Wood Burning Stove with Newborn??

[skipperdoo]

With winter fast approaching and our first child due at the end of Nov, DH and I have been arguing about the wood burning stove.

It is in good working order (only installed last year) but sometimes when DH opens the door to put a new log on the fire, smoke smell fills the room and wafts all the way upstairs even if the doors are shut. I don't know if this is a problem with DH's technique or the stove itself. He usually does this while the fire is still going to keep it going and strong (versus waiting for it die out to ashes and starting again from scratch). Not sure if it matters but it is a DEFRA approved eco friendly model.

I love a good fire at Christmastime but I'm worried about this issue with a newborn. On top of pollutants, I know smoke inhalation is a huge risk for SIDS. DH thinks I'm being dramatic and a worry wart and that people have been burning wood since the dawn of time.

What do you all think? And is there a compromise I'm not thinking of? Or a technique he should be using that he's not?

TYIA

It really shouldn't be smoking into the house - I'd get a good chimney sweep out as a first step.

It sounds like there is something wrong with your stove.

We have a lever on ours - we open the lever when we open the stove doors to put a log on and the smoke goes up the chimney instead of into the room - then just push the lever down again when finished.

I don’t think you’re being dramatic at all. As PP said, it shouldn’t be smoking in the house. Have you had it checked/chimney swept etc?

Sounds like there’s something wrong with your burner....mine never does that when I put a log on...do you get an annual sweep and service?

I wouldn't have one- especially with a newborn. If you can smell it - it means pollution

Newborn lungs are tiny, you do not want to be exposing them to smoke. Maybe you are using the wrong type of wood (is it damp?)? Or perhaps there is something wrong with the flue. Get it checked out.

Is your wood really dry? Damp wood is smoky.

Is he opening the damper when he opens the door? If it is not fully open then it can sometimes cause smoke to come out.

Yeah it shouldn't be doing that.

That being said we have two, very old farmhouse and I didn't like them with newborn either, and certainly not now with toddler. Ours is now fenced off and never lit when up.

Newborn issues for me was uncontrollable temperature. You want room kept at a fairly constant temp and our stove heats it to walk about in pants level, not ideal at all.

I also made sure carbon monoxide alarms were OK.

I just found it all a headache, baby sleeping, room correct temp, stove on, baby getting far to warm, so we didn't use it. I do have post natal anxiety I should add.

There was a thread here the other day about how even the best wood burners cause tiny particles in the immediate area so yes I would leave the stove off for now

I'm extremely sensitive to smoke. The only way to minimise fumes is to wait until there are no flames before adding more logs. It's not foolproof, even then. You have to watch the fire carefully, so that the logs are added before the fire goes out tho. It's essential to have good quality, very dry wood too. Nothing given away free or wet, definitely nothing treated or plasticy.

If it's really smoky it sounds like you aren't burning it hot enough or it's not drawing properly. When it's burning really well you can wait till the log is almost burnt out but the heat is still there before opening the doors. If you open the doors when it's still flamey, or if it's not drawing well, smoke will be more likely to come out.

I think it's normal to worry about every little thing for a newborn and I would certainly avoid the smoke if you can but there are umpteen things to worry about so try not to get too caught up. Fwiw we have a log burner and an open fire and smoke was one of the things i managed not to worry about when my two were babies.

*EDIT:

Thanks everyone. Let's assume I get it checked out and it's all fine.

I guess my main question is would you still use it or not?

We do have carbon monoxide alarm, I'm just terrified the effect on little lungs/SIDS.

Maybe I just tell him to put it on after baby and I go to bed upstairs?

I would maybe just use it for special occasions like Christmas Day.

Yes I would be wary even if it checked out fine. We’d love a wood burner but after reading the various bits of research indicating that harmful particles pollute the indoor air even when approved models - we have decided it’s not worth it. Like you I’d be worrying about this and feel there’s enough pollution that we can’t control without adding more in. Sad tho!

I think you are right to be concerned. Even well functioning woodburners produce a lot of indoor pollution which is particularly harmful for young lungs:
www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/18/wood-burners-triple-harmful-indoor-air-pollution-study-finds

I have had a quick look for you. I found one study that has looked at the increase in SIDS on days when pollution was high (woodburners are a fairly significant cause of the PM10 type of particulate pollution they mention). I think you are right to look into it OP.

bmj.altmetric.com/details/38162658

When he puts a new log on tell him to open the vents. Turn the handle but don’t open the door for a few seconds. You’ll get no smoke in the room.

I absolutely would NOT use a woodburning stove with a newborn.
They are so bad for your health even worse than cigarette smoke.

In fact we moved in Feb to a house with a beautiful stove and I haven't even tried it because we have a two year old and I don't want him or us breathing in the fumes.

The particulate pollution is equivalent to a diesel car idling inside your living room. The Guardian have run a series of articles about the latest research over the past few years.

AFAIK there are risks for you in pregnancy too, and for bub as the particles can cross the placenta. I would leave it unlit for the next decade...

Don't forget that all the particles going up the chimney come down into your lungs anyway.

Assuming it’s all working fine etc, I still wouldn’t use it with a newborn in the house. At all.

Have you had the chimney swept recently? Once a year as an absolute minimum more if you’re burning wood as it sticks inside the chimney. There should be no smoke inside the house

We used our woodburner freely with our newborn, although she was probably 6 weeks+ by the time it was cold enough. Ours does not fill the room with smoke.

A correctly working stove is no more risk than being near cars. Ours out electric but I still walked baby down the road where there are particulates aplenty.