More of a WWYD - smoking

[bigredtractor]

Hi,

I'm heading back to work in June, PT with a nursery place 3 days a week and my PILs v kindly looking after our baby on the 4th day.

Problem is, MIL smokes. She only does it outside (even in her own home) but I can smell it on her breath, clothes etc. when she then comes near the baby.

I'm worried about her smoking while looking after the baby. I don't for a second think that she would smoke in our flat though, but even if she goes outside the smoke hangs around a bit.

I really don't want to offend her since she's doing us a lovely favour but had anyone got any ideas about bringing this up tactfully, without offending her? Ideally I'd like to ask her not to smoke at all while looking after DS.

Any ideas?

oh, ok for some smokers its impossible

Fair enough then

I wouldn't be happy to leave my baby with a smoker! You don't smoke so your child should not need to ever be near third hand smoke and it doesn't matter even if she goes outside the babe will still smell of smoke when he comes home! My mum smoked outside and when I'm in her house I come back smelling too!

Yeah - busted re the other thread - it was on behalf of a mate who doesn't have a log in (thanks Miss Marple!). My baby is very much here!!

Interestingly, one of the things that impressed us about the nursery we've chosen is that they have a no-smoking policy during shifts. I'm not a militant anti-smoker but don't think it's appropriate in formal childcare as the kids have no choice. And yes, they're not leaning over the cot with a giant dag on the go but it DOES hang around, particularly on your breath.

I'm v surprised that almost nobody would have a chat with their (or my!!) MIL about it and just either ignore it or not let them have the GC for the day. She probably only has 5/6 a day. I'll see how receptive my DH is about talking to her..

Fag, not dag!!

worraliberty - garlic and perfume don't affect lungs and don't contribute to passive smoking.

Perfume affects the lungs of my friends son who is severely asthmatic. A stupid teenager in Boots who thought it was funny to spray a load of the samples everywhere put him in hospital for several days.

Just saying....

I would not let my MIL look after my chidlren if she smoked, I would not send my children to a nusery where staff snoked -I removed mine from a childminder who told me she did not smoke when my DSs told me she had been in garden while they were playing out there smoking. It is a disgusting habit and the dangers of 1st 2nd and 3rd hand smoke are very well documented. I always love the smokers who try and turn the discussion into a 'car fumes are worse' one!

To the OP, your baby will be fine, stop worrying and if you don't like it pay a non smoking CM instead.

What is '3rd hand smoke' please?

It's the clothes/breath/aura of someone who has smoked.

Things have changed since my son (10) was a tiny. Smoking in house - no way. Smoke in garden when kids in it- no (mostly because it's a bad rol model. Fumes outside must be negligible) . Fag break when kids are no where near - OK. I am not talking about myself but my son's really fantastic childminders, who smoked no where near my son.

My doctor smokes in her free time. My child's teacher does. So do lots of people who look after children. It is still legal, and they have a right to, within their terms and conditions of employment. 3rd hand smoke? Who says this is detrimental to health (scientifically)?