Toddler Mask Wearing Tips?

CookieandOatmeal

DIS Veteran
Joined
Apr 12, 2014
My son turned 2 in November and I've been trying to practice mask wearing with him so that he will be ready to wear one when we board the plane in April when we fly down to FL. I've tried putting a mask on his stuffie so he could see, wearing mine when I'm trying to get him to put his on, putting the mask on his face for a few seconds while he is watching tv. I'm not sure what else I could try that would give me some results. He doesn't go to daycare so no need to wear a mask during the day. Any helpful tips?
 
Get him some with characters or designs on them that he likes.
Also the more he sees people around him wearing them the less likely he will be to refuse.
Look on youtube for fun kids videos about wearing masks (I just searched and found some)
You may have to be assertive about it since you don't have much time left.
They are absolutely strict about this and will not let you fly or may remove you if he won't wear one.
 
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Our son was about 2.5 at the beginning of the pandemic. It just took practice and a couple cool masks for him to get used to it. I think my wife got a cloth woody and buzz one off Etsy? The more you introduce the easier it should get
 
Ok, we might just have to take him out to stores when its not super busy and expose him to more people in masks/offer him a mask to wear. Try to get him to wear it for a little bit. Persistence is the key right?

Our son was about 2.5 at the beginning of the pandemic. It just took practice and a couple cool masks for him to get used to it. I think my wife got a cloth woody and buzz one off Etsy? The more you introduce the easier it should get
Do you remember what type of practice you did with your son? Was he okay with the mask on his face right from his beginning? I got mine two types (disposable w/ ear elastics and cloth over the head) and so far, not getting much success.
 
April is still over 3 months away. Maybe this nonsense of tying fabric over a baby's face will be over by then..
not very likely considering saddly :( also even if it does still always good to be prepared.
 
My son turned 2 in November and I've been trying to practice mask wearing with him so that he will be ready to wear one when we board the plane in April when we fly down to FL. I've tried putting a mask on his stuffie so he could see, wearing mine when I'm trying to get him to put his on, putting the mask on his face for a few seconds while he is watching tv. I'm not sure what else I could try that would give me some results. He doesn't go to daycare so no need to wear a mask during the day. Any helpful tips?
I would give him a mask to play with. let him put it on himself, his toys/stuffed animals. wear yours around the house not just when trying to get him to wear one. good luck it seems to be child based not so much pratice
 
I would give him a mask to play with. let him put it on himself, his toys/stuffed animals. wear yours around the house not just when trying to get him to wear one. good luck it seems to be child based not so much pratice
Thank you. I'm going to try everything under the sun at this point because April will be here before you know it! My little guy can be quite stubborn (a trait that he got from me) but hoping I can wear him down and get him to cooperate. We started trying to get him to wear one at the end of November but he freaked out so we took a break during the holidays. Now we're back at it!
 
Thank you. I'm going to try everything under the sun at this point because April will be here before you know it! My little guy can be quite stubborn (a trait that he got from me) but hoping I can wear him down and get him to cooperate. We started trying to get him to wear one at the end of November but he freaked out so we took a break during the holidays. Now we're back at it!
probably the hardest thing is to make a game out of it. you and I assume dad is involved. wear your masks even if not required. walks around the block watching TV. make it something you do and hopefully he will follow the lead. make it fun even if you do not believe in it. do not make it a fight as he will always win
 
Can he recognize a reward chart? Like star stickers? Every time he wears the mask for X minutes (start small, maybe even 30 seconds) he gets a star. Once he has 5 stars he gets a prize -- maybe that's a visit to the playground or his favorite food for lunch that day or some small toy from the dollar store, etc. Gradually increase the length of time to wear the mask to earn his star, as well as the number of stars needed to get a prize.

If the concept of a reward chart is too advanced -- just basic rewards for each time he wears the mask. Favorite breakfast, play his favorite game, earn a walk, build a snowman, etc.
 
DD is just a little older than your son, turned 2 last May. She does go to daycare, however her age isn't required to wear masks so that has not helped in regard to getting her practice but she does see the older kids in masks as well as all of the staff.

