smoking during pregnany and around babies/children

Lindsay "Lindy" - posted on 10/11/2011

I have been smoking since I was 16, I did quit during both my pregnancies, but resumed smoking each time after giving birth. I don't smoke when my child are around me and I don't smoke around other people's kids or pregnant women. When I am at home and need to smoke I go outside.

Juli - posted on 10/10/2011

This is an issue for me as well. I am a non smoker, have asthma and cannot stand the smoke. plus Second hand smoke has been linked to SIDS and asthma later in the child's life. I believe if you are pregnant try to quit or cut down quite a bit, You should NOT smoke around a pregnant woman (it still gets to the baby!!!) and never smoke around a baby or young child!!! My hubby is a smoker but will not smoke around me or our babies, and will go outside. He knows that I will not even kiss him until the smoke has worn off his breath since it will effect my breathing and our unborn baby. He also knows not to talk right next to me as well if he has just smoked. I know it's a bit extreme but It is a matter of health the smoke on hair and clothe airs out quickly, smoking in our car is a no no 99% of the time and never without the windows all the way open.

Autumn - posted on 10/05/2011

It is an issue for me too.. I think that if poeple smoke then they should go outside and away from children or pregnant women. Women that smoke when they are pregnant are crazy because of all the heath risk that they are causing to that poor baby that can't run away from the smoke.

Carlie - posted on 09/29/2011

Then they don't respect you. Or your child. TELL don't ask......them to leave if they can't respect your request. If you ASK them to leave, then you leave the door open for them to make a choice. Don't give them a choice. TELL them. You and your child derserve the best. Remind them of that as well. Grab your goat.....you can do it! :)

Laura - posted on 05/07/2009

I just do not understand people. Yeah you think its ok to smoke around your baby, or smoke or drink while your pregnant. Well its not good for you or your baby. I seen this happen to my nephew and my niece. My sister-n-law smokes nonstop around her daughter who now is turining four in two weeks now has asthma because her mother wouldn't stop smoking. My nephew got asthma from his next door neighbors from going over there for years and spending the night, they both smoked heavly and now he has asthma and he is ten years old. So your child will end up with asthma if you smoke around them enough and also other problems like bronchitis, asthma for the rest of their lives. Also its not ok to drink during your pregnacy. Yeah your baby comes out all good and checks out fine, but hey there are long term effects, like add, adhd, all kinds of learning a behavioral problems with your child as they get older. So I would really think twice before people go and tell you differently. Doctors are lieing if they tell you that your child did not get asthma from you smoking that is a bunch of crap.

Melissa - posted on 05/07/2009

hi, i dont agree with smoking around children at all, like another poster mentioned even if you do decide to go and smoke outside, you still carry it back inside with you through your clothes, hair, skin and breath. My biggest pet hate has got to be smoking in the car with or without children (esp those who decide to smoke with the windows up! yuk)

Sarah - posted on 05/07/2009

Quoting Glenda:

Quoting Sarah:

thanks girls for your comments, The problem i have is when i was pregnant with my daughter i lived with my mum who smoked and she continued to smoke around me, i ended up litrally living in my bedroom, i have since moved out and when we go to visit my mum and other family members yes they do go smoke outside, i ask them to wash there hands before comming near Ella and the looks i get are as if im sooo over the top ( in my opion im not shes my daughter i want the best for her)

When we come home myself, my partner, and my daughter stink of smoke i mean really smell of it in our hair our clothes, the car seat, buggy etc.
i don't want to stop my mum and family members who smoke from seeing her but i don't want my daughter to grow up around smoking i did and i hate it ive begged my mum to give up ive offered her money a holiday the lot. I also know the damanges of smoking as my partners dad is dying from a smoking related illness emphysmia sorry can't spell it lol, hes on 24/7 oxygen confinde to a wheelchair was in intensive care my partner paid for his uncle to come from australia to say goodbye as we was told less then a week to live, my partners dad survived but is in out of hospital has 1 lung and quality of life isnt very good and he can't do things with his grandaughter.


you all love your children but will you be around as long as you want to be to see your children grow up marry have their own children etc or will you be dying of a smoking related illness with your children holding your hand wiping away there tears wishing there mum wasnt dying. Just think how much you love your children and how much you love your quality of life. Don't take things for granted.

Sarah, I am just wondering but does your mom and family normally smoke in the house before you come to visit and take it outside only because you have come over? (this is the feeling I am getting from your message but I could be wrong)   If that is the case I would recommend Emily C's response,  have them come visit you. If they can not respect your wishs or have any problems with your parenting because you make them use proper hygiene well they are the ones losing out in more ways then one.   As I have stated in my previous post, I may smoke but I don't agree it should be around children.  Second hand smoke is worst then first hand smoke and it stays around for a long time.

hiya yea my mum and family smoke in the house before we arrive and when the babys in the house the go outside, i have spoken to them about this and i don't live there anymore its my mums house and its up to her weather smokes in house or not which i can understand her point. but annoying none the less.

