7 Best Reusable Face Masks for Kids
We’re talking all about the best reusable face masks for kids.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC recommends that everyone ages 2 and up wear cloth face coverings in public settings and around people from other households. This recommendation has made reusable face masks one of 2020’s must-have items. Even with a vaccine rolling out, we can expect face masks to be either recommended or required in certain places for the foreseeable future.
When we asked for recommendations from the members of our official Facebook deal group, our own Hip team, and scoured the internet for highly rated mask options we came across quite a few affordable face masks out there that kids are actually willing to wear!
Keep reading for some of the best reusable face mask recommendations for kids, and a few bonus tips for making #masklife a little easier on the whole family.
Old Navy Triple Layer Cloth Face Masks – 5/$12.50 or 10/$25
Old Navy sells reusable, non-medical-grade cloth face masks for both adults and children, and they’re a favorite among Hip readers and team members alike! They come in a fun assortment of colors, prints, and patterns and are sold in sets of 5 or 10.
Designed per the CDC’s recommendations for non-medical-grade masks, these are made with 3-ply, woven, 100% cotton poplin.
Both of my 7-year-olds say that these masks are their favorite out of all the ones we’ve tried (and we’ve tried a LOT of masks). They’re comfy and breathable, and the ear loops are made from a soft, plush elastic that hasn’t bothered their ears at all.
I really appreciate how securely these masks seem to fit too. They don’t slip off my kids’ faces, so they’re not constantly reaching up to readjust them (which means less face-touching)! At just $2.50 each, they’re really affordable, so I plan to buy two more sets so that we always have clean masks ready to go! – Hip team member Jenna
EnerPlex Kids Face Mask – 3/$18.95 + 10% off with digital coupon
These 3-ply reusable face masks are an Amazon best-seller, with over 44,000 5-star ratings! They’re both water-resistant and breathable, and reviewers love the fact that they’re cooler to wear than even the most lightweight disposable face mask.
The EnerPlex Kids face masks come in four sizes designed to fit kids ages 3-9, but reviewers have pointed out that they seem to run a bit large, with older kids and even some adults being able to wear the bigger sizes too. They come highly recommended for anyone looking for a plain face mask to decorate with vinyl, as well.
These were exactly what I was looking for! I was using disposable and they were twice as hot. They are super comfortable and soft and dip at the cheekbones as I wanted. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐- Amazon review
I purchased the small size for my 11-year-old and it fits perfectly. Not too tight that it’s pulling at the ears but definitely not leaving gaps. Material is thick but stretchy. For reference, she’s definitely on the small side but overall I think this could comfortably fit kids that are a little older. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐- Amazon review
These are awesome! The most comfortable and best-fitting masks that I have found for kids. My son is 7 1/2 and quite big for his age. The size small fit him perfectly with a little bit of room. I have not washed these in the washing machine, planning to hand wash them so that they do not shrink. But they have a good amount of stretch and are soft. Not too thick or thin – nice and breathable. Ordered some for me and my husband as soon as we got these! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐- Amazon review
Crayola Kids Reusable Cloth Face Mask – 5/$13.94 – that makes each one only $2.79!
Crayola makes a highly-rated school pack of 5 reusable cloth face masks – 1 for each school day of the week! They come in a fun assortment of kid-approved designs with a built-in name tag, secure-fit adjustable ear straps, and a nose clip. They’re machine washable and come with a bonus mesh laundry bag too!
Cutest children’s masks ever! The material is very soft and the adjustable nose piece and ear straps make the masks easy to customize for your child. Perfect masks for your kids to wear to school since there is one for each day of the week. They came from the US and also have the Crayola tag, which you can write your child’s name on the other side of it. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐- Amazon review
Masks are super cute and even my 2-year-old is willing to wear them thanks to the adjustable ear loops and getting the perfect fit. The area above the nose is able to be formed to prevent glasses from fogging up. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐- Amazon review
Great masks. Perfect for my 4-year-old to wear to preschool each day. He loves them and they seem to be comfortable for him. Exactly what I was looking for. One thing to note is that he is small for his age and they seem to fit him perfectly, but they look like they might be a bit too small for an older child. So you may want to size up or order something different if you are looking for a child older than probably 5. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐- Amazon review
Jaanuu Reusable Antimicrobial Kids’ Face Masks – 5/$20 – Just $4 each!
