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Original poster

Children and masks.

97 replies

QueenofmyPrinces · 25/07/2020 14:21

Is anyone using masks for their young children?

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

OP posts:
ChristmasinJune · 25/07/2020 15:09

Yes ds is almost 8, he's got Minecraft ones. We've chatted about the need to wear them and although he doesn't love the feel of them he's happy enough to wear them for short periods if necessary.

PJ6M · 25/07/2020 15:10

Jesus fucking wept...

Oh boohoo... It's sad. It's spooky. I don't like it. Wah wah wah.

You people don't know what real life is actually like, wrapped up in cotton wool and as entitled as you are.

Fucking love to see how you'd cope with the world war that your distant relatives had to live through.

Get a fucking grip.

KayEngel · 25/07/2020 15:14

@PJ6M what a nasty angry person.

isittheholidaysyet · 25/07/2020 15:17

My 9 year old DD spent a long time choosing a style and fabric she liked.
My teen DS's couldn't be bothered to choose so I have chosen for them.
Obviously the teens will have to wear them, so I wanted to give DD the choice, but I will not make her wear it, nor stop her from wearing it.

MrsTerryPratchett · 25/07/2020 15:17

[quote KayEngel]@PJ6M what a nasty angry person.[/quote]
Some historians are now saying people in wars sometimes complained as well. And didn't like it. Shock I know Grin

Hoggleludo · 25/07/2020 15:18

Yup. Both mine wear one. Aged 6-8

bravefox · 25/07/2020 15:18

3yr old DD wanted to get one, so we got her one. Happily wears it whenever we put ours on.

SkinSkin · 25/07/2020 15:20

@MrsTerryPratchett

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.

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

Wrong! I'm saying it's now much more unsafe now and I disagree with it.

It seems that masks - not proven to make much difference - have replaced social distancing. Some main supermarkets have removed ALL social distancing measures overnight when masks became mandatory. Social distancing IS safer than masks, so why substitute more for less? I'm totally against that.

Also, my kids have been in school throughout and not one single teacher or child went off with coronavirus. Not even one. Children really are not a risk and so of course I'm not going to volunteer to force them to wear a mask with limited science behind it.

I'm sorry you think that my rational logic is what's the ruination of this country! But I'm sorry to also say I disagree with you and my disagreement is just as valid as yours, so, we'll just have to agree to disagree.

Hoggleludo · 25/07/2020 15:21

@netflixismysidehustle my young kids wear them all the time when out. In shops.

wonkylegs · 25/07/2020 15:24

I'm generally not taking the 4yo to places where he needs a mask but where we are mixing with other people he's worn one no bother. It's not optional at the hospital so he wore one for a couple of hours at my last visit. He's relaxed and awesome about it. I think if you don't make too much of an issue about it they are not to bothered by it.
Ours have ties behind the head and are a very soft cotton so they are quite comfortable and don't pull on the ears or slip

okiedokieme · 25/07/2020 15:24

@netflixismysidehustle

Only about 60% of adults were wearing them. The excuses .... Waitrose security were having a hard time. I seriously doubt anyone genuinely couldn't wear one for the 40 mins or so it takes to do a shop (severe asthmatics and copd aren't likely to be doing a huge shop as still shielding and it was couples neither wearing masks, what's the likelihood of neither being able???) Yes I know about hidden disabilities but 40% of shoppers, what's the point of me walking into stuff because my glasses are steamed up if I catch it anyway from the mask registers. I think supermarkets should make the 60 something bolshy mask refuses wait outside and fetch their shopping, they will soon comply which protects us who wear masks!

NatalieH2220 · 25/07/2020 15:34

My three year old wears one when needed. We don't take him to shops so it's not very often but he wants to be like us when we do go out.

Kids don't have to so if they don't want to then fine but I'd much prefer he wears one when we do if he's happy to.

SimonJT · 25/07/2020 15:47

Mine isn’t as he’s five an asthmatic, we don’t really go inside many places.

My boyfriend got a bit stuck this morning, he has limited use of his hands so he took his mask to go into town, but he hasn’t been anywhere on his own where he needs to wear one, he couldn’t put it on and obviously couldn’t ask anyone for help. Hes ordered a faceshield as he will be able to get that on and off.

