Getting 2yo to wear a mask

[Anonymous]

My just turned 2 year old will be starting school this summer and needs to be able to wear a mask when inside the classroom. We have been trying to get her used to one but she refuses to wear it and rips them off after 30 seconds. She does have an older sibling who wears a mask and we have tried to tell her she can be a big girl like her sister, gotten them matching masks, let her pick which one she wants to wear etc but it doesn’t help.

Any tips to help get her used to wearing one?

[Anonymous]

I have a just 2 year old going to daycare this summer, and an older sibling that has no problem wearing mask at same daycare. Right now, she seems to have no problem wearing mask a few time when we were out. But mask is loosely fit on her tiny face, and it does not fit exactly. She does not know how to take off mask yet, and she knows that wearing mask means going to places that are new or fun to her.

Daycare will be new story, and I don't expect mask will stay on and she will definitely cry for long time. I think adjusting her to daycare is more important to me than worrying if she would wear mask at daycare. And, I have talked to director and they know that there will be learning curve and they won't force on 2 year old.

[Anonymous]

This is so sad. I would think long and hard about using a facility that requires this of kids so young. It is 100% pointless if anyone cares about the facts.

[Anonymous]

Our preschool (starting in September) also expect 2+ to wear a mask and my 25 month old absolutely refuses to wear one. I spent a lot trying to get really cool masks that I think he would like, but nothing. He also has 2 older siblings who wear masks with no issues all the time.

I have no idea how to solve this problem for now...

[Anonymous]

We’re still working on it, too. I don’t know if his preschool will require a mask in September or not.

My nearly three year old niece who goes to daycare has to wear a mask. One day she came home with a different mask on and proudly announced that she traded masks with another little girl! If that doesn’t defeat the point of the mask for toddlers, I don’t know what does.

[Anonymous]

my 2 year old really likes playing pretend with her dolls/animals - so we did a lot of games like "ok doggy needs to put on her mask to go to the store" and let her practice on her toys, then "ok lets put Larla's mask on now"

[Anonymous]

Are you in MoCo? My special needs DD will turn 2 in a few weeks. We have been working on getting her to wear a mask but it’s a battle. She goes to an in-home daycare that has been very strict about Covid protocols and the provider told me not to worry. She said they received a recent memo that masks are not compulsory if the kid refuses to wear them. We will still keep working on this as we will need it for other occasions but it takes the immediate pressure off.

[Anonymous]

I think most providers are understanding with kids that age and recognize there will be a transition. That said, I was amazed at how quickly my 2yo adapted when she started daycare a few weeks ago. I was expecting refusal but after the first day she put it on no problem.

Now, I think it's ridiculous that 2yos are required to wear them to begin with, but it's clear who came up with that guidance had no concept of child development or dealing with toddlers in general.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is so sad. I would think long and hard about using a facility that requires this of kids so young. It is 100% pointless if anyone cares about the facts.

oh, please, in DC it is REQUIRED BY LICENSING for us to have children 2 and older wearing a mask, both inside and outside (if they can't maintain social distancing - and they can't).

Now in terms of helping your child to start wearing it:
1. the program will understand that your child needs to grow into it. Also, your child will see the other children wearing a mask, which helps. Our teachers are gentle and help children remember and help put it back on.

2. start practicing whe your child is doing something really fun with her hands like when using duplos, magnatiles, playdough, paint, markers, etc. NOT when watching tv or ipad, because then her hands are free and she'll rip it off. But if she is busy doing something fun, you can often get 5 minutes of mask time while her hands are busy. 2 minutes, then take it off. then 5 minutes, then 10 minutes, then.... build up over a few weeks. She'll get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re still working on it, too. I don’t know if his preschool will require a mask in September or not.

My nearly three year old niece who goes to daycare has to wear a mask. One day she came home with a different mask on and proudly announced that she traded masks with another little girl! If that doesn’t defeat the point of the mask for toddlers, I don’t know what does.

Yes, of course, and so that's why parents need to LABEL THE MASKS with permanent marker on the inside of the mask. Teachers can only do so much, and divining which mask belongs to whom when not labeled is impossible. And 2 year olds aren't able to say if a mask is their's - our 4s and 5s know that, and most 3s do, too, but not our 2s

[Anonymous]

I understand it's required by licensing, but like a pp mentioned, it IS sad. I have a 2 year old daughter and while I bought a few disposable masks for her months ago, never really made her wear them. She's a toddler, and this is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Daycare worker here and it’s ridiculous that licensing requires it. It’s safety theater. Kids are constantly touching their masks and it gets moist with all of the saliva and breath. It is truly a disgusting thing.

[Anonymous]

Ridiculous! I feel sorry for you and your two year old. There is no way any of my kids would have worn them at 2!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand it's required by licensing, but like a pp mentioned, it IS sad. I have a 2 year old daughter and while I bought a few disposable masks for her months ago, never really made her wear them. She's a toddler, and this is ridiculous.

It's nice that you have the option to keep your kids at home and mask free, but many of us do not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand it's required by licensing, but like a pp mentioned, it IS sad. I have a 2 year old daughter and while I bought a few disposable masks for her months ago, never really made her wear them. She's a toddler, and this is ridiculous.

It's nice that you have the option to keep your kids at home and mask free, but many of us do not.

But we should have to- it’s security theater and nothing more.