Rochelle - posted on 05/06/2009

right on Tabatha! I agree. When my son was little my sister babysat and he was like two months old she was smoking when she pulled in to drop him off and I flipped out. I told her that cuz she smokes with her kids in the car like an idiot she wasn't to do it with mine or she'd not be taking him ever again! Still pisses me off she smokes around her kids. Oh yea and definitely no smoking while pregnant.

Mary - posted on 05/06/2009

No smoking during pregnancy or around my little girl. I never even went to smoky places when pregnant. My husband does smoke but never around our little girl. When he has to smoke he make sure is outside of the house and that my little girl can't see him. He does that first because is not healthy and second because he does not want her to see him and grow up with the idea that smoking is ok, because daddy did it.

I was very glad when they passed a law that prohibits people to smoke in houston's restaurants.



Now I wonder if somebody is going to try to find the benefits of smoking while pregnant.... I hope not

Sara - posted on 05/06/2009

I have friends that have smoked when pregnant, and quite honestly, it disappoints me. I used to be a smoker and I understand it's hard to quit, but you can and if you can't do it for the life you are holding inside of you then why did you decide to have a baby? I'm not saying that smokers are unfit parents or anything, but there has to be a lot of self-delusion that goes on if you continue to smoke while pregnant. You know it is not good for you or the baby. You can tell yourself whatever you want, but the bottom line is you are giving birth to a baby with an addiction...how sad is that? I personally felt as if I owed it my daughter to give her the best start in life as I possibly could. I didn't even have caffeine. Sure, that was my choice, but I do not understand how someone could continue to smoke while pregnant, the reasoning behind it just confuses me. That's my opinion on smoking, and people should respect you and your child and not do it around you. Smokers tend to think they should be able to smoke anywhere they want, but that's just not true. I would just not go over there anymore and make them come to your house where they can't smoke. Good luck!

Glenda - posted on 05/06/2009

Quoting Sarah:

thanks girls for your comments, The problem i have is when i was pregnant with my daughter i lived with my mum who smoked and she continued to smoke around me, i ended up litrally living in my bedroom, i have since moved out and when we go to visit my mum and other family members yes they do go smoke outside, i ask them to wash there hands before comming near Ella and the looks i get are as if im sooo over the top ( in my opion im not shes my daughter i want the best for her)

When we come home myself, my partner, and my daughter stink of smoke i mean really smell of it in our hair our clothes, the car seat, buggy etc.
i don't want to stop my mum and family members who smoke from seeing her but i don't want my daughter to grow up around smoking i did and i hate it ive begged my mum to give up ive offered her money a holiday the lot. I also know the damanges of smoking as my partners dad is dying from a smoking related illness emphysmia sorry can't spell it lol, hes on 24/7 oxygen confinde to a wheelchair was in intensive care my partner paid for his uncle to come from australia to say goodbye as we was told less then a week to live, my partners dad survived but is in out of hospital has 1 lung and quality of life isnt very good and he can't do things with his grandaughter.


you all love your children but will you be around as long as you want to be to see your children grow up marry have their own children etc or will you be dying of a smoking related illness with your children holding your hand wiping away there tears wishing there mum wasnt dying. Just think how much you love your children and how much you love your quality of life. Don't take things for granted.

Sarah, I am just wondering but does your mom and family normally smoke in the house before you come to visit and take it outside only because you have come over? (this is the feeling I am getting from your message but I could be wrong)   If that is the case I would recommend Emily C's response,  have them come visit you. If they can not respect your wishs or have any problems with your parenting because you make them use proper hygiene well they are the ones losing out in more ways then one.   As I have stated in my previous post, I may smoke but I don't agree it should be around children.  Second hand smoke is worst then first hand smoke and it stays around for a long time.

Anna - posted on 05/06/2009

I do not let my daughter around smoke EVER! I don't even like being around someone who smells of smoke because people can be affected by second-hand smoke that way as well.

Emily - posted on 05/06/2009

In your case I'd have your mother visit at your home or on other neutral territory where smoking is not permitted.

