Getting 2yo to wear a mask

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been having the same problem with my 2 year old. To make matters worse she is teething and thus drooling a lot. The mask gets wet, and then ice cold because we are outside and she rips it off. Ill try a giving her a second mask but at that point she is done and I cant get her to keep it on.

If the mask is wet she is 100% better off without. It will be collecting all the spittle floating around in the air and leaving some of her's behind.

[Anonymous]

Get the Disney masks! My kids have Mickey ones that they love to wear (I think they just view it as another opportunity to wear Mickey). Other masks they could take or leave, but they will proactively request their Mickey masks when we go outside.

[Anonymous]

My now-25-month-old has been wearing a mask since she was about 18 or 19 months old, when we began practicing.

We started with:

1) Telling her, "Just as we put on clothes and shoes when we go outside, we put on masks when we go outside." Now that also,includes a coat, hat, mittens, etc.
2) Letting her put masks on her dolls.
3) Praising when she left her mask on for more than a few minutes, which has now built to her tolerating it for a few hours at a time.
4) Letting her choose among her masks so she always has the one she likes at that moment.

We don't make a big deal of it anymore, just as I don't make a big deal out of her keeping her clothes or shoes on. She sees everyone else wearing masks, and she complies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My now-25-month-old has been wearing a mask since she was about 18 or 19 months old, when we began practicing.

We started with:

1) Telling her, "Just as we put on clothes and shoes when we go outside, we put on masks when we go outside." Now that also,includes a coat, hat, mittens, etc.
2) Letting her put masks on her dolls.
3) Praising when she left her mask on for more than a few minutes, which has now built to her tolerating it for a few hours at a time.
4) Letting her choose among her masks so she always has the one she likes at that moment.

We don't make a big deal of it anymore, just as I don't make a big deal out of her keeping her clothes or shoes on. She sees everyone else wearing masks, and she complies.

Not that it helps OP but I agree practicing earlier, before turning 2, would be easier, even though the CDC says no to. My kids were so agreeable at that age, potty training was a breeze because they were so eager to please. Then at some point a switch flips and they become defiant and introducing new behaviors is more difficult.

I also think wearing a mask is a bit different then wearing a hat, mittens, etc. Sometimes my kids resist putting winter gear on inside or rip it off, but then as soon as we get outside they get cold and ask from the hat/mittens back. Biological instinct kicks in. Wearing a mask goes against biological instinct- it's a perfectly natural reaction to not want something covering up your mouth/nose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My now-25-month-old has been wearing a mask since she was about 18 or 19 months old, when we began practicing.

We started with:

1) Telling her, "Just as we put on clothes and shoes when we go outside, we put on masks when we go outside." Now that also,includes a coat, hat, mittens, etc.
2) Letting her put masks on her dolls.
3) Praising when she left her mask on for more than a few minutes, which has now built to her tolerating it for a few hours at a time.
4) Letting her choose among her masks so she always has the one she likes at that moment.

We don't make a big deal of it anymore, just as I don't make a big deal out of her keeping her clothes or shoes on. She sees everyone else wearing masks, and she complies.

Not that it helps OP but I agree practicing earlier, before turning 2, would be easier, even though the CDC says no to. My kids were so agreeable at that age, potty training was a breeze because they were so eager to please. Then at some point a switch flips and they become defiant and introducing new behaviors is more difficult.

I also think wearing a mask is a bit different then wearing a hat, mittens, etc. Sometimes my kids resist putting winter gear on inside or rip it off, but then as soon as we get outside they get cold and ask from the hat/mittens back. Biological instinct kicks in. Wearing a mask goes against biological instinct- it's a perfectly natural reaction to not want something covering up your mouth/nose.

Not everyone has a compliant and easy to please 18 month old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Two years and three month old refuses to wear a mask. Rewards fail. Staying home fails. Choosing his own mask fails. He says he can’t breathe right and his face gets sweaty.

Tell people to call the cops. Seriously. I take covid very seriously but come on, this is damaging to a toddler.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two years and three month old refuses to wear a mask. Rewards fail. Staying home fails. Choosing his own mask fails. He says he can’t breathe right and his face gets sweaty.

Tell people to call the cops. Seriously. I take covid very seriously but come on, this is damaging to a toddler.

I don’t even pretend to apologize or that I give a sh&t anymore. I’m over it. Call the cops. Cross the street. Leave the park. I’m living my life. I’ve done all I can. 2 year olds aren’t the issue here.

