When I see smokers with babies, I really want to yell at them...

[Sophrosyne1]

Given the fact that smoking can increase the chance of cot death, breathing problems, glue ear and a whole host of other nasties (not to mention cancer) why is it that every time I go into town or for a walk in my local area I see 'parents' who think it is OK to smoke all over their children? It makes me want to yell very loudly!!!

bloominfedup, do you push your lo around in a buggy, face to face with exhaust fumes, my ciggaret smoke is way above his/her head and going upwards

I am hiding this thread now. A lot of you can't see what harm you are doing - probably for the smoke...............

bloomingfedup do you give ur DC's sweets because that can harm there teeth, Do you give them fast food because that can make them obese do you put them in a push chair and never let them walk around as they may fall over and that will harm them. Do you DCs watch TV cus that can harm there EYES!!!

Kids copy what they see, so in that respect smoking anywhere your children see you is not advisable.

Not sure I'd equate it with 'child abuse' though

Same with junk food, or too much TV, or not enough exercise, or spending too much time on MN

We all have our failings, we all do things that are 'inadvisable' and we, as parents, have to make the decision which suits us best.

Unless your children are breathing in your smoke, which sometimes, I have seen parents do, like in Pruner's case, smoking with a baby in a sling or holding the cigarette right next to the child face, or blowing smoke over your shoulder away fromyour child but into my child's face or sat in the car or you are taking money from your child (giving them shit food because you need cigarettes for example) then it's nothing more than 'inadvisable'.

bloomingfedup hide away you can't argue your point because you know your not the Perfect parent.

Jumpingbeans I hope you are not abusing your DC's because I will call SS on you PMSL!

I am going outside for a smoke now but its ok No children with me as I am at work

VictorianSqualor I agree with u I would never smoke in my house around the children or where they sleep I also would not have a baby in a sling and blow smoke in there face but for OP to want to shout at people for smoking in the street with there kids is a joke

Some risks are unavoidable (the car fumes for eg), others are (like kitchen knives being accessible to children, or smoking around children).

I am not a perfect parent BTW!

I don't get it either....

Oh I sometimes want to yell at people I see smoking, but only because my Dad died of lung cancer.
Wanting to yell at people and it actually being any of my business are two totally different things though

If people want to smoke around their children, that's up to them. Doesn't stop me feeling sorry for the child who is being (unnecessarily) exposed to smoke.
Anyway, I have 2 'smoking around children' anecdotes which I make no apologies for being judgy about.

Once, I was waiting for a lift outside an A&E department at about 11pm. A mother was carrying a coughing, wheezing, gasping toddler over her shoulder, promising the child that she would feel better soon after she saw the doctor. In her other hand she was carrying a fag. This still makes me sad 2 years later.

The other is not so bad, but in a service station car park I noticed a family of 4 (2 parents, 2 kids) in their car. It was a nice day, the car was parked, and yet the 2 adults were both smoking in the car with the 2 boys in the back. They couldn't even be bothered to get out. If I smoked I would never expect an adult passenger to sit there breathing in my smoke like that, so why should the poor kids have to?

Parents like this make me a good deal crosser than ones smoking outdoors while pushing a pram.

I think that most smokers try not to smoke around their children. But I suspect that even in those families the children still get exposed to more smoke than is good for them. My SIL and BIL smoke - only ever outside and not in the house. But when I come home from visiting them my clothes smell of smoke, just from sitting outside with them around a table in the garden. They stink of smoke, the smoke is on their clothes and their breath and their children must be breathing this in every time they get a cuddle all walk near their mum or dad when they've got a fag in their hand. Two of their children have chronic health problems that may be connected with smoking (glue ear and asthma). I always wonder if this is connected to their parents' smoking.

I'm not a smoker and never have been but I don't believe parents should not smoke if its outside or something...My dsd's come to us every sat stinking of cigs cos their mother and her partner smokes around them, their clothes stink, their hair stinks its horrible and they are upset by it. I think abit of common sense is needed if your on a high horse about parents smoking round their kids where does this stand in relation to feeding them crap foods, swearing in front of them, getting pissed on blue wkd and falling over, shouting at them, smacking etc etc My mum smoked in front of us and still does theres pictures of her changing my bro nappy with a fag in her gob ok it was 30 yrs ago.Is she a bad mother were we abused NO she a top mother and continues to be so. Different things are frowned upon......Its just another point being made about bad parenting... Whose the worst the parent who has the occasional fag infront of their child or the one who leaves their with childminder from 8am til 6pm from the age of 3mths. Hmmmmm .............

i wonder if the op does any thing in her 'parenting'(sorry just copying op style,that passers by may yell at.

Just out of interest - those of you who smoke, if heroin was legal would you be happy for your children to see you shooting up? Do you think it's a good thing for parents to normalise a drug that kills a large proportion of the people who use it?