Sarah - posted on 05/06/2009

thanks girls for your comments, The problem i have is when i was pregnant with my daughter i lived with my mum who smoked and she continued to smoke around me, i ended up litrally living in my bedroom, i have since moved out and when we go to visit my mum and other family members yes they do go smoke outside, i ask them to wash there hands before comming near Ella and the looks i get are as if im sooo over the top ( in my opion im not shes my daughter i want the best for her)



When we come home myself, my partner, and my daughter stink of smoke i mean really smell of it in our hair our clothes, the car seat, buggy etc.

i don't want to stop my mum and family members who smoke from seeing her but i don't want my daughter to grow up around smoking i did and i hate it ive begged my mum to give up ive offered her money a holiday the lot. I also know the damanges of smoking as my partners dad is dying from a smoking related illness emphysmia sorry can't spell it lol, hes on 24/7 oxygen confinde to a wheelchair was in intensive care my partner paid for his uncle to come from australia to say goodbye as we was told less then a week to live, my partners dad survived but is in out of hospital has 1 lung and quality of life isnt very good and he can't do things with his grandaughter.





you all love your children but will you be around as long as you want to be to see your children grow up marry have their own children etc or will you be dying of a smoking related illness with your children holding your hand wiping away there tears wishing there mum wasnt dying. Just think how much you love your children and how much you love your quality of life. Don't take things for granted.

Samantha - posted on 05/05/2009

I would not allow anyone remotely near my daughter if they were smoking. My dad, brother and my sister in law all smoke and i literally smell every one of them to see if they smell like smoke before they can touch my daughter. If i smell smoke or if they have smoked at all during that day, i dont let them hold her. period. I got asthma from my dad always smoking around me as a kid and i will not let that happen to my little girl. I used to beg my dad to please stop smoking and tell him i couldnt breathe, but he didnt care, he would just tell me to go away then. So, keep your kids away from cigarette smoke! i mean really, do you want your baby to smell like smoke and to be breathing that crap in??

Glenda - posted on 05/05/2009

In my opinion (as a smoker) I also do not believe that you should smoke around your children. I also am very aware that it doesn't matter that you smoke outside because the chemicals are still on your clothing when you come in but I feel it is the best option. I have smoked in my home and in the car when my son was younger (not while he was a baby though not that it is any better) and he ended up with asthma due to my stupidity. I quit smoking when I realized the damage. I quit for 2 1/2 years and my son's asthma finally went away. Stupidly I started up again, but with a more mature outlook on it (if I can even say that). I do not smoke in my house or car now. My son is not to be around mommy when I am smoking, he is 9 and reminds me everyday that I can die from smoking which is really rough to hear. My family and my husbands family both smoke and we are trying to get pregnant again. I am working on quitting again but I is extremely hard. I will not allow people to ever smoke around my babies because of the risks of SIDS. You have every right to express your opinion about smoking around your children, you are responsible for their well being. I would just let them know how you feel about the situation.

Mel - posted on 05/05/2009

dont like it personally i hate people smoking around my baby and i dont agree with smoking during pregnancy however i dont judge those who do as i know alot of people who have and they have healthy babies

Mary Beth - posted on 05/05/2009

My opinion on this is ( as i am a smoker) i quit with both my girls when i was pregnant and started right back up when i deliever ( stupid me) but it doesnt belong around kids. i dont smoke near them. i smoke outside. second hand smoke is worse than first hand smoke, this is a really really sore subject for me!

Bridget - posted on 05/05/2009

I am a smoker, but the house rule is that smoking is done outside, and away from the children if they are outside. My family members and friends smoke but I've made it known that I can only visit if the house is smokefree at the time. Everybody is fine with this, and understands my reasons.

Elayna - posted on 05/05/2009

Second hand smoke is hard to avoid while pregnant, but your family needs to know that when you are your child are around they need to smoke elsewhere. Also, after they smoke have them wash their hands and change of clothes (or put a jacket on while smoking). Babies can inhale the chemicals off of clothing. Just ask them nicely if they could avoid smoking while around the baby. They should obviously know the harm they would be doing.

Mary-Ann - posted on 05/05/2009

All the babies in my family who died from SIDS were in homes that people smoked in. Might be coincidence but I don't take chances. Smoking during pregnancy is not good either, you end up with low birthweight or smaller babies in general and other problems. Although sometimes cutting back rather than quitting cold turkey is better and less stressful on mom and baby according to some doctors. None of my friends smoke and the few who used to smoke always smoked outside. Smoking causes athsma and other respiratory issues in babies and adults alike. It smells gross, must taste gross. I don't know anyone who didn't feel sick when they first started smoking (there may be an exception to that I just don't know anyone personally). I really don't understand why people smoke, there is a reason you felt sick when you first had a cigarette. Arsenic, formeldahyde and battery acid are not meant to be ingested hence the poison lables on the packaginf of all of them and the do not ingest warnings on them.

Tabatha - posted on 05/05/2009

this is a HOT topic :) iam a smoker and i WILL NOT or let my family or friends smoke around my boy! i dont smoke in the house or car or even well iam pushing him in his stroller! your mommy and if they dont like it it they can hit the door!! thats just how i feel about it! if my inlaws smoked still and wanted to have my boy over then they cant smoke in their house (its my baby and i DONT want him around smoke) u have to set rules to protect your baby! even if its really cold here (-30) and i want a smoke.....i freeze my butt off! iam going to quit its 1 of my goals in the next year :)