ThatDamnScientist · 25/07/2020 15:54

We have tried with dd2. She is 5 and autistic. She really has tried very hard but it ends in a meltdown every time Sad (dd1 autistic and asthmatic can wear one but she is older). A large amount of your children in her class are wearing them when out and about from what I have seen and I am grateful those that can do.

OneForMeToo · 25/07/2020 16:25

My children all have them but I haven’t taken them anywhere they needed to wear one anyway. To go shopping only one adult goes etc. Dentist was cancelled, schools closed etc

Waxonwaxoff0 · 25/07/2020 16:28

My 7 year old isn't wearing one. He's not required to, so I'm not going to make him. I don't like them, I'll wear one myself as I'm required to but I hope it isn't a long term thing.

Original poster
QueenofmyPrinces · 25/07/2020 16:45

I really, really hope this isn’t a long term thing either but I have a bad feeling this will be going on for months. It will then no doubt resurface again in the winter and then we’ll all be wearing them again.

I still wouldn’t be surprised if they become mandatory in schools too at some point.

I have one friend in particular who is obsessed with face masks and how without them we are all destined to catch Covid and it is the masks that are going to save us all etc. She has a 5 year old daughter who wears a mask everywhere. I cannot envisage how my friend will let her child go back to school in September if nobody, pupils and staff, aren’t wearing masks.

OP posts:
bugsandbees · 25/07/2020 19:03

DDs are 8 and 4. I've bought masks for them, just in case they might be needed, but they've never worn them except trying them out at home. I find mine uncomfortable to wear, and I only wear it when legally necessary, so I don't think they should have to experience that if they're not required to.

Stellaris22 · 25/07/2020 19:40

Our 7 year old daughter wears hers, we got a cute design for her and it works with her glasses.

She completely understands the need to wear one when in shops or enclosed space and it doesn't make her feel fearful. She also understands social distancing even when wearing her mask.

Stellaris22 · 25/07/2020 19:43

As another poster said, kids are adaptable. If you make a big fuss about wearing one then of course it's going to make them scared or anxious.

But it's not a legal requirement if under 11.

chinateapot · 25/07/2020 19:44

My daughter is 7 and wears a mask quite happily.

Including for a five hour hospital trip and an hour of that being inside an an MRI scanner. It doesn’t even feature on her radar of Bad Things.

I realise some children (and adults) with additional needs / disabilities will struggle with masks but the vast majority will be just fine, especially if the adults around them are modelling that.

Original poster
QueenofmyPrinces · 25/07/2020 19:54

Well I’m a nurse, so well used to wearing a mask, my son knows I wear a mask all day at work and why......but it still makes me feel a bit low to see him and other children wearing them. It’s starting to feel like a world where we all need to be fearful of each other and I guess I just feel upset that our children are now having to be part of that too.

I guess I have just always thought that young children should generally live worry free lives, not have to walk around with their faces covered and them knowing that if they don’t then potentially they may get a dangerous virus.

It’s all just a bit bleak isn’t it.

OP posts:
chinateapot · 25/07/2020 20:15

It’s very sad and bleak - but unfortunately that’s the way things are just now. My daughter has just been through a year of chemo / radiotherapy including wearing a radiotherapy mask screwed onto a bed - it makes me feel desperately sad that she experienced that and of course she never should have - but that’s what the situation at the time dictated she needed to do. If kids wearing masks will reduce transmission (and probably it will, a bit) I’m all for it

Original poster
QueenofmyPrinces · 25/07/2020 20:24

Very sorry to read that about your daughter, what an awful year it must have been for you both. I hope she is doing ok now Flowers

OP posts:
BogRollBOGOF · 25/07/2020 20:50

Absolutely not.
DS (9) has ASD and can't bear to wear things like trousers or school jumpers.
DS (7) has asthma which is triggered by air quality. I'm not going to risk triggering an asthma attack for no good reason.

They do not need tp wear them according to the government.
They have been in very few situations to place them at risk in over 4 months. My city has one case here and one case there being picked up in a population of 250,000 people, so the chances of any of us being assymptomatic super spreaders is minimal, so pretty much no benefit to risking their mental or physical wellbeing.

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