I think I’m especially burnt out because my just turned 2 year old is 43 pounds and wears a size 5t. So people incorrectly assume he’s closer to 4-5 but he just turned 2 at the end of January.

[Anonymous]

Look when my kid is refusing a mask, I don't get within any kind of distance of other people and I don't take him inside places. Given there are grown adults who throw tantrums over masks, I think we can let the actual 2 year olds have a little understanding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Wear the mask and when we get home, you can have a lollipop."

Never had an issue.

A lollipop?!

NP. Errr, what's so shocking about a lollipop?

What about a balaclava for winter at least? Goes over the head so harder to pull down than a mask or gaiter?

My two year old is much closer to three, and we use those safe-t-pops...but yeah, after a couple of well-timed bribes, the kid gets used to the mask.

OT but where do you buy your safe-t-pops?

[Anonymous]

Bumping this thread up as I’m trying to find a cloth mask that somewhat fits and is comfortable for 2yo who will be attending daycare. The ones we have for our 4yo are pretty big on 2yo’s face. Seems like most kids masks are meant more for older kids. Any suggestions would be appreciated- bonus if they are in fun prints or characters! already have to bring lunch in all disposable materials so would prefer to avoid disposable masks if possible, so much trash. TIA!

[Anonymous]

If someone actually has the audacity to insist your resisting 2 year old wear a mask outside at a playground, I will personally tell them to take their meds and pick on someone their own size. “Oh is this 24 inch tall child breathing in your direction, ma‘m? How about you just...step back two feet?”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bumping this thread up as I’m trying to find a cloth mask that somewhat fits and is comfortable for 2yo who will be attending daycare. The ones we have for our 4yo are pretty big on 2yo’s face. Seems like most kids masks are meant more for older kids. Any suggestions would be appreciated- bonus if they are in fun prints or characters! already have to bring lunch in all disposable materials so would prefer to avoid disposable masks if possible, so much trash. TIA!

I’ve tried many masks - Gap, Old Navy, Disney, disposables, random brands from Amazon - and recommend the Green Sprouts masks.

https://greensproutsbaby.com/collections/safety/products/child-reusable-face-mask?variant=33699229270147

These fit my 2 year old well, doesn’t pull on her ears or slip under her nose, and most importantly, stands away from her nose and mouth so she doesn’t freak out about not being able to breath. The prints are very limited, but fortunately my DC doesn’t seem to care about that. We haven’t tried the newer versions with the adjustable ear loops, which with a greater variety of prints.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is also 26 mo and won’t wear a mask or a hat. We’ve tried rewards. We’ve even tried just leaving the park if he takes his mask off, but I don’t believe he understands the relationship between the two things. By the time we’ve left the park (and he’s stopped the epic tantrum that ensues), I don’t think he remembers it or that he realizes the reason we left is because of the mask.

I’m at the point where I’m like, come at me bro. I don’t care. Yell at me at the playground. Call the cops. I’ve done my best. We’re still going to the park. If you’re that scared that my barely turned 2 year old might make your kid sick, maybe you shouldn’t be at the park.

You know in Europe, masking isn’t even a thing for kids under 5.

You know in Denmark masking isn’t a thing under age 12? My newly two year old would probably wear one, but I don’t mask her. She is below the 10th percentile so she flies under the radar. We never wear masks outdoors either...lucky for us, masking is an indoor technique where we live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been having the same problem with my 2 year old. To make matters worse she is teething and thus drooling a lot. The mask gets wet, and then ice cold because we are outside and she rips it off. Ill try a giving her a second mask but at that point she is done and I cant get her to keep it on.

Wet masks are useless anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My now-25-month-old has been wearing a mask since she was about 18 or 19 months old, when we began practicing.

We started with:

1) Telling her, "Just as we put on clothes and shoes when we go outside, we put on masks when we go outside." Now that also,includes a coat, hat, mittens, etc.
2) Letting her put masks on her dolls.
3) Praising when she left her mask on for more than a few minutes, which has now built to her tolerating it for a few hours at a time.
4) Letting her choose among her masks so she always has the one she likes at that moment.

We don't make a big deal of it anymore, just as I don't make a big deal out of her keeping her clothes or shoes on. She sees everyone else wearing masks, and she complies.

This is depressing.