Children are our real heroes. They have endured the menace of the COVID-19 pandemic with courage and valor. They command respect and encouragement for their resilience. As the COVID-19 pandemic still prevails, people with weak immune systems or chronic health issues - especially the elderly and kids - are prone to get affected by the disease. Considering this fact, parents and schools are responsible to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) guidelines that call for them to ensure that their children over two years of age should wear a suitable face mask for kids.
Face masks have become an integral part of our daily lives - thanks to the prevalence of COVID-19 and other variants. While doctors and experts recommend face masks for people of all ages, they are especially important for kids, who may not always understand the importance of practicing good hygiene and social distancing.
Here are a few reasons why they should wear face masks for kids when indoors or going outdoors:
Protection from COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases: Children are just as susceptible to COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases as adults. Face masks for kids can help protect them from these diseases by trapping and filtering droplets that may contain the virus.
Protection for others: Children may be asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19, therefore, they can cause the virus to spread unknowingly. Wearing a face mask for kids can help protect others from the disease.
Comfort and security: For some kids, wearing a face mask may provide a sense of comfort and security. It can help them feel more in control of their surroundings and reduce anxiety about potential exposure to illness.
With a wide variety of breathable face masks for kids available, parents are at a loss to understand which face masks are appropriate for their children. Many parents may opt for disposable face masks for kids, considering they are cost-effective and can be discarded after one-time use. They must consider other factors as well, including but not limited to breathability, durability, reliability, and comfort for their kids.
Fit: One of the most important factors to consider when buying face masks for kids is fit. A face mask that is too large or too small may not be effective at trapping the droplets that may contain the virus. It is important to measure your kid's face and choose a face mask that fits properly.
Material: The material of the face mask is also an important factor to consider. Face masks made from breathable materials, such as cotton, are generally more comfortable for children to wear. Face masks made from synthetic materials, such as polyester, may not be as suitable for them and may trigger irritation.
Ease of use: Children may have difficulty putting on and taking off face masks, so it is important to choose a kid-friendly face mask that they can use easily. Face masks for kids with adjustable ear loops or ties may be comfortable for children to put on and take off, as they can be adjusted to fit properly.
Age-appropriate design: Children may want to wear face masks if they are designed with their interests in mind. As a parent, you should opt for face masks with fun patterns or designs that are appropriate for your kid’s age group.
Price: Face masks for kids are available in different price ranges - from a few dollars to over $10. While it is important to consider cost, you should remember that low-cost face masks for kids may not be as effective at protecting against respiratory diseases.
The N95 face mask offers the most effective protection against the COVID-19 disease because it has the highest filtration efficiency of 95%, i.e. it can filter up to 95% of viruses and air-borne particles that may trigger the spread of respiratory diseases. Although it is effective and efficient, an N95 face mask is not suitable for kids under two years of age. Why? We have reasons to convince you.
One of the main reasons why N95 masks are not suitable for kids under two years of age is that they are designed to fit snugly on the face and create a seal around the nose and mouth. Children's faces are smaller and the mask may not fit properly, resulting in gaps that can allow airborne particles to enter. Moreover, N95 masks can be difficult for children to breathe through due to the tight fit and high filtration efficiency.
Another reason why the N95 face masks are not suitable for toddlers and kids is that they are designed for one-time use only. Children can’t wear them for extended periods. This can be inconvenient for children, who may need to wear a mask for several hours while attending schools or other public places.
Instead of N95 masks, kids - older than four years - can wear other types of face masks designed specifically for their size and comfort. For instance, cloth masks or disposable face masks can be more suitable options for kids. These masks may not provide the same level of filtration as an N95 mask, but they can still come in handy.
It's important to remember that face masks for kids are not the only solution to stay safe against COVID-19. Parents must make their kids practice good hand hygiene, maintain social distancing, and follow other guidelines recommended by the CDC and NIOSH.
With a wide variety of breathable and disposable face masks for kids available, it’s quite challenging for parents to select the best face masks for their children. To ensure your kid's safety and protection against COVID-19, you can opt for either a cloth face mask or a disposable face mask. Don’t worry though! Here, we enlist some of the most suitable and kid-friendly face masks to help you make an informed decision.
It’s a cloth-based face mask that is extremely breathable, washable, and reusable. It comes with a high filtration efficiency and filters up to 99% of airborne particles. As a lightweight face mask, the Enro Tech face mask fits well on your kids’ faces, providing them with optimum protection against COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases.
This is a five-layered adjustable face mask for kids that comes with a three-ply incorporated filter. The Happy Masks Pro offers robust filtration of droplets and airborne particles, with up to 94% accuracy. It has a parrot-beak shape and fits comfortably on kids’ faces. It is not suitable for machine-wash, so you have to hand wash it.
It’s one of the best face masks for kids for its breathability. It comes with three layers and offers optimum filtration - thanks to the middle layer that has a built-in filter. The outer layer combats moisture, the middle layer filters droplets, and the inner layer blocks ultraviolet rays that may otherwise infect your child’s skin. The Uniqlo AIRism Face Mask is more suitable for school-going children.
This mask is a variation of KN-95 masks for kids who are older than seven years of age. Manufactured in the United States, the Vida Mask is a five-layered face mask for kids, with two melt-blown inner layers to ensure optimum protection against COVID-19 disease. It has high filtration efficiency, blocking and filtering 98% of droplets and particles. One of the best advantages of using this mask is that it can be recycled.
It is a disposable face mask for kids that fits snugly on their faces, covering the nose, mouth, and chin. The WellBeforeKids Mask is most suitable for children aged four to ten years. It filters up to 99% of dust particles and droplets. This face mask comes with adjustable earloops, enabling kids to adjust and fix it according to the size of their faces.
As the COVID-19 pandemic prevails, individuals and kids with compromised or weak immune systems must wear face masks to protect themselves against COVID-19. There is a huge variety of face masks for kids available, but as a parent, you must opt for the one that fits properly on your kids’ faces.
Children may be more likely to wear a mask if it is comfortable and fits well, so it's important to select a mask that is appropriate for their size and age. Additionally, masks should be easy to put on and take off, and should not obstruct the child's vision or breathing. Do remember to consider the material, shape, price, filtration efficiency, durability, and reliability of the face mask before buying one for your child. Often, children may resist wearing a face mask because it may affect their tender skin and leave it with rashes.
