Can I refuse to put on face masks on kids

[Roxymumoftwokids]

I am taking my daughter for a haircut today, she is 8. I will also have to bring my son (5). I received an email this morning that both adults and children have to wear face masks at the hair salon. Will it be reasonable to refuse to put on face masks on children? Thanks. X

If you refuse to comply, they can refuse to cut their hair.
Children in other countries wear masks from kindergarten upwards- why is it difficult for U.K. children?

@NotBot

Well, yes. But they can refuse to cut their hair. It’s unusual.. I’ve not been anywhere that has a mask rule for under 10’s as that’s the official guidance.

We are booked in next weekend, no chance on Earth my toddler would keeps her on. There’s more chance of me going to the moon 😂 same applies to hats on her head!

If you take your kids abroad, any child over the age of 1 us to wear a mask. If they attend his it is age 3+. The rule you refer to is the guidance provided by government. Businesses can make their ow rules, quite a few in my are insist on all over are 3 wearing masks

Yabu. Assuming that this is England I'd say that the rule was unreasonable but you shouldn't refuse to put a mask on them and make it awkward for the hairdresser.

Book another place which doesn't have the rule.

If you're in the UK they're not mandatory for under 11's.

So the hairdresser is being unreasonable to ask.

They may insist though so be prepared not to get your hair cut.

I doubt they will enforce it to be honest.
Not long now til we can ditch them altogether, can't wait.

A business owner can set their own rules for their business premises.

Continuing to wear masks is one of the protections which is being discussed as remaining as the Delta cases increase.

In England they are only mandatory over age 11. In Scotland they must be worn by dc 5 and over.

@haggisaggis

In England they are only mandatory over age 11. In Scotland they must be worn by dc 5 and over.

Apologies, I didn't know that!

Their business, their rules. They won't be unreasonable to turn you away and you won't be unreasonable to cancel.

I would book elsewhere. Plenty of places take a more sensible stance.

My children are 8 and 4 and are yet to own or wear masks.

Why can't they just wear the masks?

If you don't want them to, I think you should cancel the appointment, but I don't see how it will do them any harm to wear masks for the length of time it takes to cut their hair?

Not in the UK, dc over 2 have been wearing masks for months here, only just starting to ease up.
Not really understanding the fuss in the UK about mask wearing.
Just find another hairdresser OP if you don't want to follow the rules of the business.

You can refuse. Equally, they can refuse to cut your hair.
Instead of wasting everyone’s time, why don’t you just book a hairdresser with more lax rules???

Some business compromise i was in Starbucks today with my 8 year old they said one person ONLY in the toilets at a time I asked was it OK if I went in with ds because....(he miowed loudly behind his mask) without missing a beat she said yes of course! (He has obviously got some additional needs which means toileting needs to be supervised or else a mop is needed)

But really what is the issue with the mask? Practice makes perfect and I don't think we will see the back of them anytime soon

I'd ring ahead and just ask if it's okay the two younger ones don't wear a mask, if not no worries but you will have to cancel

I'd just cancel. You might be able to cut their hair yourself and save money too. I'm desperate to get my own cut properly, but not desperate enough to sit in a mask, so that's what I'm doing for myself and kids.

To clarify, I have no issues with masks. My 4 year old will sometimes wear one although I don’t force her as it’s not mandatory. She plays with it & takes it on & off so to be honest, it’s probably more germy 🙈 but my 16 month old, no chance in hell. I envy parents whose young kids wear hats with no fuss. Neither of mine kept them on as under 3’s & I religious followed them around, putting them back on 5000x a day. Both of them would play that game ALL day. I tried 100 different hats. My eldest started loving hats when she turned 3.. so I’m sure my youngest will get there eventually! 🙈

This is really easy. They have warned you in advance of their rules. You are not special enough to avoid them. Save yourself and them the embarrassment and go elsewhere.

Extremely unreasonable of the hairdresser to enforce this rule when the general requirement is only for over 11s. I would cancel and go elsewhere and tell them why.

If you don't like their rules, go elsewhere. I don't get the big deal about kids wearing masks though - plenty of countries mandate it for 2-3 year olds, and they seem to manage surprisingly well. I'm not sure why UK kids struggle where other kids don't...

I've got a 3 year old myself and although I don't force her to wear a mask, sometimes she chooses to, and where we've been places that mandate it for her shey (they do exist), she's been able to keep it on fine. I think we underestimate children a lot.