It’s a bit baffling that we haven’t all yet agreed on the one key truth of COVID-19: The sooner everyone covers their face, the sooner we’ll stop the spread and regain some semblance of normal life. The CDC are big fans of cloth face masks for everyone over age 2. But many, including parents of squirming children, are looking for some other — and/or additional — options for face coverings, such as kids face shields.
Before you start shopping, you should know that experts say clear plastic shields are not as effective as cloth or disposable masks when it comes to preventing you from spreading the virus to others.
“It protects you, the wearer,” pediatric infectious disease specialist Frank Esper, MD, said on the Cleveland Clinic’s Health Essentials site. “But if you cough, because this face shield is away from your face, those droplets can still get out better than if you have a mask on.”
But putting a face shield on children is better than nothing, and it does go far in protecting its wearer from others’ droplets. Some also report that it’s cooler than a regular mask — thanks to that escaping air — and it doesn’t require as much adjustment as a mask, so there’s less danger of face-touching. That has many speculating whether a face shield is a good choice for children who have been pulling off their masks the first chance they get. We can’t say whether places that require masks will accept this as an alternative, but you certainly can try (and bring along a backup mask just in case).
Because COVID-19 lives longer on plastic and other hard surfaces longer than on porous ones, make sure you sanitize your child’s shield every day with soap and water or antibacterial cleaner.
One more reminder: Even though we see many of these face shields sold in sizes for babies, doctors have advised against putting them on anyone under age 2, due to suffocation risk.
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A version of this story was originally published in July 2020.
Woodland Critters From Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club just released nine adorable designs of face shields perfect for kids ages 3 to 10. They’re wipe-clean with anti-fog coating and a comfy elastic band — and cute to boot.
ReadyShopNYC Clear Face Shield
This is the absolute basic shield, sans any adornment, made from PET plastic. You can decorate it yourself, or leave it plain for the minimalist child. (For ages 5 and up.)
NKC Designs Dinosaur Hat
Placing a shield on a hat makes you a very good parent for offering sun and virus protection all in one. When all this is over, you can remove the shield and keep the hat.
ShopBetter Unicorn Shield
Yes, sorry, the mannequin head is creeping us out too. But use your imagination and think about how much a fantasy-loving child will adore the fact that they’ll just have to be a unicorn every time they leave the house.
Doraemon Hat Shield
We have no idea if the manga character Doraemon is used here with proper licensing. As long as you’re OK with that, you and your kid can enjoy its cheeky attitude and protective nature. (Ages 2-5.)
ReadyShopNYC Hello Kitty Hat Shield
Besides being classically adorable, this Hello Kitty cap also gives its wearer extra space to wear sunglasses or eyeglasses behind the shield. It also comes in Captain America, Spider-Man, and Supergirl cap options. (For ages 3-10.)
Kukoo Fishermen’s Hat Face Shield
It’s a good thing this sweet frog hat comes with a PET face shield — otherwise you’d have a hard time not kissing your little one nonstop while they wear it. They’ll also appreciate the cool breeze that mesh back provides. (For ages 4-8.)
Mefezi Animal Cap Shield
Is that a hamster? A mouse? A loris? We care not. It is a very cute creature who is very happy that your child is helping to stop this pandemic. (For ages 2-8).
Frog Bucket Hat Shield
These bucket hats have an advantage over the others in that their face shields are made of the same flexible PVC material as stroller rain shields. That means you can fold them up for storage when you’re a safe distance from everyone else. (Ages 3-10.)
Happy Cherry Watermelon Hat Shield
This hat has everything you love in an irresistibly adorable summer bucket hat and everything you need in a virus-protecting shield. Look for other, equally edible styles too. (Available in multiple sizes, but please do not buy for children under 2!)
Triworks Kids Sun Hat
Some kids need characters, and others are content with a classic, pleasing color for their accessories. These soft cotton bucket hats and detachable PVC shields come in multiple colors for your stylish kiddo. (Ages 2-5.)
Bulingna Smiling Hat Face Shield
Maybe we’re feeling extra suggestible at the moment, but the smiley face on this orange hat instantly makes us smile in response. So does the idea that our kids will be safe from each other’s germs. (Ages 3-13.)
Wogogo Bear Hat Face Shield
There are tons of bear and dog face masks for kids out there, so we were bound to come across a bear face shield too. Maybe bears just make us feel like our kids are protected. The hat is cotton, and the shield is PVC. (Ages 2-6.)
Spider-Man Cap Face Shield
Where are the superheroes when we could really use them? At least your own little hero or heroine doesn’t need a nuclear spider bite to protect them from the world, just you and this PVC face shield.
Babirooco Yellow Smiley Face Hat Shield
While everyone wearing a mask has been hiding their smiles, this happy shield lets your kid show off two smiles simultaneously. It’s also available in black, if you want less of a “Have a nice day” vibe.
Animal Shields
Not everyone’s a hat person. Not everyone is a unikitty or tiger person either. But if you’re kid is at least one of the latter, this PVC shield has them covered.
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