Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 ··· 9 10

Original poster

To ask if your children wear masks

240 replies

FatimaMunchy · 22/10/2020 19:06

Been to the hospital today and saw a number of children, some probably 5 or 6, wearing masks. I asked a nurse if children had to wear masks as it was a hospital, and she said not that she was aware of.

OP posts:

TartanDMs · 22/10/2020 20:28

Child abuse? That's a strong position to take.

TheDowagerDuchessofMwwwahaha · 22/10/2020 20:28

My dd is 11 (nearly 12 - at secondary) and wears one, although she is technically exempt for medical reasons.

My ds is 6 and doesn’t, although I have masks for him if he wants.

polkadotpixie · 22/10/2020 20:30

Definitely not. He's 2 and I can barely get him to keep his shoes on let alone a mask!

I wouldn't anyway tbh, I think it's too young, maybe 6+ but not babies/toddlers/small children

YouCantBeSadHoldingACupcake · 22/10/2020 20:32

My 9 year old does. My 8 year old will wear it as long as she can (she has autism) my 6 year old can't tolerate one at all (autism again) my 2 year old doesn't, but I may make him when he turns 3 next month

flaviaritt · 22/10/2020 20:32

TartanDMs

I know. So many people have accepted it that I feel a bit of a heel pointing it out, but masks on 2 year olds is disgusting.

Mydarlingsleepthief · 22/10/2020 20:32

Really surprised the amount that do! Mine don’t, they are only 2,4 and 6.

Itisbetter · 22/10/2020 20:34

Mine are older but one of my dc has autism and is exempt and we spent several weeks learning to wear his mask outside. He naturally has many friends/contemporaries who are more vulnerable and I’m so proud he’s doing his bit to keep them safer.

Sunshineonarainydayy · 22/10/2020 20:36

@Leaannb I take it this is not in the UK?

chinateapot · 22/10/2020 20:37

I don’t understand why it’s child abuse? Can you explain to me?

AegonT · 22/10/2020 20:37

My 5 year old does in situations where we wear them. We have her wear one to protect others. She's never questioned it and knows how to put it on and take it off properly. She isn't required to wear it by law but she's perfectly fine wearing one so I get her too. I think it's advised that under 3's shouldn't wear one and that sounds right to me.

dollypops15 · 22/10/2020 20:37

My 15 year old wears a mask. But my 6 year old has autism and I won't put a mask in her as this will cause her distress. Nor will I put a mask in my 2 year old.

flaviaritt · 22/10/2020 20:39

chinateapot

Hard to explain to a person who doesn’t get it already why a 2 year old should be able to breathe unfettered, why they should be able to have their carers see their mouths when they’re happy or sad, why they should be able to learn to communicate with those expressions, why they should be able to walk the world with their normal, actual faces.

If you don’t get it you just don’t. 🤷🏻‍♀️

D4rwin · 22/10/2020 20:44

My son (4) has two. Once he has had to (Covid test at a walk in); other than that at first he wanted to wear one when I was. Now he mainly doesn't want to on any public transport but has asked to at the supermarket. The older two are both teens so they wear them where required.

Montsti · 22/10/2020 20:45

I’m not in the UK but my children have been wearing masks every time we leave the house since April...they don’t go to shops but when we walk or have been to the odd restaurant etc..

They have to wear masks the whole day at school (ages 11, 8 and 6 - Reception). My 3 year old doesn’t wear one and doesn’t have to at school. From Reception up, they have to wear them at school. They’ve all been fine with it...

lioncitygirl · 22/10/2020 20:46

my two dont - 6 and 4. My 6 year old has one though and we encourage her to use it when we go to to the supermarket. My 4 year old is asthmatic so cant (and wont)

Cornishmumofone · 22/10/2020 20:46

My 3 year old doesn't and was not expected to in hospital a fortnight ago... although as she was there because of her asthma it would have been unreasonable to expect her to.

chinateapot · 22/10/2020 20:47

You didn’t specify a 2 year old. At what age does it stop being child abuse?

Children should indeed be able to see their caregivers faces. No one has suggested that 2 year olds should wear masks constantly. So they spend the vast majority of their time able to see their caregivers faces.

I’m also not clear how it fetters their breathing.

Maybe I don’t get it. But I’ve seen my child go through far worse things in the name of maintaining good health (try a radiotherapy mask so tight she couldn’t open her eyes) screwed onto a hard bed for 30 minutes a day). That wasn’t child abuse because it had her best interests at heart. Nor is asking a child who is able to without becoming distressed to wear a mask in hospitals where there are many vulnerable people. I absolutely respect that some children will become unduly distressed by masks - for example some children with autism. This isn’t about them. Most children can.

Tomatoandbasil · 22/10/2020 20:47

My child wears one on the very rare occasion I take her into a shop.

flaviaritt · 22/10/2020 20:50

chinateapot

I was replying to someone who did specify a 2 year old, so sorry you didn’t see that.

There’s no point in us having a long disagreement about this. I am not going to change my mind.

Bazoo23 · 22/10/2020 20:54

Mine are 7 and 3. They dont own masks and hopefully never will have to.

Itisbetter · 22/10/2020 20:56

I agree @chinateapot and my youngest has also endured far more than a mask. I envy people who live lives where mask wearing is such a big bad.

IndecentFeminist · 22/10/2020 20:59

Mine all have one, but only the 10 yr old wears one at the moment. She doesn't always wear it, but often does. We don't often go places that require them however

DragonPie · 22/10/2020 20:59

Nope.

Dugsbollox · 22/10/2020 20:59

@SilverOnToast

All the 3-5 year olds wear them at my school (USA). I was also dubious about it, but there honestly isn’t one student (even the really sensory kids) who has an issue with them.

My daughter has ASD/SPD (7) and loves the feeling of anonymity masks bring. She does chew gum so that she’s not tempted to chew the mask, and the gum has brought about loads of secondary benefits such as increased focus from the sensory input. Most kids seem to love checking out the new mask designs/ patterns etc. They also know it keeps us all safe and allows us to attend school in person.

Also trending are the little character sanitisers that hook on to their school backpacks.

My oldest is also on the spectrum and likes his too! I think it's the "hiding" aspect he likes as well. I totally understand other people's experiences of their child not being able to wear them, I'm glad for them that it isn't enforced. But glad personally that DS enjoys his. I actually have to tell him to take his off when we're able to, meanwhile I'm coming out of shops tearing mine off immediately

Laurendelight · 22/10/2020 21:03

Yes if they're in crowded places or going inside (which is not often as I don't feel kids need to pop into shops/pubs etc)

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 ··· 9 10