Daycare mandating masks for 2+

[Anonymous]

DD just turned 2 this month and daycare sent a note home today saying that they had to send a child home with a fever and funny nose today and that from now on, all kids 2+ will have to wear masks.

My older daughter didn’t even have to wear a mask until she turned 3 during Covid and I have really mixed feelings about this.

We just started at this daycare after 18 months on the waitlist and I’m having second thoughts - except I don’t know that we’ll get in anywhere else now. I was never against masking during the pandemic and still wear one to travel but 2 seems way too young. WWYD?

[Anonymous]

I would start looking for a new daycare.

[Anonymous]

It's ridiculous to expect toddlers and preschoolers to never get sick. At that age, they are in a constant state of acquiring and building immunity to viruses and bacteria in their everyday environment. That school director is in for a big letdown if they think they can keep the school completely sterile, even with masks.

[Anonymous]

Absurd.

[Anonymous]

I'm all for adults masking when they're sick, I wore a mask around my Dad when he had his heart surgery.l, but asking 2 year olds to mask is just bonkers. They don't have the ability to keep them on, they eat and nap without them all together. It's simply not effective and it has downsides (potentially language). Toddlers share germs, that. I'd push back and if they insist, I'd go elsewhere.

I honestly can't believe a daycare would ask this and I'd be shocked if any parents went along with this.

[Anonymous]

Answer depends on your options. If you have none, you have to teach your child to wear a mask. If you do, then you can consider whether you love the program enough to stay or whether you want
To move. For me masks wouldn’t be a deal breaker if I had options but it would be a factor I’d consider.

[Anonymous]

Ugh. This would bother me. But if you have no other options, what choice do you have?

I will say, I would leave this completely up to them for learning/enforcement. I’d supply the masks, and they’ll need to show her how to wear it and enforce it. I wouldn’t, and I wouldn’t practice or anything. What an unnecessary PITA for kids this age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. This would bother me. But if you have no other options, what choice do you have?

I will say, I would leave this completely up to them for learning/enforcement. I’d supply the masks, and they’ll need to show her how to wear it and enforce it. I wouldn’t, and I wouldn’t practice or anything. What an unnecessary PITA for kids this age.

OP here. That sounds like a reasonable plan. And it is a huge PITA.

[Anonymous]

Absurd. Kids that young can’t mask effectively enough, and I can’t believe we have already forgotten the long speech therapy waitlists in 2021 and 2022.

I would complain politely, once. And then do nothing - they supply masks, and do whatever. You take them off as soon as you see the kid. And that’s that. It’s probably one hyper anxious parent who is forcing this - the teachers know it’s dumb theater.

[Anonymous]

That’s insane.

[Anonymous]

Yeah nope. Sick kids are the norm for daycare and covid is not nearly as bad in little kids. Masks are not appropriate and stunt development. And I say this as someone who wears one when I'm sick and my kids (older ES) do as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. This would bother me. But if you have no other options, what choice do you have?

I will say, I would leave this completely up to them for learning/enforcement. I’d supply the masks, and they’ll need to show her how to wear it and enforce it. I wouldn’t, and I wouldn’t practice or anything. What an unnecessary PITA for kids this age.

This is good advice. Masking two-year-olds is nutty. Do what you have to do for now, but this seems like a really bad sign regarding the daycare's judgment. I think you're going to want to get out of there, but obviously that will take time.

[Anonymous]

Little kids are SO germy, and this is flu season. They're trying to prevent kids from spreading sickness and getting sick. That's great, and exactly what I'd want my daycare to do.

[Anonymous]

The idea that any US -based daycare is requiring 2 year olds to routinely mask in late 2024 strains credibility but in the off chance you aren’t a troll I would immediately focus on finding alternatives and at the same time plaster the internet, local community sites, etc with negative reviews naming and shaming them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. This would bother me. But if you have no other options, what choice do you have?

I will say, I would leave this completely up to them for learning/enforcement. I’d supply the masks, and they’ll need to show her how to wear it and enforce it. I wouldn’t, and I wouldn’t practice or anything. What an unnecessary PITA for kids this age.

This is good advice. Masking two-year-olds is nutty. Do what you have to do for now, but this seems like a really bad sign regarding the daycare's judgment. I think you're going to want to get out of there, but obviously that will take time.

This. I wouldn’t be able to trust them going forward. I’d look for a new daycare.