let her have fabric ones with an ear hole as didn't want her having elastic around her head.

My 5 year old, who also wears glasses, wears one with no issues. We don’t go into shops often though so it’s rarely needed. While he’s happy to wear one then I think he should, but if he struggled with it then I wouldn’t insist.

My six year old has one and wears it when he wants to. When he first started seeing people in masks, I explained it is to keep everyone safe and then he wanted to wear one. I don’t put any pressure on him and obviously he can take it off whenever he wants to.

I don’t see any harm in it as long as it’s a choice.

I personally find the masks reassuring, the opposite to you OP. My younger DS (aged 2) has a rare respiratory condition and it makes me feel more positive about taking him out and about again.

In England under 11s don't need to wear them. In Scotland it's under 5s that are exempt. I have teens and they rarely leave the house so haven't worn any yet

No, no need. It's not law, therefore they won't. And for what it's worth I disagree with everyone being forced to do it, because it's stopping people social distancing now, which is far better in my mind.

Plus my 7 year old finds it all a bit spooky, it's bad enough for him that his parents and all the other adults are doing it. It's made him talk about Covid A LOT, whereas he didn't before.

Dc over 2 have to wear them in my State it doesn't seem to cause dc anymore problems than anyone else.
My dc don't love them but they have adapted.

My dc wear them for hospital appointments. They don't wear them for school or walking outside and they don't go anywhere else. My 6 year old loved wearing one. He kept telling everyone he was a dr and wanted a set of scrubs as well! My 7 year old gets scared when he sees people wearing masks.

My nearly 5 year old wears theirs no problem and they don’t fidget with it either.
I don’t get all the fuss about them tbh if you can then you should wear one.

My 7 and 10yos are both wearing masks in public outdoor areas. They are fine with it and understand the need.

My 3 year old wears one in a shop but I’m avoiding taking her in shops although in all fairness I avoided that before Covid as it was just easier

The US states with mask laws, including ours, require them for all children over 2. My 3YO doesn’t have to wear one in her daycare class room, which is good because I don’t think she’d keep it on all day, but will wear one happily for short periods like to go the loo whilst at a restaurant. Kids are often more adaptable than you think.

@QueenofmyPrinces can understand your feelings of sadness about mask wearing as I have a 3 year old and 10 month old. But I honestly think the kids are not bothered as much as us adults. My DCs are too young to wear masks but they have both been to the supermarket on Friday and neither seemed bothered. My 3 yr old knows they are to “stop germs” and even my 10 month old can still tell when I am smiling at him with a mask on as he was smiling back at me sat in the trolly. I wear a cotton one with a nice flower design so it doesn’t look too clinical. Plus it’s only in shops, they still get to see plenty of people not wearing masks outside. Still hoping it will be a temporary thing though

No, no need. It's not law, therefore they won't. And for what it's worth I disagree with everyone being forced to do it, because it's stopping people social distancing now, which is far better in my mind.

You won't do it unless forced, but you disagree with being forced.

This is the essence of the issue in the UK. People don't like being told to do things, but won't do them when asked nicely. The twp approaches that seem to work are 'ask nicely and people comply' (Canada) or 'tell everyone and force them' (China). The worst approach 'random bollocks with some enforcement but terrible advice' (US and UK, particularly England) really doesn't work.

I've just come back from the shops and I would say that 20% of 6-11 year old were wearing them.

I would take your friends photos with a pinch of salt. Highly likely this is a bullshit social media thing to make the parents seem considerate. I would bet that the kids took th after shortly after the photo

My just turned 3 year old refuses to wear one, she is scared of them and people wearing them. Tried everything and nothing works so we are basically stuck at home again....

Disney Store are refusing entry to anyone over the age of TWO unless wearing a mask which I think is ridiculous

I'm in Scotland and my 7 year old wears a mask no problem. He understands why and has not been fussed about it in the slightest. Children are, in the main, very adaptable.