I agree that you shouldnt smoke in enclosed areas with children around and when I smoke outside when at home my Dc's are not outside with me but if I am out and about for the day then yes I have a smoke.

My sister on the other hand feels no way to smoke around my nephew even in the home etc I have had to tell her when she is at mine to go outside as I dont expose my children to smoke in the house

I still disagree with it being child abuse and I don't think people should judge others unless they are 100% perfect parents!

How can you compare Heroin to smoking if Heroin was legal and I did it no I wouldnt do it around my children as it is a different kind of drug it makes you unaware of what you are doing and makes you incapable of looking after yourself let alone your children. Smoking does nothing to stop your judgement around children it has no effect on you for you to be unable to look after your DC's yes its unhealthy but it does not come in to the same class as Heroin.

Well, you could say being a smoker alters your
opinion on smoking around children etc.

There have been a million and one threads about smoking and it's always smokers that justify it, their addiction can make them bury their heads in the sand.

Not the same type of mind alteration though and I can't talk because I drink alcohol around my children which does alter the mind.

Comparing anything with smoking is a moot point really as there is nothing the same or remotely similar.

I want to yell at them too and especially at pregnant smokers
But you would be VU to actually do so - which you don't. It is infuriating when people ignore all the obvious messages about smoking, it's not just the fact it damages their children, it means they may well die young themselves (women are far more susceptible to lung cancer than men) and that's a horrible prospect for a child.
I just always have to remind myself I haven't walked even an inch in their shoes. I am by far from the perfect parent I would like to be and who knows how tough their lives are

"How can you compare Heroin to smoking"

Because they are both highly addictive drugs that kill many of the people who use them.

Actually heroin would probably kill far fewer people than tobacco if it wasn't illegal. Most ill-health and death connected with heroin arises from with the drug's illegality - so drug overdoses, infection diseases etc, rather than anything else.

"yes its unhealthy but it does not come in to the same class as Heroin"

Yes - except in so far as it's about as likely to kill you in the long run.

Personally I think as a parent you owe it to your children to try to not do things that increase hugely increase your chances of getting cancer. There's nothing more depressing for a young adult than having to cope with the early death of a beloved mum or dad from this hideous disease. My SIL lost her heavy smoker dad to a smoke when she was a baby, and her mum (also a heavy smoker) to cancer when she was 19. She had to nurse her mum at home for the last awful months of her life. I'm 42 and the relationship I have with my wondeful parents has got better and better over the past decade. I would have been devastated to have lost her as a teenager or in my twenties. My SIL had to go through having her first child without the support of her mum, who she loved very, very much. That's so sad.

And right now I'm watching my other SIL's children suffer - their dad (heavy smoker) has just had 2 heart attacks at the age of only 47. The children are only 9 and 10. Smoking is horrible - it's a cruel addiction.

"heavy smoker dad to a smoke"

Whoops - should have said 'stroke', not 'smoke'.

Oh look another post about smoking - yawn yawn. Troll.

Yes it is bad for you
Yes it is bad for your children
Yes it is addictive
No it is not as bad as Heroin.
No you should not blow it in your child face.

End of!

Please could someone think of something a little more interesting to discuss.

Tittybangbang I would suggest your relatives don't do enough to stop smoke entering the house.
My drill is go into kitchen and through to utility shutting door behind me, then out into the garden, shutting the back door behind me. Coats for smoking in are not taken out of the utility except to be washed. I come in and remove the coat, close the utility door leaving the back door open. I then wash my hands and have a mint or clean teeth. I never smoke whilest out walking with dds, I use gum. I smoke before they get up and when they are asleep or if at a friends house I may pop out. I know my house doesn't smell because my mother and father are both anti smoking and would comment on it when they visit.

Smoking in confined spaces with any non-smoking adult or child is awful. Smoking out of eyeshot outdoors imo is acceptable and better for the child of a parent struggling to give up. I think the OP would find if she asked most of the 'parents' they would say they have tried to quit at some point.

There are many factors apart from smoking which increase the risks of various cancers. Bowel cancer seems to be linked with a lack of dietary fibre. I know several people who have had cancer and out of 3 friends only 1 smoked. My grandmother died of cancer and had never smoked. My great aunt smoked 60 per day and lived to 94yrs. It is not conclusive that cancer will shorten your life.
Also imho I don't want to live past 85yrs max. Alzheimers is prevalent in my family and I do not want that. I fear losing my mind over death anyday.

DaphneMoon Well said!!!

Could I just say I worked with abused children physical, neglect, mental and sexual and never in a million years would I even think of comparing smoking or having the odd drink infront of your child to the emotional hell that they go through! Through sheer respect for these kids coping the way they do I wouldn't dream of it!

Anyway lighten up people!

I haven't had a fag all day! Since 9pm last night actually. That's 17 hours yeay for me!

Anyone else want to quit with me BTW? Started a thread in general health. Please help me LOL

i want to shout at them "GIVE ME A CIG"