In this time of global health outbreak, masks have become the new normal in our daily lives. However, mask also pose dangers for babies and toddlers. According to various bodies of health experts, the use of masks on babies and toddler pose serious dangers and many of them recommend not to use face masks on them.
Pediatricians are recommending parents not to put face masks on young children. According to the pediatricians, children below the age of two will not be able to remove face masks and it could pose choking hazard for them. Therefore experts are telling parents not to routinely put face masks on babies and toddlers.
“Masks may present a choking hazard for young children. Also, depending on the mask and the fit, the child may have trouble breathing. If this happens, they need to be able to take it off,” said University of Calfifornia Davis pediatrician Lena van der List. “Children less than 2 years of age will not reliably be able to remove a face mask and could suffocate. Therefore, masks should not routinely be used for young children.”
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the apex body in United States does not recommend masking for children under the age of 2 due to risks of suffocation. Anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the cover without assistance, should not wear a mask, according to the CDC website. Therefore the best defence for such individuals is to socially distance them.
Since the outbreak of Coronavirus from China, masks has been the only mass weapon in every part of the world. Although it is not necessary to have a surgical or an N95 mask, regular cloth masks can effectively protect and prevent the spread of the virus. Hence it is getting trendy today! There are lots of creative face masks coming out in the market and it being recommended by carious authorities of every country, including the CDC.
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