Were you able to get your toddler to wear a mask?

[Anonymous]

My smallest guy turns 2 in a week and while he sort of likes to wear a mask to match his big brother, he often takes it off soon after (and then asks us to put it on again, repeat x10).

Looking for ways to encourage him to wear it for longer periods of time, as we'd like to venture out a bit more as the summer gets hot enough that you need A/C sometimes, thus being indoors with other folks potentially not masking. So far we've just avoided that by staying home or being outside in non-crowded areas, and I know it's not a mandate for his age, but I'd feel safer.

Not a mask debate - if you were able to train your young child to wear a mask, I want to hear from you please.

[Anonymous]

I taught my son to wear a surgical mask a little before 2 many years ago, due to a medical condition. I'd previously taught his older sibling to keep a nebulizer mask on the same way when he was almost 3. I've also taught older kids with ID to mask virtually as a special ed teacher.

Basically, for my kids, I'd put a mask on them, and then start an activity they really liked. For my older it was TV, for my younger it was reading to him. When the mask came off, I just stopped. I didn't yell at him or nag. I just quietly until they let me put the mask back on and then when it was on, I'd restart the activity. They caught on pretty quickly that they needed to mask for the preferred activity.

For my students, I'd put on a video they liked, and then pin their face on my screen, so I could see when the mask came off and pause the video.

My toddler was wearing a mask for multiple hour long infusion at the hospital after a few days of practice. In his case we just kept reading, but in your case, I'd then move to activities that are closer to what you'll eventually want him to do. So, for example, I might go to the playground, and play, and then if he takes it off, pick him up and sit in in his stroller or on a bench and put it back on. I'm not really comfortable punishing a kid over and over, so I wouldn't do that until I'd built the connection between fun and mask.

[Anonymous]

I tried every tip in the book and never managed it. I just avoid taking him inside places as much as possible.

[Anonymous]

Not really helpful to you now, but my 2 year old last summer easily wore his once everyoneeeeee everywhereeeeee had a mask on. He didn't want to feel left out. Now DH and I decided he does not need to wear one in most scenarios, and we don't wear one, unless it is mandated by wherever we are. He will still wear it when necessary, but is quick to take it off. No one around us has one on, so he doesn't want it either.

[Anonymous]

We are about to take a 2 year old on a plane, she's never worn a mask before. We're going to try this week. How stringent are they about toddler masks on planes? I am very pro-mask, this isn't about that, I just don't know how we're going to do this.

[Anonymous]

My daughter kept taking hers off last summer (2 and 5 months) when we practiced for school. It was hard and she didn’t want to listen to us. We just kept telling her she had to wear it at school or they wouldn’t let her stay. It took her actually going to school for it to become consistent.

So my suggestion is just keep reinforcing he needs it to be in xyz. If he takes it off, you go outside.

[Anonymous]

Yes, but for short periods of time. Like length of time to choose books in the library. Not much more.

[Anonymous]

My DS is 2 next month and we haven’t tried the mask thing at all and probably won’t. 2 year olds don’t have to wear masks at his preschool, so the only time he’d need to wear one is the doctors office and I’m sure we’ll just suffer through it the best we can. When the Covid thing started he was only 6-7 months-ish and I never thought he’d have to wear a mask!

[Anonymous]

My DD was 2.5 when Covid started, and by then time she was 3, wearing a mask was no problem. But I think young 2 is a hard time for masks. Unless they are unusually mature, it's pretty hard at that age to explain why you have to wear a mask. They might get it, but they also might forget it almost instantly. Hard to say. It's also a very... oral time for kids? They suck on their masks, and their fingers, and put other things in their mouths, and the mask gets in the way.

But by 3 it's a totally different story. The only thing that is still a challenge is putting the mask on -- she pretty much always still needs someone to do it for her, which I know is a pain at school. But, they are the ones who require masks (we'd be okay without it at this point) so I guess they just have to deal. The teachers must spend so much fo their day putting masks back on or trying to get kids to pull them up over their noses (mine never pulls her down, but a lot of kids this age do).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are about to take a 2 year old on a plane, she's never worn a mask before. We're going to try this week. How stringent are they about toddler masks on planes? I am very pro-mask, this isn't about that, I just don't know how we're going to do this.

Stringent! You may get a flight crew that is less so, but it's a federal mandate, so they should all be enforcing it, and they've absolutely asked families to get off if their kids can't keep masks on. You need to start practicing now. You can bring lots of snacks since the mask can be taken off for eating, but you will not be able to have an unmasked child the entire flight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS is 2 next month and we haven’t tried the mask thing at all and probably won’t. 2 year olds don’t have to wear masks at his preschool, so the only time he’d need to wear one is the doctors office and I’m sure we’ll just suffer through it the best we can. When the Covid thing started he was only 6-7 months-ish and I never thought he’d have to wear a mask!

+1. My almost-two-year-old is going to be "twenty-three months old" for a very long time.

[Anonymous]

I just say very clearly “we wear masks when we go to X’s house” or “kids have to wear masks in this store.” I let her get/pick her mask. I don’t explain past what I’ve said very simply. I don’t explain why we’re doing it or why in some cases mom doesn’t have to. I think that’s actually more confusing at her age than a simple instruction.

If she take it off in a place like a store I say we need to put the mask back on because kids have to wear masks in this store. She usually puts it right back on but sometimes she doesn’t so I say “it sounds like you need a mask break. In one minute I will be putting your mask back on.” She usually puts it on herself but if not, I do.

I know it does not sound like rocket science when described. but as long as I give her a clear expectation and consistently back it up she does not seem to have problems whatsoever. She’s 2 and a half.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are about to take a 2 year old on a plane, she's never worn a mask before. We're going to try this week. How stringent are they about toddler masks on planes? I am very pro-mask, this isn't about that, I just don't know how we're going to do this.

She needs to at least be able to keep it on for small amounts of time (TSA, while boarding and takeoff). You might get leeway at other times but no guarantee. They have and will kick you off if they want.

We had to drive earlier this month instead of flying (same situation--newly 2 year old wouldn't wear a mask) and we didn't want to risk it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS is 2 next month and we haven’t tried the mask thing at all and probably won’t. 2 year olds don’t have to wear masks at his preschool, so the only time he’d need to wear one is the doctors office and I’m sure we’ll just suffer through it the best we can. When the Covid thing started he was only 6-7 months-ish and I never thought he’d have to wear a mask!

+1. My almost-two-year-old is going to be "twenty-three months old" for a very long time.

Ugh, yes. Same situation. We have tried everything and he just will not keep a mask on. It's a tough "sweet spot" age of needing to wear one per the guidelines but not able to really reason with him about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS is 2 next month and we haven’t tried the mask thing at all and probably won’t. 2 year olds don’t have to wear masks at his preschool, so the only time he’d need to wear one is the doctors office and I’m sure we’ll just suffer through it the best we can. When the Covid thing started he was only 6-7 months-ish and I never thought he’d have to wear a mask!

+1. My almost-two-year-old is going to be "twenty-three months old" for a very long time.

Ugh, yes. Same situation. We have tried everything and he just will not keep a mask on. It's a tough "sweet spot" age of needing to wear one per the guidelines but not able to really reason with him about it.

I guess it depends where you are - I’m OP and I’m in Virginia and when we had the mask mandate it started at 5. I don’t know what the various day cares and preschools are doing, but ours doesn’t require masks until the 3 year old class although some 2 year olds do wear them. And honestly if some place does require a mask at 2, well they can deal with my kid screaming and pulling it off his face or wearing it under his nose or whatever.