Smoking with newborn in car

[alwaystiredzz]

Parked in parent and child space at supermarket this morning and a woman was pulling up behind me and I thought 'well she can't be parking in the parent and child spaces' because I could see her smoking a cigarette. (Illegal with kids in the car, right).

She gets out and proceeds to take a tiny baby out of the back seat. I shoot her a horrified look. She doesn't notice. I then get into the supermarket and convince myself I didn't see her smoking, then she pulls her trolly right up next to mine and the smell of fresh cigarettes is undeniable.

I feel absolutely raging and disgusted at this point and quickly call my mum to ask whether I should confront her and tell her it's illegal to smoke with a child in the car, let alone list off how damaging it is for the baby. Mum reminds me I don't know her and if she would force her child to inhale second hand smoke she's not likely to be a reasonable person who would stand there and take an ear bashing from a stranger.

So, I know I am not unreasonable in being outraged that she was forcing her little baby to inhale the smoke (with all windows up), it's illegal, it causes health issues and contributes to SIDS.

However I want opinions on whether I would be unreasonable to report her (I took her car reg) If so where do I report her? Or do I just accept that it's a fact of life that some parents don't give a shit about the well-being of their children and forget about it?

I would report it. I would of confronted her to. Who cares if she went bat shit at me? I’m an adult, I can handle it. Someone has to speak up for a baby that can’t speak up for itself. Utterly selfish wanker behaviour. Poor, poor little baby.

But one shit decision/action does not a shit person/parent make.

It’s a bit simplistic to describe smoking in a car with your baby as “one shit decision/action”. Presumably it is a shit decision that is repeated every time they make a car journey. And as far as I’m concerned anyone who repeatedly smokes in a car with their baby is a shit parent.

But then, I think anyone who smokes when they have children is a bit of a shit parent anyway

So who would you report it to @1second?

But one shit decision/action does not a shit person/parent make.

I can't see how a person who does something as terrible as smoking in a car with a small baby can be anything other than a shit person tbh. It's not like we're not bombarded with information about how dangerous this is. And it's not like you'd say, 'yes, she's a great mum apart from the smoking all over the baby' because one definitely precludes the other.

Alsohuman

I’m not who your question was aimed at, however:
Local midwives office with reg (the midwives will possibly know of car/recognise it in home visits and bare it in mind/pass on leaflets discreetly or just ask - baring in mind it’s illegal),
101 as again - it’s illegal.

But then, I think anyone who smokes when they have children is a bit of a shit parent anyway

Thanks for proving my point.

I already said there's no defending smoking in the car(or in the house) with a baby/children.

Some people take it to the extreme though. You have no idea. I know several people that smoke and still are great parents, loving,caring,involved and interested in their children's lives and education etc. .

I’m not who your question was aimed at

I actually tagged who it was aimed at. Good luck with 101, they’re not interested when some wanker crashes into your car and drives away.

Alsohuman

So you can try and antagonise someone with a ridiculous question on a public forum and someone else can’t reply? Get in the bin!

And ‘some wanker’ damaging some insured metal is hardly comparable.

Of course it isn’t, dear. And if they’re not interested in that, they’re hardly going to come rushing out because someone’s had a fag, are they?

Alsohuman

Oh dear, dear.
It’s not someone having a fag. It’s illegal and it’s negligent.
It would get logged and several reports and they would definitely go for a visit.

It’s not someone having a fag. It’s illegal and it’s negligent

Is it not also illegal and negligent to crash into someone’s car and then drive off?!

No the smoke is not the important thing

I know several people that smoke and still are great parents, loving,caring,involved and interested in their children's lives and education etc.

I’m sorry but I personally find knowingly inhaling carcinogenic fumes, forcing your children to inhale them, letting the stink of stale cigarette smoke into their homes and on their clothes, knocking a good few years off your and their potential life expectancy, exposing them to a wide variety of possible health issues and spending a small fortune in the process, to be distinctly at odds with being loving, caring, great parents.

DropYourSword

Where did I say that?
I meant, quite clearly, that it isn’t someone ‘just’ smoking. It’s in illegal and negligent circumstances.
I didn’t deny that the car thing was illegal.

So...it IS comparable then. Make your mind up!

DropYourSword

Again - I never said that.
They’re both illegal but not comparable.
Are you ok?

I thought that was illegal now?

You’re denying saying they aren’t comparable.

And then...saying they aren’t comparable.

Are you quite alright?

Three other women I worked with were pregnant at the same time as me, and all 3 of them smoked all through their pregnancies. People just don't care any more, selfishness is rife.

DropYourSword

All along I’ve said that they’re NOT comparable.

‘Illegal’ and ‘comparable’ are not the same word.

Jesus Christ, how are you struggling to follow this!!

DropYourSword

I can’t dignify you anymore.
I said they’re not comparable.
I acknowledged they’re both illegal.
‘Comparable’ and ‘illegal’ aren’t synonymous words.
I’m not responding to you trying to alter what I’ve said any more

Op, I can see how this would have upset you, it would me.

Some weird responses on here.

I have no idea why you think I’d think they’re synonymous!

You were arguing with someone who reasonably pointed out that if 101 weren’t interested in someone who crashed into a car and then drove off, they certainly won’t be interested in someone smoking a cigarette in their car.

You argued they weren’t comparable. That was her entire point! Crashing a car and driving off is a way bigger legal issue than smoking a cigarette in a car. It’s ALMOST AS IF what she was saying was correct and you’re just waffling a load of crap.