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11 Face Masks Your Kids May Actually Wear

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08.05.2021 07:00 AM

11 Face Masks Your Kids May Actually Wear

This fall, your kid will probably still need a face mask for school or play. These are the ones that my little guys will tolerate.

Over the past two years, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued complicated—and occasionally contradictory—guidance on whether or not you should wear a mask, depending on if you're inside, outside, vaccinated, or not vaccinated. In all the confusion, it's easy to miss one big demographic that remains unvaccinated: Children below age 12 still can't get the shots at all. They will also soon be returning to school in huge numbers.

I have two young children myself, and watching them acclimate to a mask-wearing climate has been a strange, proud thing. My son entered the pandemic as a mask-resistant 2-year-old. At 4, he now calmly asks for his mask and puts it on before he plays at the playground.

We know that all unvaccinated children over 2 years old should wear face masks in public spaces, which means that if your kids are returning to school, you should be refreshing your face mask stash. 

I've spent two years putting masks on my kids. These are the ones that have worked best. Don't take this as my final word, though. I'm continually testing and updating our recommendations, and I also routinely update our guide to the best face masks for adults. 

And if you're looking for ideas to entertain your small (or not-so-small) kids, check out our guides to entertaining preschoolers during quarantine and how to set up a virtual workspace for your kids.

Update August 2021: We added current information, new face masks from Happy Masks and Dr. Puri, and updated our accessory recommendations.

Adrienne So is the main author of this guide. Louryn Strampe also tested and contributed to this guide.

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  • Photograph: Happy Masks

    The Best Mask

    Happy Masks Pro Series

    Early in the pandemic, my children were more isolated and a lot less mask-tolerant. Any mask that I could persuade them to wear would do. With the much more contagious Delta variant now circulating, I need to protect them a little more, and the light, breathable Pro Series is the easiest, best way to do that.

    It has a stiffer, 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 yet. Unfortunately, they have to be washed by hand, and the filter cannot be replaced separately. They also cost $24, which means I'm anxious about losing and caring for them. 

  • Photograph: Getty Images

    A Disposable Mask

    Dr. Puri KF94 Mask

    I'm currently trying to extend the life of our Happy Masks by rotating them with disposable KF94s. As we wrote in our guide to face masks for adults, these acronyms denote foreign manufacturing standards that are comparable to what we'd call an N95 here in the US. Korean KF94s come in several sizes, and the small version fits both my 4-year-old and my 6-year-old.

    The fit is more secure than a cloth mask because of a nose panel that gives it a more structured shape. You can also reuse it up to three times; I air ours after use by hanging it up with a clothespin on a line. My 6-year-old doesn't like these as much because she says they smell funny if I put them on her right after I unwrap them. (I think they smell fine.) The 3D shape makes it harder to transport or store. 

  • Photograph: Crayola

    The Best Mask Pack

    Crayola Kids School Mask Pack

    You need a lot of masks if you're sending your little one to day care or school—at least five masks, if you're lucky, and probably more, plus a convenient way to wash them. 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. 

    They come in a wide variety of colors, prints, and sizes. My son loves these masks: “Bring me my cheese mask!” he shouts. These might be an affordable way to keep your kids stocked up at school; they can keep a pack in a locker or cubby for emergencies.


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