She is still learning to leave masks alone but she has shown willingness, and I think a lot of it is how we've gone about it with her. We let her know about the trip early on and we told her that Mickey says she has to wear her mask on the airplane to come visit and when we're there having fun. We found a few recent ride videos of things she would be interested (Ariel, Haunted Mansion, and Barnstormer off the top of my head) where the guests and staff are wearing masks and she will sometimes ask for a mask just sitting at home when she wants to watch those videos.

She is also enrolled in a swim class where the staff are all masked and while we don't go out all the time or during crowded times we do still have errands to run and we make a point of doing them as a family so that she sees DW and I both in them, as well as employees, customers, other kids, etc.

DW was recently in a Walgreens to get a flu shot and DD had her mask on but it was slipping down. DW told me that another child went by with their family and the mask was on correctly so then our DD pulled her mask back up over her nose on her own. And yes, we did get some kids patterned masks for her so they are more interesting, too.

We are still working on it ourselves but if you asked my daughter right now what we have to do to get on an airplane and/or go to Disney she would say put on our masks. I'd love for it to not be necessary but I'm realistic. Our trip is coming up in March so definitely getting anxious about making sure she is really ready for this coming so soon. Good luck, hope some of that helps.
 
I have a totally weird idea and I don't even know if it's safe, but does your child use a binky? Is there a way to attach a binky to a cloth mask? I just think of the kids that walk around all day with one. Maybe this is a way to keep in on during the flight. I know probably dumb idea, but sometimes a dumb item is the starting point and someone comes up with a smart one.
 
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My son turned 2 in November and I've been trying to practice mask wearing with him so that he will be ready to wear one when we board the plane in April when we fly down to FL. I've tried putting a mask on his stuffie so he could see, wearing mine when I'm trying to get him to put his on, putting the mask on his face for a few seconds while he is watching tv. I'm not sure what else I could try that would give me some results. He doesn't go to daycare so no need to wear a mask during the day. Any helpful tips?

My favorite hack that I've seen is the dad who attached a pacifier to the inside of the mask. Kid was more than happy to wear it. LOL
 
For our twins, we took them somewhere they wanted to go, and left when they took the mask off. They got the concept pretty quickly.

"We are going to pick out a new toy! What do you want?" (Dollar store). "Oh you're having a hard time keeping your mask on! We will go outside and try again when you're ready."

Repeat with donuts, ice cream, etc. It wasn't bribing them, but it kept them interested. It's really not an option on a plane to not wear it, so I found this was a good way to handle it. In our actual house the twins were not interested at all.
 
Our daughter just turned 3 and also doesn’t go to day care so no reason to wear one. We actually drove from NY to FL to avoid the mask fight on an airplane. We have another trip planned and are flying this time. My daughter is stubborn too. I have bought every kind of mask possible to try (crayola cloth, disposable, Disney ones, dry fit material and
I also have kn95’s on the way). I HATE putting a mask on her and I am so disgusted with our country for doing this to children, but if we want to fly then I have to attempt an effort. We’ve been practicing and seeing a little progress but I also plan to bring lots of snacks, drinks, lollipops for her.
 
I hope folks don't mean 'snacks, drinks, and lollipops' to make an excuse to not wear a mask.

It will certainly take practice at home and some consistency with people in the home wearing them, too, but kids will understand when they need to do certain things and will likely get to the point that they'll wear it in the airport and on the plane, just like the adults. They'll need that occasional reminder (just like adults)! Hope it goes well on the flight.
 
My youngest is as stubborn as they come and refused to wear his mask until his Aunt wouldn't let him hold his baby cousin unless his mask was on (he was two at the time). After that point we were crazy consistent that if he wanted anything in public (go into the store, fast food, restaurant, etc.) his mask had to be on. We walked out of quite a few places before it really sank in. He also does a lot better when he's doing the same as everyone else (oh look, everyone getting into the store also has their mask on, let's part ours on too). Never underestimate extrinsic rewards (candy, yay!) either.
 
I live in NY. The land of mask mandates everywhere we go. My child has seen lots of adults, kids etc wearing masks. We watch songs about wearing a super hero mask. You can’t force a toddler to wear a mask. Each child is different.
 

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