STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – It’s a parenting question that’s as old as time, but now it has a twist: How do you best protect your child during the coronavirus pandemic?
Surgical masks and other face coverings give us a degree of protection from sharing and contracting the illness when we’re out in public. But they’re dangerous for infants and young toddlers, and the American Academy of Pediatrics warns parents not to put them on any child under the age of 2 -- ever.
Such advice aligns with the rules in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s mask order, effective April 17, which states that “any individual who is over age two and able to medically tolerate a face-covering shall be required to cover their nose and mouth with a mask or cloth face-covering when in a public place and unable to maintain, or when not maintaining, social distance.”
The risk of suffocation is very real, said Dr. Brian McMahon, chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Richmond University Medical Center, who took a few minutes recently to stress the importance of caution.
“If the child turns over, turns into a corner, and the mask is too tight, the child may not make a noise,’’ he said. “The parent may realize much too late that the baby was in trouble. If the parent is distracted … this sounds hard to believe, but we don’t want to take the chance.’’
Though seniors and other adults with pre-existing medical conditions are most vulnerable to the coronavirus, it’s not impossible for babies and toddlers to contract it -- and they can pass it on to others, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“In terms of statistics, it’s more of a problem for older people,’’ McMahon agreed. “But, it’s not impossible for pediatric-aged patients to get, and it’s not impossible for young children and babies to get it.’’
There have been reports of children as young as a month old becoming infected, McMahon said. And older children and teens have gotten quite sick, he said.
So, what’s a parent to do?
If you must take your infant out in public in a carriage or stroller, a blanket placed very loosely over the carriage is a precaution worth taking, said McMahon. But adult supervision is critical when you do that, he said.
“You don’t want the blanket to fall on the baby and possibly suffocate the baby,’’ he said. “You have to be careful about that. They may suffocate.’’
Toddlers, usually brimming with energy and curiosity, present another challenge. They’re not capable of respecting the six-foot social distancing guidelines and may run toward strangers when in public places.
And they’re cute, so people are drawn to them, as well.
“The parent is going to have to hold the child’s hand and control the child, so the child isn’t going to run into trouble,’’ McMahon said.
Those over the age of 2 should be wearing a mask, either a disposable surgical mask or a bandana or scarf, whenever they are out in public, he said.
“The older child has a little bit of understanding,’’ he said. “We wear the mask so that we don’t inadvertently infect someone else. Children have less awareness. They’re more likely to interact with others.’’
More than ever these days, parents should be aware that they are role models, McMahon said. They should sit down with children and explain exactly why the masks are essential, he added.
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“When the children see that the mother or father puts the mask on, they realize, ‘I need to do the same thing,’’’ McMahon said.
Though masks offer a certain level of protection, they’re not fool-proof, and children should be kept from other children during the pandemic, the CDC said.
“While school is out, children should not have in-person play dates with children from other households,” the CDC advises. “If children are playing outside their own home, it is essential that they remain six feet from anyone who is not in their own household.”
Hand-washing and disinfecting surfaces is critical, too, the CDC says. Children’s laundry should be washed in the warmest possible water, according to the agency.
It’s a tough time to be a parent, the doctor admits.
“Is there any step we can take that’s an absolute guarantee? No,’’ he said. “But by wearing protective masks, we are reducing the risk as much as humanly possible. If you get in a car, you put your seatbelt on. If you’re going outside, you put your mask on.”
Dr. Brian McMahon is the chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Richmond University Medical Center.