Lehigh Valley Experts Share Tips on Keeping Infant Face Masks Clean - WFMZ

EASTON, Pennsylvania - As autumn approaches, pediatricians ask questions: How do I get my toddler to wear a mask and how do I keep it clean?

"Years ago it was the flashing sneakers that kept the light on. Now it's the mask, "said Sharon Frankenfield, teacher and coordinator for Faith Lutheran Preschool in Forks Township.

Frankenfield says making masks for fun is important for young children.

Although the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC agree that children over the age of two should wear face covers in daycare and schools, some parents fear they could get wet or covered with food.

Children will be children, but experts insist that there are ways to solve these problems.

"We have tons of it all over here," said Frankenfield. "We'll take them with us. Now they're like handkerchiefs. The mask is the new handkerchief."

"I recommend buying multiple masks for your child," said Dr. Karen Johnson, a pediatrician with KidsCare at St. Luke's University Health Network.

Johnson, who has a four-year-old son, says that while it will start with remembering, reorienting, and repositioning, it will be easier.

"They tend to stick their tongues out and try to move the mask," Johnson said. "The bad feeling of being a little wet teaches them not to move over time, but that too is another reason to prepare some."

"You can let teachers know that they can change it during the day if it gets noticeably wet or dirty," said Dr. Deb Carter, executive vice president of the Pediatrics Department at Lehigh Valley Reilly Children's Hospital.

Many pediatricians and educators agree that it is important to lead by example.

"Our children cannot be vaccinated right now, and I think it's a lot easier for them to make this a universal household rule," said Johnson.

"If they see their older siblings, or if they see their classmates or their parents wearing an appropriate mask, it becomes much more likely without any problems," Carter said.

Carter says if your child first wears a mask this fall, practice at home for a short time.

"Make sure the children wash their hands regularly before and after they take off their masks," Carter said. "What I've seen and heard from so many people is that these young children are better at masking than older children and adults."

Carter says that for young children, fabric masks with multiple layers of fabric are the best option.

"Ideally, you can choose a fabric that your child likes and is more likely to wear, with fun characters or their favorite colors," Carter said.

"When it's common and normal for us to wear a mask in public, at school, when we're anywhere outside of home, it makes life a lot easier," said Johnson.

Experts recommend washing the masks every night.

With masks and everything, Frankenfield hopes to be able to welcome students in a few weeks.

"The children understand," said Frankenfield. "You know what to do. We had no problem with that."

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