Babies should not wear homemade face masks, health department says

INDIANAPOLIS—The Indiana State Department of Health is warning parents about the use of homemade face masks for babies.

Homemade cloth masks are not for babies and medical masks should never be used on an unsupervised infant, the ISDH said.

Babies may wear medical infant masks only when under the care of a medical professional, according to the ISDH.

Health officials are warning parents not to attach a mask to a pacifier, either. 

According to the ISDH, babies wearing homemade cloth masks cannot maintain oxygen saturation and will inhale CO2 that collects in the mask.

The CDC guidelines say that cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under the age of two or anyone who would need assistance removing a mask.

For additional guidance from the CDC on cloth face masks, visit the CDC’s website.