Flying with a young two year old - masks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All depends on which flight attendants you get. Bring lots of snacks and drinks and hope for the best. Sit the child by the window so he’s less visible to other passengers. Flight attendants don’t tend to walk up and down the aisle during the flight, so once the service cart passes by, you should be fine.

Your moral compass points south.

What are you, communist? The government determines your “moral compass”? Get a new one. Mandatory masking 2 year olds ain’t it, moron. [/quote

I suppose you are superior as well to not have to follow the regulation that our “communist” tsa has put out for now.

[Anonymous]

We just flew internationally where the mask requirements are less strict. Kids weren't masked if under the age of 5 and if you medically couldn't make you didn't have to. No questions asked.

Far cry from here in the US where I have seen people (not children) reminded again and again to put their mask on. It is a total crap shoot and really dependent on the flight attendants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All depends on which flight attendants you get. Bring lots of snacks and drinks and hope for the best. Sit the child by the window so he’s less visible to other passengers. Flight attendants don’t tend to walk up and down the aisle during the flight, so once the service cart passes by, you should be fine.

OP here - this is a good point. I think we'll probably mask him for boarding and then hope it's out of sight, out of mind. He'll definitely have the window seat.

So regulation that still is in effect doesn’t apply to your family? You must be superior.

This is the OP. He's been old enough for a mask for FOUR WEEKS. We're doing our best here, just like everyone else. Back off.

Your best is underhanded?

OP here. Right now? Yes.

Wow! Just WOW! Some people shouldn’t have children.

[Anonymous]

Why did you ask if you already decided you are going against regulations and good principles? And why did you book a flight if you knew it was an issue before? Non of this makes sense.

[Anonymous]

*None

[Anonymous]

Wow there are some nutty posters on this thread. The mask stuff makes people crazy.

Put it on for boarding. Try your best to keep it on before takeoff, but if he won’t wear it just give a lot of snacks. Once you are in the air, there isn’t really anything they can do. They’re not going to turn the plane around over this.

I’ve flown multiple times with my new 2 year old and it’s fine. They just want to see you try at boarding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son turned two in January and in a couple weeks, we are flying (his first flight!)

Anyone fly recently with a kid this age? How strict are they about masks? We have a little cloth mask for him, and he likes wearing it generally, but it's only be 30 mins at a time to go into stores, maybe 3 times? So he's very new at this. He's not in daycare, so he's never had to wear it very long. The flight is about two hours, and we are honestly hoping he sleeps (it's right during nap time) but I don't think he'll sleep with the mask on.

We filled in his birthdate when we bought the tickets so the flight attendants theoretically know that he's over age two. Not sure if my best bet is to just not even try, and if asked say he's not two yet, so everyone can save face, or if we should try the mask but not worry to much about it unless the flight attendants insist, or if we should attempt to be really strict about it (which probably means an overtired, cranky kid).

I can't imagine this rinky dink cloth mask that is under his nose half the time is doing much anyway... I mean, his nose is like a centimeter from his eyes, it's really hard to keep positioned correctly, and we're new at this.

Incredibly strict. They know his age from the flight info and will expect him to wear it as well as an adult (over the nose too). And to sneak food under it to eat, not take it all the way off. Be prepared or delay the trip.

I've flown multiple domestic flights with my 2 and 5 year old. I always put her correct DOB on our travel info. She's entered the plane without her mask on multiple times. The rest of the flight my kids snack and suck lollipops and nobody has ever said a word to them or to me. Don't delay your trip. If someone comes over to you, just tell them you'll do your very best, and be nice. It'll be fine.

OP here. Thank you, this is helpful (unlike the previous poster - dude, even the airlines say you can take your mask off to eat, two year olds obviously don't need to eat under their masks).

I guess my question is - he would definitely wear the mask to board without a problem. But if we do that, then the "jig is up" that he has a mask and is old enough to wear it, so I'm concerned if he's trying to sleep without it, he'll get called out by the flight attendants, while if we just go maskless right from jump (with one in my pocket just in case, of course) everyone will just assume he's 23 months instead of 25 months and it'll never even be an issue. What would you recommend?

I have found them to be incredible strict. You can take it off to put a bit of food in your mouth and then you must replace it to chew/swallow and so on. I have a four year old and we do get comments if she takes it off from flight attendants. I do my best, remind my daughter. I am nice. you will honestly be replacing it constantly. I also put my daughter by the window where she is less visible. if she falls asleep I take the mask off of course. I would think, it this is your son's first flight, he will be too excited to sleep. Start explaining to him now and have him practice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow there are some nutty posters on this thread. The mask stuff makes people crazy.

Put it on for boarding. Try your best to keep it on before takeoff, but if he won’t wear it just give a lot of snacks. Once you are in the air, there isn’t really anything they can do. They’re not going to turn the plane around over this.

I’ve flown multiple times with my new 2 year old and it’s fine. They just want to see you try at boarding.

So stick it to everyone else, got it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why did you ask if you already decided you are going against regulations and good principles? And why did you book a flight if you knew it was an issue before? Non of this makes sense.

Crickets from the op?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow there are some nutty posters on this thread. The mask stuff makes people crazy.

Put it on for boarding. Try your best to keep it on before takeoff, but if he won’t wear it just give a lot of snacks. Once you are in the air, there isn’t really anything they can do. They’re not going to turn the plane around over this.

I’ve flown multiple times with my new 2 year old and it’s fine. They just want to see you try at boarding.

So stick it to everyone else, got it.

