Thread by @claire_horwell

#KidsMasks🧵cont.: Over the past week, we have tried more vertical-fold #FFP2 #facemasks for kids. We haven't yet found any that fit my kids (or my!) faces properly. Here's why, and also some suggestions for adaptations to improve fit: 1/
#BetterMasks
#MaskUp

2/ Here are the 4 masks we tried. The black one was the one we had already. It fits well on my kids (aged 15 and 11) except around the nose where the clip doesn't stay moulded, letting air out (and in) around the edges.

3/ These 2 masks are the same brand. But one is XXS and the other is called 'kids'. As far as we could tell, they were the same. NB, the earloops were different lengths (on the same mask!). They were too small; didn't extend under chin. Poor nose clip let air out - clear gaps.

4/ This mask fitted better on the chin but let air out via poor nose clip AND the ear loops were very uncomfortable. The lower strap joins to the mask in an odd place (not near the edge) and this seemed to make it pull on the ear lobes.

5/ My conclusion is that (again...) these vertical-fold masks are not well suited to our high nose-bridge face shapes but also that companies could invest in better (metal) nose clips which keep the clip moulded to the nose. No point investing in an FFP mask if it can't fit!

6/ If you are buying masks for your kids, I suggest seeing if your child will tolerate a different shaped mask (e.g. boat shaped) which tend to fit better. If not, you may need to buy several brands and sizes of vertical-fold masks to find the best fit ... but even then ...👇

7/ You may need to adapt a mask to get it to fit better. Suggestion 1: Unfurl a paperclip, use wire clippers (or bend back and forth) to cut the wire to just less than the length of the nose clip pouch, insert wire carefully behind (towards outside of mask) the existing nose clip

8/ Suggestion 2: take a piece/roll of foam or sponge. Attach it to the inside of the mask, along the nose clip pouch, with surgical micropore tape. This tape sticks to the mask and shouldn't irritate the skin. With the paperclip, the tape seals the hole so it doesn't poke out.

9/ Both of these adaptations substantially reduced the amount of air escaping around the nose and upper cheeks. The wire + foam gave the best outcome. NB. these experiments were done at home. No inward leakage or filtration tests were conducted. Just perceptions of effectiveness.