4 year old and mask at preschool

[Anonymous]

My 4 year old has a hard time putting on her mask by herself. She has the kind with ear loops.

I live in a state where masks are not required for kids her age. Her preschool says that children can wear masks if they choose, but need to be able to put them on and remove them without help. I don't know if she'll be able to manage putting on and not losing the mask given that she will have to take it off every time she wants water, at snack, and at lunch.

I'm thinking of getting her a cotton gaiter that she can pull up and down by herself. Any other suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Yes, get the “neck-sleeve” ones. My three year old has no problems getting it up and down himself (although he’s not in daycare or preschool so I have no clue what it’d be like for three to eight hours of wear.

[Anonymous]

My thoughts are....I do what I can. If daycare has a requirement with masks and my child can’t figure it out, then the teachers should deal with it if they even care. I am constantly getting pictures in my tadpole and the teachers aren’t wearing their masks. Do your best but don’t stress.

[Anonymous]

Neck gaiters aren’t effective, practice the mask (is hair getting in the way?) and either use ones that are effective or heart skip it. No point in making her uncomfortable for something that is useless.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/08/us/duke-university-face-mask-test-trnd/index.html?ofs=fbia

[Anonymous]

Heart = just

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Neck gaiters aren’t effective, practice the mask (is hair getting in the way?) and either use ones that are effective or heart skip it. No point in making her uncomfortable for something that is useless.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/08/us/duke-university-face-mask-test-trnd/index.html?ofs=fbia

OP here.

We have tried practicing the mask, but her hair gets in the way, she can't seem to put her mask on while only holding the loops, and she also has a hard time visualizing how to put the loops around her ears because she can't see them.

I read the study. But are the ineffectiveness of the neck gaiters tied to their material (usually synthetic)? I'm thinking of getting her a cotton one.

[Anonymous]

Ah, I see why she can’t do it now. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of the good, OP. Can she wear a ponytail to school? And just let her touch the mask, every other kid does and she’s not a medical professional. It’s about reducing droplets in the air, and she’s be touching the gaiter anyways. Especially since a cotton one seems like it would slip constantly. And be hot? It would need to be thick cotton since bandannas are also ineffective. If you find those gaiters, can you link them?

[Anonymous]

My kid has been wearing a non fleece gaiter to camp all summer. I would get one of these.

There will be another study done that will contradict this one here shortly.

[Anonymous]

I have something like this for my 4 year old. As long as she doesn't mess up the headband (not guaranteed), so can get the ear loops over the buttons.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/802621792/headband-with-buttonsear-savers?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=headbands+with+buttons+for+masks&ref=sr_gallery-1-22&bes=1&col=1

To keep it on, you can loop something through the ear loops.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid has been wearing a non fleece gaiter to camp all summer. I would get one of these.

There will be another study done that will contradict this one here shortly.

The guidance has always been triple layer thick cotton. From the beginning guidance globally has been that bandannas and other thin fabrics at ineffective. This isn’t a COVID thing, it’s just best practice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 4 year old has a hard time putting on her mask by herself. She has the kind with ear loops.

I live in a state where masks are not required for kids her age. Her preschool says that children can wear masks if they choose, but need to be able to put them on and remove them without help. I don't know if she'll be able to manage putting on and not losing the mask given that she will have to take it off every time she wants water, at snack, and at lunch.

I'm thinking of getting her a cotton gaiter that she can pull up and down by herself. Any other suggestions?

I have had luck with an adult blue “surgical” mask that I put a hair tie or bow in the back. Then she can slide it over her head and it’s big and stays over her whole nose and mouth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ah, I see why she can’t do it now. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of the good, OP. Can she wear a ponytail to school? And just let her touch the mask, every other kid does and she’s not a medical professional. It’s about reducing droplets in the air, and she’s be touching the gaiter anyways. Especially since a cotton one seems like it would slip constantly. And be hot? It would need to be thick cotton since bandannas are also ineffective. If you find those gaiters, can you link them?

+1. OP, it took my 4yo some time to figure it out. And I'm under no illusions that he's only touching the loops when he takes it on and off. But after a couple weeks back, he can generally do it himself now.

[Anonymous]

I direct a preschool and our teachers do help the children put their mask on, then the teachers wash their hands. It's hard to do for some children, and yet we want them to wear their masks! We help them pull up their underwear, put on clothes, and do all sorts of things, we will help put masks on and off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Neck gaiters aren’t effective, practice the mask (is hair getting in the way?) and either use ones that are effective or heart skip it. No point in making her uncomfortable for something that is useless.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/08/us/duke-university-face-mask-test-trnd/index.html?ofs=fbia

OP here.

We have tried practicing the mask, but her hair gets in the way, she can't seem to put her mask on while only holding the loops, and she also has a hard time visualizing how to put the loops around her ears because she can't see them.

I read the study. But are the ineffectiveness of the neck gaiters tied to their material (usually synthetic)? I'm thinking of getting her a cotton one.

So put her hair up and out of the way.

[Anonymous]

My 3 y/o has been taking her mask off and chewing on it so...

There is a reason why kids under 5 aren't mandated to wear them.