Parent-child anti-pollution masks for spring outings: Spring outings vs. smog

    The sunny days of April are the perfect time for families to lift their spirits and head out for spring outings. During this season, we should be making a date with spring and soaking in its every breath with every cell in our bodies. However, off-the-charts smog, flying willow catkins, and pollen allergies somewhat hinder our ability to embrace the season. Although masks are essential outdoor gear for smog protection, the overwhelming variety in the mask market has made me wary of using them.

    As a conscientious homemaker, I’ve tried many types of masks, but none have been quite satisfactory: I started with regular gauze masks. But later found that aside from providing some warmth, they offer almost zero protection against PM2.5; 3M masks are slightly better than cotton ones, but their unattractive design, lack of a valve, and tendency to trap moisture over time make speech unclear and breathing laborious—simply unbearable; Kowa’s 3D masks look attractively thin, but their flimsy material doesn’t seal tightly to the face and tends to leak air; while domestic Green Shield masks may cover well, they make it hard to breathe at all. Most importantly, for young children at home, whose faces are smaller, adult-sized masks on the market are extremely uncomfortable. Even those marketed as “kids’ masks” are either prohibitively expensive or not professionally effective. Therefore, finding a proper anti-smog mask suitable for children has been a constant headache for me.