How to Find the Right Mask For Your Kids
One of Solomon's initial observations was that parents have had a hard time finding masks that fit their children properly.
"First, if your child is having a hard time, just sit back and observe them while they try to wear it," she advised. "Take a minute to see: Does it fit? Can they take it off and put it back on by themselves? Is the mask covering or bumping up against their eyes? Does it slip down off their nose? Does it fall off their ears or bend their ears? Are they sneezing or coughing a lot more than normal?"
Those are all indicators that it's a mask issue, and it might be worth exploring different styles of masks with different fasteners and materials, especially for those children who are sensitive to tags, textures, or fabrics.
"Once you have found a mask that fits, if your child is still having a hard time wearing their mask properly, sit down with them and have a conversation," she said. "You can start by being honest – 'We are all having a hard time wearing masks. No one likes it.' Don't ask 'Is it comfortable?' We all know it's not. But you can ask, 'Does it hurt you?' It may look like it fits but there might be a part that hurts."
For those who just can't handle having elastic tugging at their ears, Solomon found a trick that she's passed on to several parents already. "Use a hair clip to clip the mask to the hair behind the ears. It's not a perfect solution, but it helps."