Jaanuu is a brand known for its signature scrubs, and these highly-rated face masks are made from the same soft fabric that has been treated with the Silvadur antimicrobial preservative technology used in hospital scrubs.
Just like the brand’s scrubs, these masks are washable, reusable, and designed for durability. They’re also reinforced with a cotton lining and feature comfortable, adjustable ear loops.
Jaanuu’s kid-sized masks work great. My daughter is 12 and she has a small face. I wouldn’t go any older than that, though. I have a friend who uses these on her 3-year-old. I would say 2 to 10 is the best age on average. – Hip reader Adrianne
Safe+Mate x Case-Mate – Reusable Face Mask – from $6.79
Safe+Mate reusable face masks are made from a super-soft 60% cotton/40% polyester blend so the mask can retain both its shape and color through multiple washings. Although these are sized for adults, the most common complaint among reviewers is that they run small. Many families are finding that they’re actually a great fit for kids!
These masks have a pocket for replaceable filter inserts (one filter is included with your purchase). The back-of-the-head elastic strap provides relief from tension around the ears, and it also holds the mask around your neck when not in use.
These are the only masks that my 10-year-old doesn’t complain about wearing. They’re really well-designed and shaped so that the edges fit securely against his face, but the material doesn’t actually touch his nose or mouth. He feels like these masks have more “breathing room” inside than the pleated masks or neck gaiters that we’ve tried. The back-of-the-neck elastic is an awesome feature too.
I noticed that some of the reviewers have complained that the mask is too small for adults, but the Adult S/M is a perfect fit for my 10-year-old, who is big for his age. He has been wearing these masks for baseball and soccer in very hot weather and tolerating them extremely well. I bought him one just to try it, and then went back for the three-pack when I saw how well the first one was working for him! – Hip team member Jenna
Vistaprint Face Masks – from $13 + code FAST15 for 15% off 4 or more Fast Ship Masks
Although Vistaprint’s face masks tend to be on the pricier side, they come highly recommended for kids needing a comfortable face mask that can be worn all day long. They feature an extra gusset below the chin for added coverage, adjustable earloops, a moldable nose wire, and a filter pocket.
Vistaprint’s face masks are made from a stretchy synthetic polyester, which is soft against the skin and perfect for cooler weather. They come in a fun assortment of prints and you can even design and customize your own!
My son has glasses and we got the kids’ mask from Vistaprint. It is pricey at $13 but well worth it. They are great masks and made so well – and he’s never had a problem with it fogging his glasses as there is a very good metal nose piece that is easy to pinch and stay pinched. The ears are also adjustable too. – Hip reader Cratesswim
The kids and I like the ones from Vistaprint a lot. Adjustable ear loops for kids. Comfy and you can use a filter if you want. Cute designs and they just came out with an option to upload a custom photo/design, too! – Hip reader Jennifer
We’re loving our Vistaprint masks too. Very comfortable and once you fit the ear loops properly for your face it never needs adjusting. – Hip reader devonmcdonnell
Steve Madden Combat Kids’ Face Mask – $14.99
This child-sized face mask is held in place with elastic ear loops and features a built-in pocket for a filter. Three filters are included with your purchase of this reusable, machine-washable face mask.
My daughter has this one and I have the adult version, and they’re awesome. It includes filters, has adjustable straps, is coned out by the nose so it doesn’t touch your face and it’s pretty thick. Plus, they are super comfy! They conform around your nose and go under your chin so they stay on even if you’re talking. – Hip team member Chelsey
Hip tips to make mask-wearing easier for your kids:
- Show your child the proper way to put on and remove a mask, and have them practice doing it independently if they’ll need to know how to do it themselves at school or anywhere else where you won’t be able to assist them.
- If your child is bothered by the feeling of wearing ear loops all day long, try using one of these ear-savers to take the pressure off their ears.
