Parents: Please don't smoke around your children!

[Blondie]

I couldn't agree more....a few years ago...a friend of mine who smokes had a new baby....anyway when she came to visit me, and I went to pick up and hold the baby....the baby smelled like cigarette smoke!

Her hair, her blankets, her little dress....everything! Instead of having that great little newborn smell (baby powder) she smelled like a cigarette factory.

Not only do I think it's a health hazard, but if her entire little body smelled like cigarettes, what do you think it's doing to her little lungs?

 

[Joanne M]

A comment from someone who, as a child, had parents that smoked around them.......

It makes me angry to see someone holding a baby on their lap while dangling a cigarette out of their mouth. Both my parents smoked when we were growing up. According to statistics, we had a poor chance of not becoming smokers as adults ourselves. But since my sibs and I hated it so much, none of us smoke as adults.

One of my worst nightmares was our family vacations. We would go away for weeks on these long vacations by car, with 2 parents smoking in the car the entire time. My sister and I would get sick from the smoke, and to this day, smoke still makes me nauseous. Being an adult, I just have more control over my life and my health than I did as a child. I no longer am forced to accept exposure to smoke as I did when I was younger.

Both parents have since quit, and we have discussed how awful it was to spend time with them when we were growing up. They both feel terrible for smoking around us in the past. Neither will allow smoking in their homes or cars. They aren't even happy if someone visiting smokes outside because when they come back in the house, the smoke on their bodies and clothes comes in with them!

I do have to admit that for me, smoking is a deal breaker. I would not date anyone who was a smoker, much less even consider marrying them.

 

[ncligs]

jrmasm,
Don't compare apples to oranges.Bottom line is cigarette smoke is "dangerous" to your childs health and well being. Only you can choose to do something about it. If you choose to continue to smoke in your home, I feel sorry for your kids, but I have no pity or sympathy for an adult that makes an unhealthy choice for there kids to "in-hale"

second hand smoke for 18 years.
I know nobody is perfect,including me,but I would "NEVER" jeopordize my childs health, over a disgusting,smelly,cancerous, addicting habit of choice.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I am very lucky in that both of my parents smoked, but I never had any ill effects from it--although I was 6 weeks premature. They both stopped in the late 80s when my first niece was born. My in-laws also both smoked and my DH, BIL and SIL all have sinus issues. My MIL stopped a few years ago but too late--she has emphysema. FIL will NOT stop no matter what anyone says to him--has "air cleaners" in the house to make it better for MIL, and is trying to only smoke in the back room.
I have students that smoke. How do I know? Because they stink. One day last week it was 10 degrees and I opened the windows in my 6th hour class. When they asked why I told them "someone in here reeks of smoke and it's giving me a headache". Their jackets and sometimes even their homework papers smell.
What I worry about on vacation is when I see someone walking along holding a cigarette in their hand down by their side--at child height! Wonder how many children get burned that way.
BTW I use car seats, kids have no cavities, read to my kids, and the only overweight person in the house is me!
Robin M.

 

[jrmasm]

Don't compare apples to oranges.Bottom line is cigarette smoke is "dangerous" to your childs health and well being.

Sorry but many things that I listed are dangerous to children's health and/or well being.

Clearly I'm not perfect but I would never dream of starting a thread that is so judgemental about people's parenting. Nor would I ever have the gall to say that someone doensn't love their children or that I feel sorry for their children because of one imperfection.

Geez, would you like the phone number for our local child protection agency so that you can report this child abuse???

 

[RitaZ.]

Clearly I'm not perfect but I WOULD NEVER DREAM of starting a thread that is so judgemental about people's parenting.

Then I suppose this makes you perfect. Aren't you being judgemental of my opinion and my experience? Sure sounds like it to me. I never said anything about your choice to subject your family to secondhand smoke, I was specifically talking about my DH. My tone was more of a plea than anything. I guess it must have struck a chord with you though.

I'm guessing you have never had to struggle to breathe or to take in oxygen. If you ever do or anyone that you love does, then you'll understand my anger. I sincerely hope you'll never have to. I stand by my post, take it any way you like. Enjoy your evening!

 

[Robinrs]

There is no need to get defensive. Smoking is a deadly habit, there is no debating this. Whether or not it makes you a bad parent is a topic to debate, though.

My parents both smoked when I was growing up. Both quit when I was an adult but the damage was already done. Were they bad parents? No. I idolize my parents and they LOVED all of us. But they admitted, regularly, that they had a bad habit they wish they never started.

There are many mistakes parents make. Not many of them have been condemned by the surgeon general. Rita Z started this as a concerned parent with a message, somewhat like the one printed on the side of the cigarette wrapper.

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by Robinrs
There is no need to get defensive. Smoking is a deadly habit, there is no debating this.
There are many mistakes parents make. Not many of them have been condemned by the surgeon general. Rita Z started this as a concerned parent with a message, somewhat like the one printed on the side of the cigarette wrapper.

Thank you very much Robinrs.Maybe "jrmasm" knows more than the Surgeon General.

 

[epicureangirl]

Picture this... mother cuddling her newborn baby while bottle-feeding her AND smoking a cigarette. Yes, I've seen it and it was all I could do not to get on my righteous high-horse and trample her!

BTW, this I saw at (my ex's) family reunion. The child is now 9 or so but has had very bad health problems. She became excessively obese (and I mean like you see on Maury) and had to be hospitalized. It was something very rare that took doctors years to diagnose. Yet she ate healthy food, excercised and was not overindulged. Her mum had to sew her own clothes because nothing would fit. I can't even imagine how she must have been teased.

Now this is not to say it is BECAUSE of the effects of second-hand smoke. But they can't prove otherwise, either. Can you imagine if something happened to the health of your child that you thought you may have contributed to? It would break my heart.

 

[GEM]

I read in some newspaper or heard on TV (can't remember where) that several states were considering passing legislation making it illegal to smoke in any vehicle where a child is riding in a car seat. Has anybody else heard anything about that? I can't recall the details. It sounds like a good idea to me.

 

[FINFAN]

I am always grateful for any information that can help me make an educated choice/decision with my family. Thankyou for bringing the article to my attention Rita. Just as I chose to read your thread, I also chose to read the article. I hope that your DH athsma is under control, and that he is feeling o.k.