Face masks for babies: dos and don'ts
Babies aged one or younger should not wear face masks as they can be endangered by carbon dioxide in the masks or a shortage of oxygen, Dr Panpimol Wipulakorn, the Department of Health’s director-general, said.
She explained that babies breathe mostly through the nose, and cannot breathe through the mouth.
She also advised against the use of plastic shields to prevent babies from people’s droplet because they could cut the babies’ face or eyes.
Children aged not over two can remove the masks when they feel suffocated. However, they should not wear the masks for a long time.
The doctor said that children aged over two can wear masks, except those with muscle weakness or mental retardation, in which cases parents need to be extra-cautious.