- If your child’s mask doesn’t have over-the-head or behind-the-neck elastic straps, consider attaching it to a lanyard. This way they don’t need to set their mask down and risk losing it or getting it dirty while they’re taking a “mask break” or eating lunch.
- Consider packing an extra mask or two in your child’s backpack, as masks should be changed when they become wet or soiled. Of course, you can buy cases made just for masks these days, but a simple Ziploc bag or paper bag will work too. Just make sure that your child knows to keep their dirty masks separate from their clean ones.
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What about for kids with glasses? My son has glasses and I am worried he will fog them up. Does anyone have a favorite mask that works great with glasses?
Wash his glasses with shaving cream. It stops fogging. They do make antifog sprays too.
Does it matter the type of shaving cream? Gel? Foam?
We own an optometry office. Avoid the shaving cream as they don’t know how it will react with different coatings on the lenses. We suggest cat crap anti dog spray. Best one on the market.
I had to google this because this cracked me up. I’m assuming you mean anti-fog spray, but what you typed was highly entertaining! Side note, why would someone name an anti-fog spray Cat Crap? 😂
Must’ve been a Freudian slip 😂 That comment made me lol
Mine and our daughter’s too.. haven’t found the “magical mask” yet but having a nose piece helps (my mother in law made a few and actually used twist ties instead of a metal piece) but the biggest thing that helps is making sure our glasses sit over the edge of the mask/mask is just under the glasses. However, if you stumble across a good one, let me know 🙌🏼😂
The plastic strips on coffee bags work really well. Ours are on bags of Peet’s coffee.
They are very comfortable too.
Actually, if you can find it some places sell eyeglasses cleaner that is antifog, or use shaving cream, that will keep his glasses from fogging up 💕💕
I saw a hack that medical professionals use to avoid this. They put a small strip of medical tape over the nose bridge. I haven’t tried it, but you may give it a shot and see if it helps!
Following this because both of my kiddos wears glasses.
wear*
We got the old
Navy adult masks for our 10 year old and I added a metal piece in the seam for the nose and used the metal closure on a coffee bag. I also added a metal loop clip that holds both ear loops behind her head so that it is tighter and doesn’t bother her ears. Now she can wear it with her glasses and they don’t fog up.
Shaving cream I heard can hurt the lense. Someone had mentioned wash glass lense with blue dawn. I wear glasses and a mask and like others I work with have found that turning the mask upside down and having the bottom of the masks straight edge high on your face helps a great deal!
Volcom brand (a boutique by me sells them, but I think you can find online as well) work well with glasses and come in kids sizes too. They have a moldable nose piece.
Gap makes them with a thin wire in it. This is good for kids that wear glasses
My son has glasses and we got the kids mask from vista print – it is pricey at $13 but well worth it. They are great masks – made so well – and he’s never had a problem with it fogging his glasses as there is a very good metal nose piece that is easy to pinch and stay pinched. The ears are also adjustable too.
My son uses an anti fog spray for his hockey bubble mask. Works well.
I wear glasses too and the fogging drove me crazy. I finally found a couple of helpful videos on YouTube. One idea said to use double sided tape and stick it on the upper edge of your mask that is nearest to your glasses and then stick the mask down to your face. But that may not work for oily skin.
The idea I use most often is to take a Kleenex tissue and fold it so that it’s one long strip about an inch wide. Since the tissue is longer than my mask I either fold the edges or tear them off. And then I put on my mask so that the tissue is under the top edge of my mask. The tissue absorbs most of the moisture from your breath so that it doesn’t fog your glasses. If you have trouble keeping it in place maybe try that double sided tape to adhere the tissue to your mask!
We use the stick on metal strips on target masks. However lately my son (with glasses) likes the beenie boo masks best and doesn’t need to add any metal bits.
Amazon has tons of antifog cleaners for glasses that fog up, also if you wash the eyeglasses with shaving cream, that will prevent them from fogging up💕💕
Sadly shaving cream didn’t work for me.
Anyone have reviews on the ones from Carter’s?
I bought my daughter one from Carter’s and so far that is my favorite. She is 8 and it fits her perfect. The Target ones were too big as well as the one I bought from someone local.
