Errands with Maskless ASD child?

[Anonymous]

I'm posting this intentionally in the normal preschoolers forum, rather than the special needs forum, because I explicitly want to hear from parents of neurotypical kids.

Simply put, how much grief would I get if I brought my 3 year old with me on errands, understanding that we absolutely won't wear a mask, face shield, or anything else on his face or head? We live in MoCo, which I believe is the only jurisdiction that applies the mask order to kids that young.

I recently had to remove my son from daycare so that he could begin full-time in-home therapy. However, I can't leave home while the therapists are here, which is challenging. I used to run errands while he was at daycare so I could avoid bringing him along.

Now I can't do that. I order a lot of things online whenever I can, but that's not always practical, depending on what you're doing and where you're doing it. At this point I'm starting to think I should just bring him along and claim he's just under 2, but big for his age, to avoid getting into the ASD diagnosis and associated issues with anyone.

What do you all think?

[Anonymous]

I would get some additional childcare so you can run errands on your own. You need a break mom!

If you have to take your unmasked son, just do it. However, even if he could wear a mask, you ought to be drastically minimizing the indoor errands you do, and not bringing kids (masked or unmasked) if at all possible. I’d be giving the side eye to any parents toting kids to the grocery store right now.

[Anonymous]

its fine. the line between age 3 and age 2 is completely arbitrary anyway.

[Anonymous]

I have a child with moderate autism who is 4. Same situation.

I get tons of grief. I am considering getting him a t shirt that says "special needs" on one side and "i tested negative to covid yesterday did you?" On the other.

So don't do it unless you can handle random people yelling at you. They will and do.

One helpful thing for me is my child hates shoes and socks . if I don't fight it he will come not wearing those either. Anyone who complains about the mask, i say, yeah he's special needs i can't get him to wear shoes either.

[Anonymous]

I doubt anyone will say anything or stop you. Can you keep him in a stroller? What is it that you have to buy in person? Between all the delivery services it seems like 99.9% of things can be purchased online

[Anonymous]

Ugh. I'm sorry to see this. He's a little kid and I don't think anyone would say anything. Also, if you're wearing a mask - it would appear that you'd have a good reason for your child not to be wearing one. No 'normal' parent would mask themselves and not their child. I would just assume he won't/can't wear one.

I agree with PP's that you do need a break, though. If you can find safe and reliable childcare.

[Anonymous]

I’m sympathetic to the mask issue but also agree you should be able to do just about everything delivery.

I’m a single parent and my child hasn’t been in a store since covid started. I’ve found a way. But even if you can’t, can you send your spouse? I wish I had that option.

[Anonymous]

I live in MoCo. I do not even know what the age is. If I saw your kid without a mask I would just assume he was below it. I would be distancing from you both either way.

[Anonymous]

Some stores still do seniors and people with disabilities hours. Maybe go during those hours?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would get some additional childcare so you can run errands on your own. You need a break mom!

If you have to take your unmasked son, just do it. However, even if he could wear a mask, you ought to be drastically minimizing the indoor errands you do, and not bringing kids (masked or unmasked) if at all possible. I’d be giving the side eye to any parents toting kids to the grocery store right now.

people touting kids to the grocery store right now very likely have no other option. Additional childcare is sometimes a luxury.

[Anonymous]

Honestly don’t take him into stores. I would say the same if he was masked. This is a good time for delivery, but also to lean into your networks of people who have *ever* said “let me know if you need anything!” and say “hey I need this non-deliverable item are you going to Costco/Trader Joe’s anytime in the next couple weeks?”. It’s not just COVID; you don’t want him getting a flu, a cold, or anything else right now that might require medical attention...

[Anonymous]

Do you have a partner? If so, I'd run errands while the partner is with him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some stores still do seniors and people with disabilities hours. Maybe go during those hours?

Please don’t bring your maskless child to senior citizens hour at the grocery store which is there to reduce risk of disease transmission to seniors 🙄

[Anonymous]

What errands do you absolutely have to do?

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately, ADA type allowances have clauses where an exception doesn’t have to be made for someone’s disability if that exception will put someone else in harms way. So a store could make you leave, even if your child won’t wear a mask. I would not bring him because that will happen eventually to you, and it will be upsetting to both of you.

Also- your son is having in home therapy sessions so he is being exposed to people, indoors, outside of his family. He could easily be an asymptomatic covid carrier. It’s irresponsible to bring him unmasked into a store. If you said neither of you ever left the house or socialized with anyone , indoors or out, I’d be more on your side, but what you are contemplating doing is dangerous for your community.