When this Marion mom was told her 19-month-old son couldn’t wear a mask in day care, she fought the system

MARION — When a Erin Oldfield’s 19-month-old son, Lochlan, started last month at a new day care center, she was told by the Iowa Department of Human Services that he was not allowed to wear a mask there.

In an email to Oldfield, shared with The Gazette, Human Services said her son was too young to be wearing a mask, describing him as an “infant,” and that it is “dangerous practice.”

“Anyone with a toddler knows you can’t make them do anything they don’t want to do,” said Oldfield of her almost 2-year-old. “The safety concerns of an infant wearing a mask weren’t relevant here.”

Oldfield got a letter from her son’s pediatrician — who checked his oxygen levels while he was wearing a mask — saying it was safe for him to continue wearing a mask. She implored Human Services to reverse its guidance.

In an email to Oldfield last month, Todd Savage, child care licensing bureau chief with Human Services, did — saying her child can continue to wear a mask.

“It is my intention to take no position and any variance of your current practice would be a result of the centers preference to ensure safety and manage liability,” Savage said in an email to Oldfield shared with The Gazette.

While Oldfield is happy Lochlan can continue to wear a mask at day care, she’s unsettled by the experience. She said she was “scrambling” to find another day care center where her son would be able to wear a mask before she got the reprieve.

She received the same response from the other centers — that children under 2 are not permitted to wear a mask. That’s in accordance with guidelines from the state and also the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommends mask use in early care and education facilities for those 2 and up regardless of vaccination status.

There is not a COVID-19 vaccine for children under 5. While children are much less likely than adults to be hospitalized or die from COVID-19, at least 400 children 4 and younger have died from the virus, according to the CDC.

New cases of COVID-19 are increasing in Linn and Johnson counties. Last week, Linn County reported 122 new cases in seven days, almost double the 56 case reported the previous week. This week, it added 103 new cases over the previous week.

At the end of March, the COVID-19 transmission level for all 99 Iowa counties remained in the “low” category, according to the CDC. But by April 7, it crept up for two counties — Greene was rated high and Guthrie rated medium. Under federal guidelines, people living in areas rated as medium or low no longer need to wear masks indoors or in public spaces.

At previous day care centers, Oldfield said her daughter, Lyra, 4, was “bullied” by other kids for wearing a mask and teachers were not supportive of the family’s choice.

“I know other parents that have recently taken their students out (of day care) and decided to be home with them because they felt like they couldn’t keep their children safe otherwise,” she said.

Oldfield and her husband are immune compromised, putting them more at risk if they were to get COVID-19, she said.

“Here in Cedar Rapids and Marion, area day care teachers and staff are not masking, are not required to have vaccines and COVID cases at day cares have remained high,” Oldfield said.

Last year, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a law banning Iowa schools from requiring students or staff to wear masks. Reynolds said the law puts parents “back in control” of their child’s education by letting them make their own health care decisions.

The state has been ordered to not enforce the law while a lawsuit over it remains before a federal court appeals panel.

Contrary to the law giving her more control, Oldfield said when she was told her son was not allowed to wear a mask it took away her parental choice to protect her child.

Lyra and Lochlan have been practicing wearing a mask for the last several months in public. Oldfield said she and her husband worked with their children on wearing a mask before they went on vacation.

When Lochlan is at day care, he takes off his mask to eat, nap and when he’s outside, which is in alignment with guidance from Human Services.

Alex Carfrae, public information officer for Human Services, said the department recommends child care providers in Iowa follow its guidelines for infection control in child care settings.

"DHS understands some parents would like their child to continue wearing a mask when not required or advised by public health authorities,“ Carfrae said in an email. ”In those cases, DHS defers to the parents, the child’s health care provider, and the child care provider to make decisions in the best interest of the child.“

Human Services guidelines for infection control in child care settings includes information about screening for illness or disease upon arrival at the child care center, proper hygiene and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.

Masks and face coverings are mentioned as a tool to prevent the spread of respiratory illness. But all children younger than 2 should not wear a face covering, the guidance states.

Human Services has provided technical assistance to child care providers regarding COVID-19 safety and precautions for more than two years, Carfrae said. “Our child care team can’t think of a case similar to the one you inquired about,” he said.

Comments: (319) 398-8411; grace.king@thegazette.com