Love this article now I vote for another one like this but for adults masks!!!! We personally like the Target ones for my kids
Thanks for the suggestion, Jackie! I’ll pass that along to the team! You can also see more face masks here.
Mine love the Adidas masks.
My son and husband both like the Adidas masks. My son wears his upside down for a better fit. He doesn’t seem to move his jaw around messing with it.
The new printed style cat & jack from Target now have nose pieces to adjust the fit in them.
I am a school teacher and I have three kids in school so we’ve been trying lots of different masks. My favorite have been the Old Navy ones.
What are people using as filter inserts for the Cat and Jack masks? I clicked on the link within the post, but those look like they may be too big and don’t look like they can be cut? Thanks for any advice!
My daughter wears the one from target she loves them
Crayola has kids masks too with some fun prints in kids and adult sizes
I just got my 3 year old a mask from carters after trying from other places and then being too big. Carters seems to work well!
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The Target ones were too big for my 4&6 year olds. They slip down their noses. The metal nose bridge piece wasn’t helpful at all.
If there is an opening, switch out the bridge for a folded over pipe cleaner (twist the ends over so no sharp edge).
A Star Hip2Saver is a recognized member of our Hip2Save community hand selected by our team for demonstrating a long history of engagement with helpful & friendly comments across Hip2Save.com and our social channels. Our Star Hip2Saver badge acts as a verification for readers who know the ins and outs of all Hip2Save sets out to accomplish — assisting our community to live extraordinary lives on ordinary budgets. Readers cannot pay or provide any sort of exchange in order to earn this badge. Rather, they are invited to participate by a member of the Hip2Save team and opt to have the Star Hip2Saver badge added to their profile & comments.
Val’s creations on Etsy made some very small ones (youth size)for my son (4). They work perfectly. I got in touch with her about Thomas trains on the masks, and she fully customized them for me. Now we’ve decided to not send him to preschool, but I’m glad to have a few extra masks around.
our favorites are by Hanna Anderson
I ordered face masks from old navy and returned them. The description said they were 3 layer cloth but the ones that i received were only 1 layer fabric. I didn’t consider them to be safe at only 1 layer for my grand kids so I returned them and cancelled another order that I had placed but hadn’t received yet.
Difficult to get the Target ones; they’re not available for pu OR delivery, & I’m **rarely** going in to stores!!
Hi Jennifer. I had trouble finding the Target masks available for delivery at first. I checked the box to “Notify me when it’s back in stock” and was able to get several sets. Strangely, upon receipt of notifications, they were already showing as out of stock on the app, but I could get them through the website. Now, if I could just figure out what to use as a filter. Good luck!
Megan, we really appreciate you helping out fellow readers! This is awesome!
Don’t forget about Kickee Pants face masks. They have them for children and adults as well. https://www.kickeepants.com
Th kids and I like the ones from Vista Print a lot. Adjustable ear loops for kids. Comfy and you can use a filter it you want. Cute designs. They just came out with an option to upload custom photo / design, too.
We’re loving our Vistaprint masks too. Very comfortable and once you fit the ear loops properly for you face it never needs adjusting.
Thank you for all your comments! I also have been having trouble wearing masks with glasses fogging up in the family. Definitely the nose piece helps, but shaving cream is not the greatest option for expensive bifocal lenses. I’ll definitely check out Amazon & try Old Navy brand too… A hybrid is probably the best model of learning of what we’re looking at here in New England with majority of online learning & no more snow days, But masks have been mandatory here since March & although I’ve made many & donated many more, they are not medical grade & it does get hot wearing them for extended periods of time. It’s almost impossible to find elastic now too. Some of the masks we donated even used rubber bands. But I’m really worried how my daughter is going to make it through a school day without her glasses fogging up – she needs to be able to read!
Have you tried Starks face mask? They are more expensive $12.95 each (buy 4 get 1 free) but has a nose guard to prevent fogging on glasses and has adjustable ear loops.
Any recommendations on masks for a tiny 2 year old? Every kid mask I have tried is too big for her..
Maybe Disney face mask size small? If only the ear loops are too long, you can either tie a loop or use pony beads to make them tighter.