Well yes because 2 years old is not a developmentally appropriate age to expect a child to wear a fully-sealed, effective mask for multiple hours at a time.

But the good news is you are a grownup and can protect yourself by wearing a high-quality mask just fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow there are some nutty posters on this thread. The mask stuff makes people crazy.

Put it on for boarding. Try your best to keep it on before takeoff, but if he won’t wear it just give a lot of snacks. Once you are in the air, there isn’t really anything they can do. They’re not going to turn the plane around over this.

I’ve flown multiple times with my new 2 year old and it’s fine. They just want to see you try at boarding.

So stick it to everyone else, got it.

Well yes because 2 years old is not a developmentally appropriate age to expect a child to wear a fully-sealed, effective mask for multiple hours at a time.

But the good news is you are a grownup and can protect yourself by wearing a high-quality mask just fine.

You should’ve been on the panel when the regulation was implemented. Maybe the poster can screen shot your “developmentally appropriate” comment and the airlines will learn something new from it. Btw, where is that “developmentally appropriate study on masking 2 years old” study.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow there are some nutty posters on this thread. The mask stuff makes people crazy.

Put it on for boarding. Try your best to keep it on before takeoff, but if he won’t wear it just give a lot of snacks. Once you are in the air, there isn’t really anything they can do. They’re not going to turn the plane around over this.

I’ve flown multiple times with my new 2 year old and it’s fine. They just want to see you try at boarding.

So stick it to everyone else, got it.

Well yes because 2 years old is not a developmentally appropriate age to expect a child to wear a fully-sealed, effective mask for multiple hours at a time.

But the good news is you are a grownup and can protect yourself by wearing a high-quality mask just fine.

Shouldn’t booked the flight then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son turned two in January and in a couple weeks, we are flying (his first flight!)

Anyone fly recently with a kid this age? How strict are they about masks? We have a little cloth mask for him, and he likes wearing it generally, but it's only be 30 mins at a time to go into stores, maybe 3 times? So he's very new at this. He's not in daycare, so he's never had to wear it very long. The flight is about two hours, and we are honestly hoping he sleeps (it's right during nap time) but I don't think he'll sleep with the mask on.

We filled in his birthdate when we bought the tickets so the flight attendants theoretically know that he's over age two. Not sure if my best bet is to just not even try, and if asked say he's not two yet, so everyone can save face, or if we should try the mask but not worry to much about it unless the flight attendants insist, or if we should attempt to be really strict about it (which probably means an overtired, cranky kid).

I can't imagine this rinky dink cloth mask that is under his nose half the time is doing much anyway... I mean, his nose is like a centimeter from his eyes, it's really hard to keep positioned correctly, and we're new at this.

You’re complaining about the “rinky dink” mask he has. Wouldn’t you have been the one who chose it for him? You picked the date to fly and now you don’t want to follow the rules that have already been in place? Can’t complain about it after, that’s ridiculous. You know you are wrong and are here fishing for support.

[Anonymous]

OP here. "Crickets," ha, I did something else for 45 minutes! Sheesh!

There are a few posts that people are assuming are me, they are not - all the posts from me are explicitly labeled as such.

I didn't not come here for validation, I wanted to know how the regulations translate to real life for two year olds. For those of you who have kids around this age and have provided info on your experience and advice on how you handle things, thank you! That's been really helpful. If any other such folks want to weigh in, I'm really interested in your experience and what worked/didn't work.

Interesting that none of the real sticklers have actually flown with two year olds, militantly having them sip drinks under their masks with their perfectly fitting N95s worn correctly 100% of time. They just see a rule and they are here. for. it. Black and white, no grey at all!! REGULATIONS! Glad to see you never had a drink at age 20 and I'm sure you're carefully reading the emergency instructions in the seat back pocket during every flight. You must have fun driving on the beltway at 55 MPH. 56 is against the LAW! Hahaha.

Anyway, thanks again for the real life stories - keep em coming, and everyone else, keep it up, you're entertaining me on a tough day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son turned two in January and in a couple weeks, we are flying (his first flight!)

Anyone fly recently with a kid this age? How strict are they about masks? We have a little cloth mask for him, and he likes wearing it generally, but it's only be 30 mins at a time to go into stores, maybe 3 times? So he's very new at this. He's not in daycare, so he's never had to wear it very long. The flight is about two hours, and we are honestly hoping he sleeps (it's right during nap time) but I don't think he'll sleep with the mask on.

We filled in his birthdate when we bought the tickets so the flight attendants theoretically know that he's over age two. Not sure if my best bet is to just not even try, and if asked say he's not two yet, so everyone can save face, or if we should try the mask but not worry to much about it unless the flight attendants insist, or if we should attempt to be really strict about it (which probably means an overtired, cranky kid).

I can't imagine this rinky dink cloth mask that is under his nose half the time is doing much anyway... I mean, his nose is like a centimeter from his eyes, it's really hard to keep positioned correctly, and we're new at this.

Incredibly strict. They know his age from the flight info and will expect him to wear it as well as an adult (over the nose too). And to sneak food under it to eat, not take it all the way off. Be prepared or delay the trip.

I've flown multiple domestic flights with my 2 and 5 year old. I always put her correct DOB on our travel info. She's entered the plane without her mask on multiple times. The rest of the flight my kids snack and suck lollipops and nobody has ever said a word to them or to me. Don't delay your trip. If someone comes over to you, just tell them you'll do your very best, and be nice. It'll be fine.

+1. They are not "incredibly strict," at all. And you honestly think busy flight attendants are checking birthdates of young children?