Smoking and kids

Janice - posted on 08/10/2012

I would never put my child in a home daycare if the there was smoking in the home or the caregiver would be leaving my kid alone to smoke outside. For financial reasons my best friend watched my daughter daily for 7 weeks while I was student teaching. She is a smoker and although she did not smoke in front of my daughter I hated it! Although I would not like my child's care giver to be a smoker I'm not too terribly concerned about it in a daycare. I worked in one for over 5 years and in NY you only get 1 break so its not like the caregivers can chain smoke. Also no worry about the carpet or furniture. If I toured a facility and the teacher I met smelled like cigarettes I would probably look for care elsewhere but if a new person started and was a smoker I wouldn't fuss about it. Also some day cares require teachers to change their shirt after smoking a cigarette or where a smock. I think that's a good way to solve the issue.

Both my parents and my sister smoke. I cringe every time the snuggle my kids, especially when they were newborns. I dont restrict their access but I make it known that they smell like an ashtray and its disgusting.

Candi - posted on 08/07/2012

Smokers usually don't smell what nonsmokers do. We can smell smoke on clothes, hair, breath, etc. It doesn't mean they shouldn't be allowed to watch children, but they shouldn't do it at work, even away from the children. If you are uncomfortable with smokers working with your children, ask the daycare about the workers and express your concerns. There are companies that will not hire smokers. I have seen it. They may deny it, but I've seen it before.

Annabelle - posted on 08/06/2012

I smoke now and also when I had a home child care, however, only outside away from the children, I always washed my hands after, and spray myself with a light/smoke neutralizing body mist so as not to pass the smell on to the kids. In 9 years I only heard one complaint but it was from a mom who (after I had watched her daughters for 2 years) said she thought it was setting bad example for her children ages 10, 8, 5. That's when I reminder her that she was still married to their dad and pregnant by another man and that example was way worse in my opinion. She never brought it up again. LOL

Jane - posted on 08/05/2012

I don't think anyone who looks after kids should be allowed to smoke - full stop. There are studies that indicate that the harmful fumes from cigarettes are present on clothes, furniture and carpets for long after the person has put out the cigarette and can be as harmful as blowing smoke into their face!

Denikka - posted on 08/04/2012

I'm with Dove. I wouldn't place my child with someone who smokes while taking care of them. I don't smoke, hubby doesn't smoke. Their uncle smokes weed and I'm uncomfortable even with that (although he would never smoke around them or even the same day he was watching them.
I do not like smoking. I would personally like to see it made illegal entirely. But that's just me.
What you do on your own time is your business. But when I am paying you for a certain amount of time during the day, what you do then is MY business, especially when it affects my kids. There is no smoking on school grounds or within X amount of distance in front of most office and public buildings. I don't really care if you're in your own home, if you are watching my child, then you are not going to be smoking (although I would avoid hiring anyone who smokes anyway) and if I found out that a person lied to me about not smoking or starting smoking after I had hired them, I would pull my child and find somewhere else.

Dove - posted on 08/04/2012

I would not be ok with it and would pull my child from any care being provided by someone who was smoking on duty... of course, none of my children have gone to an in home daycare and since I only leave them with people I know really well.... they aren't around smokers.

I'm also highly sensitive to 2nd and 3rd hand smoke though and don't particularly enjoy being allergic to my own kid. ;)

~♥Little Miss - posted on 08/04/2012

On any school grounds, there is no smoking. So if it is a daycare facility, preschool, or a regular school, no I don't think workers should smoke while they are at work. What they do in their own time is their own business. If kids see them smoking, it could be a bad influence.

As far as in home daycare providers, if it means they are leaving the kids alone in the house to go have a smoke, I would feel really uncomfortable with that. I think they should tell the parents that they are smokers, so the parents can decide if they want their kids there.

Sharon - posted on 08/03/2012

I don't like smoking at all. We are all non-smokers in our family so I don't like smoking around me let alone my kids. BUT.... it is the individual persons decision whether they smoke or not and if they work with children then I'd be ok as long as they cleaned themselves up before going back to dealing with the kids.

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 08/03/2012

My husband smokes occasionally. When he does, he does it outside, he wears a hat and a shirt over his clothes. When he comes in he washes his face and hands and brushes his teeth. I wish he would just quit, but I'm fine with him handling the girls after he's washed up. I have no issues with people who smoke away from kids. I don't like seeing people smoke in houses and cars where children are, but that's another story.

Sherri - posted on 08/03/2012

Well since I as their mom smoke yes I would. I also do in home daycare, I never smoke in my home but I do if I am watching the kids outside. No one has ever had a problem with it thus far and I have been doing in home daycare for the last 11yrs and working with kids for the last 20.