I bought one from Abercrombie Kids, and it is tiny.
I bought my 4 year old a few on Etsy. Ours has over the head bands, a metal nose piece, and we put a filter inside. They fit his face perfect! There are some specifically made for smaller kids. We have tried all kinds of masks and these are more expensive, but great quality! I wash them every few days.
We bought a lot of them from Carter’s. We love them because the elastic that goes behind the ears is super soft and it doesn’t bother them. The masks from target are way too big on my kids.
Thanks for the review, Suzanne! Good to know what has been working best for your family!
Hip2save team is would be great if you would do adult face mask post. I have a smaller face, but not to small and finding a fit has been awful and a waist of money. Any recommendations of good quality mask that stay in place would be great. Thank you for all of your post!
Thanks for asking, Renee! We do have many options listed over here –> https://hip2save-com-develop.go-vip.co/category/sales-deals/reusable-face-masks/
Also, be sure to check out this review here –> https://hip2save-com-develop.go-vip.co/2020/07/08/these-old-navy-reusable-face-mask-5-packs-are-only-12-50-have-thousands-of-5-star-reviews/
In addition, I have personally been loving these –> https://hip2save-com-develop.go-vip.co/2020/07/08/universal-thread-womens-reusable-face-masks-only-2-each-on-target-com/
Hope this is helpful!
This lady I follow on Instagram showed using a pacifier clip attached to the mask and the collar of her shirt as being a great way to not lose your mask. This may be a good idea for kiddos who have to wear them at school.
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing, mackyjane!
I just ordered a pack of 100 aluminum adhesive nose strips from Amazon. They have good reviews to keep the mask secure on the nose and possibly from fogging up glasses. They’re even supposed to last in the wash, yet to be determined here. Lots of options!! Thanks H2S and loyal readers.
You are welcome! Thanks for the tip on the nose strips, obler!
We have had luck with tying a small loop in the end of the ear loops. It helps the straps tighten the mask on their face. Also amazon has small clips you can add to the loops to tighten them.
Thanks so much for the helpful tip! Good to know!
It would be great if y’all found some small businesses to support at times. There are many struggling and masks are a perfect example of something where you can find many smaller businesses to support. Perhaps urge people to shop local. Talk about deals they are offering. 🥰
No promotional emails please. Thank you.
Thanks a bunch for your suggestion, Catherine! I have passed this along to the team!
Is this 2 layers of fabric when pulled up over the face?
Hi Cassie! Which mask are you looking at?
When looking at You Tube videos, one person bobby pinned the elastic ear loops into her hair to keep the elastic from bothering her ears. Barrettes would probably work for younger kids. You can also sew two buttons on a stretchy headband and loop the elastic over that.
Oh cool! Thanks for the helpful tip! Good to know about those options too!
FYI – in a recent study, the neck gaiters actually increased the rate of transmission by breaking larger particles into smaller particles 😬
I have read this as well. I wish more were aware as many around my area will only wear gaiters.
Dollar General has masks for kids. My 4 year old loves hers and it stays on!
We found some deposable design masks in TJ Maxx that are easier to breathe in. Not trying to start a debate here, just posting for others whose child may have felt they needed more air flow when trying to wear some of the fabric masks, also their ears were pulled with many fabric designs. So the disposable fabric ones seem to be a nice compromise to atleast wear for short time frames.
I can’t find the link to the masks from the picture of the two boys with Batman and flash masks.
Hi Vanessa! That is the EnerPlex link above. Those are plain masks that you can wear plain or add your own decal. Hope that helps!
My daughter goes to in person school so we go through a lot of masks. She loves the Crayola ones, I’ve ordered 2 packs of those. I love the nose clips and the adjustable ear straps and she loves how they feel and the fun bright colors and faces!
I wear glasses and struggle with this. The only thing I have found that works is this: https://nerdwax.com/products/fog-block it really does work.
I bought these for myself as I have a small face but they are definitely for kids. Passed them on to my daughter/granddaughter and she likes them.
https://www.32degrees.com/products/kids-5-pack-face-mask?collection=face-masks&variant=32018485411929