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For three years, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued complicated—and occasionally contradictory—guidance on when you should wear a mask, depending on whether you're inside, outside, vaccinated, or not vaccinated. But no matter how cautious you are, if you're a parent, there is one significant way you're probably getting sick: Your kid is now in school.
This summer brought an uptick in cases, due to a number of factors—whether that was wildfire smoke that may affect the immune system or waning immunity from vaccinations. Ventilation and vaccination remain key tools in combating the spread, and so is a good mask. Unvaccinated children 2 years old and above should wear face masks in public spaces. If your kids are back in school or if you're planning to travel this fall, you should probably refresh your mask stash.
I have a 6-year-old and an 8-year-old in elementary school, and we still wear masks if we have the sniffles or if we're traveling. The CDC still notes that N95 masks offer the best protection. However, these masks have not been tested for broad use on smaller children, and as I noted in my Best Face Masks for Adults guide, the ideal mask is the one that fits well and that your kid will wear.
If you're looking for ideas to entertain your small (or not-so-small) kids when they're sick or quarantining, check out our guides to entertaining preschoolers during quarantine and how to set up a virtual workspace for your kids.
Updated September 2023: We added the latest coronavirus pandemic information, updated information for several masks, removed older cloth mask picks, and updated links and pricing.
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The light, breathable Pro Series from Happy Masks is the mask my children wear most of the time. It has a stiff, beaked shape that suspends the mask over their little faces. It also has a feather-light membrane filter sewn inside that has been tested independently for 99.9 percent filtration of viruses and other particulates down to 0.3 microns in size.
These are by far the most comfortable and effective masks we've tested, and my children love the patterns. Unfortunately, the masks have to be washed by hand, and the filter cannot be replaced (it's good for at least 50 washes).
★ Alternative: My kids also like the light, breathable Enro masks ($17). The Kids XXS size fits my 6-year-old well. These are frequently sold out, and my kids prefer the personalized patterns on the Happy Masks.
The 4-layer AirPop masks are much more affordable and easier to find. They've been independently tested by several international product testing and quality assurance companies. They're ASTM-certified to Level 2, which means they have the same efficacy as respirator masks and can filter out virus particles.
Most important, these masks are extremely comfortable. The peaked shape stands off my 8-year-old's face, which makes it far easier for her to breathe, and they take up less surface area while still effectively covering her mouth and nose. She especially likes the soft, padded nose bridge, which also absorbs moisture. I tried the adult version ($25) and my glasses didn't fog. These can be hand-washed with soap and reused up to 10 times. You can machine-wash them, but that will reduce the filtration efficacy.
The CDC says reusable elastomeric respirators provide protection at least equivalent to that offered by an N95. It's also useful on smoky days when the air quality is degraded from wildfire smoke. The Flo Mask is surprisingly small and cute! It has also been NIOSH-tested and has received KN95 certification. It comes with replaceable head straps and filter replacements. Simply pop out the filter cover, replace the filter, and add the cover back in.
This comes with one big caveat. My daughter's mask fits on her face, and she says it's comfortable, but given the choice, she much prefers the lighter and less obvious Happy Mask and AirPop. If your kid is a little less stubborn than mine, this one will work well.
As we wrote in our guide to face masks for adults, face mask acronyms denote foreign manufacturing standards that are comparable to an N95 in the US. Korean KF94s come in several sizes. The small version fits both my 6-year-old and 8-year-old.
The fit is more secure than a cloth mask because of a nose panel that gives it a structured shape. You can reuse it up to three times. I air ours after use by hanging it on a line with a clothespin. My daughter often refuses to wear these because she says they smell funny if I put them on her right after I unwrap them. (I think they smell fine.) These are also a great option if you'd like to donate effective masks to your kids' school.
If you're looking for a KN95 mask for older kids, Vida's masks might be a good option. I use the adult-sized version, and they're much more comfortable than the traditional N95 design. These masks have five layers and pass the light and candle tests—I can't see light or blow out a candle through them. However, these masks are not FDA- nor NIOSH-approved.
When the Covid-19 pandemic started, there was speculation it would prove a boon for US domestic manufacturing. That hasn't panned out precisely as planned, but some companies have pivoted to making personal protective equipment close to home, like Texas-based Armbrust American. These masks are sturdy and have a Level 3 certification from ASTM International, a standards organization. (You can read our explanation of testing standards in our adult face mask guide.)
Now that my kids are bigger, these sturdy, disposable masks fit my 6-year-old and 8-year-old. They're made to an N95 standard, and at roughly $1.70 per mask (in a pack of 50), they're one of our more affordable picks.
Cloth masks are much less effective than N95s at filtering out viruses. Still, we keep a number of cloth masks on hand for emergencies and for outdoor gatherings. Crayola’s School Mask Pack is one of the most affordable ways to achieve that goal. The masks are made of double-layered cloth and have a nose wire and adjustable ear loops. They also come with a small mesh laundry bag. You get a wide variety of colors, prints, and sizes.
My son loves these masks: “Bring me my cheese mask!” he shouts. These are an affordable way to keep your kids stocked up at school; they can keep a pack in a locker or cubby for emergencies.
Most of the care tips for adult masks also apply to kid masks. It’s important to teach your child to wear a mask consistently. Here are a few tips that have worked with my kids.
Be positive! Your kids aren't going to wear their masks if you constantly complain about yours. If yours doesn't fit properly or you just don't like it, find one that works. I have a few extra masks my kids put on their favorite stuffed animals as practice.
Bring extras everywhere. My kids can't keep track of their socks or pants, so how can they keep track of masks? I have extras in my car and bag. You may want to consider donating a box of disposables to their classroom.
Fit their mask before going out. I make sure the mask covers my child's face completely and that the ear loops are adjusted before we leave the house. They'll never waste two precious minutes waiting for me to fiddle with a nose wire before running across the park.
Use a mask lanyard or head strap. If your child has to wear a mask at school, a lanyard can help them keep track of it, and a head strap will make it more comfortable to wear for long periods of time. My kids like Crayola's brightly colored mask lanyards the best, but the search term “ear saver” on Etsy brings up a ton of other options.
Clean and care for their masks. As with adult masks, make sure you remove them by the ear loops and wash them regularly with detergent. Masks aren't recommended for children under 2 or for anyone who might have trouble removing them on their own.
Reward good behavior. If you really, really need your kid to wear a mask, you might consider offering them stickers or candy to keep it over their nose and mouth. Of course, a well-fitting mask that doesn't slide downward can also help.
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