Explain sheet 10 of 14
Masks and children: ages, fit, supervision and when to ask
Public-health bodies set different age thresholds for children and masks, and most of that advice dates from the pandemic years. Here is what each opened page says.
Parents and carers ask the same few things: at what age can a child wear a mask, what size is right, and when should a child not wear one at all? Health bodies have answered these questions, but their answers differ in the details and were written mostly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This sheet reports what each opened page says, with its date, and does not give advice for any individual child.
As at 7 March 2022 (WHO and UNICEF): the thresholds below come from a joint question-and-answer page. Guidance has changed since, and country rules differ, so check current advice from your local health authority.
Age thresholds, as the pages state them
The WHO and UNICEF question-and-answer page, dated 7 March 2022, makes three statements. Children aged 5 years and under "do not need to wear a mask" because they may not be able to wear one properly without help or supervision. In areas where SARS-CoV-2 is spreading, children aged 6 to 11 years are recommended to wear a well-fitted mask in certain indoor settings, such as where ventilation is poor or unknown. Adolescents aged 12 years or older should follow the same recommendations as adults.
The US CDC used a lower number. Its archived Use and Care of Masks page (updated 11 May 2023) says children aged 2 years and older can wear masks or respirators. At the other end, a CDC respiratory illness risk page (updated 18 August 2025) says children younger than 2 years should not wear masks because of the risk of suffocation.
These figures come from different documents with different purposes, so they are not a like-for-like contrast. The WHO and UNICEF page speaks to when masks are recommended for children, and the CDC statements speak to the age from which a child can wear one and the age below which a child should not. Both are tied to a date and a place.
Sizing and fit for small faces
The archived CDC page advises choosing a size that fits over the child's nose and under the chin without impairing vision, and following the maker's instructions. It warns that a poorly fitting or uncomfortable mask may be worn incorrectly or taken off often, which reduces the benefit. WHO and UNICEF likewise say a child's mask should cover nose, mouth and chin, and that masks should not be shared.
Respirators need extra care. The NIOSH page on community respirators and masks (updated 25 March 2025) says NIOSH Approved respirators do not come in suitable sizes for very young children. It adds that respirators in smaller sizes, where they exist, are typically designed for adults in workplaces and may not have been tested for broad use in children. The sheet on fit and seal explains why a gap at the sides or nose matters, and the types sheet sets out what each mask type is.
Children who should not wear a mask
WHO and UNICEF say children with cognitive or respiratory impairments, developmental disorders, disabilities or other health conditions who have difficulty wearing a mask should not be required to wear one. They also say children do not need a mask while playing sports or doing physical activity, because it may affect breathing. Where possible, the decision should be discussed with the child's medical provider.
The CDC archive page lists four things for caregivers to consider with a child who has a disability: whether the child can wear the mask correctly, avoid frequent touching of mask and face, limit sucking or drooling on it, and remove it without help. Under the WHO and UNICEF page, a safe environment should still be created for a child who cannot tolerate a mask, including adults around the child wearing masks.
Supervision, and children under five
WHO and UNICEF say that in general children aged 5 and under do not need masks, though caregivers may choose one in some cases, for example if the child is in contact with a person at high risk of severe disease or with someone who is ill. Children of this age "should not wear masks for a long duration or without supervision." For older children, parents and carers who help should be ready to explain mask safety, clean hands before and after handling the mask, and follow the same steps they use themselves. The sheet on putting on and taking off a mask covers those steps.
When to ask a paediatrician or doctor
The CDC archive page says that if a child has a medical condition such as a heart or lung problem, a healthcare provider should be asked before using methods to improve mask fit or before using a respirator or an ASTM F3502 mask. If the child has a hard time breathing, gets dizzy or has other symptoms, it advises choosing a cloth or disposable mask instead, and consulting a provider if symptoms do not resolve. WHO and UNICEF recommend a medical mask for children at higher risk of severe COVID-19, naming conditions such as chronic lung disease, cardiac disease and immunosuppression.
This is general information from the dated pages above. A child's own doctor has the final word.
The short version
On the opened pages, WHO and UNICEF said children aged 5 and under do not need masks (7 March 2022), while CDC said children aged 2 and over can wear them and under 2 should not (2023 and 2025 pages). Fit, supervision and a child's own health matter more than any single age. Rules vary by country and date, so current local advice should be checked.