Advice from CMs please... smoking...

[bozette]

I am very happy with my CM. She's fab, my DS (14 months) loves her and it all works well. The only problem is smoking.... I've always realised that she or someone in her house smokes, there is a faint smell. However recently DS's bag has been quite smelly, and for the last couple of weeks when i've collected him it smells as if someone has been smoking in the house and his clothes and hair smell of fags. If he goes in his pjs he can't wear them again as they smell.
How can i bring this up in a non-confrontational way and not upset her? Happy as i am with her i don't want my (obviously PFB) DS directly exposed to smoking.I had no objections when i felt it didn't really affect him but now i'm worried...
Any suggestions or coments would be very welcome

i believe its against the law for anyone to smoke in her house whilst it is operating as a business??

this would be a deal breaker for me I am afraid

1. Don't send him in PJs, they are not suitable clothing for wearing all day
2. She's fab, your DS is happy, you don't want to be confrontational... probably best to leave it. Is this a big enough issue for you to need to look for alternative childcare?
3. As you don't know for sure if she smokes, perhaps ask her if she smokes. If she then say yes, you could that you could smell it on DS, thus you were concerned he had taken up smoking!

Sorry, not very constructive I know, but you did ask for "Any suggestions or comments".

Like the idea of asking her if she's caught DS smoking!
Seriously, could also be deal breaker for me i'm starting to think, so perhaps need to say something...

My understand wrt the legal situation is the same as juneybug - I think it's illegal for her to smoke in a workplace - could be wrong though.

What is your concern exactly? For me, smoking around my child would be a deal breaker (like bookswapper) - and I wouldn't be comfy with my child smelling of smoke, as for ME that would be too close to passive smoking.

But it depends what YOU feel about your ds being around smoking. What are you happy with? Is it OK for you if the cm/someone in the house smokes while your ds is not around (he still might smell slightly)

Decide what that is, then I think you need to just be honest with her/ask her what's going on. Ask her what the deal is with smoking in the house. Say you are concerned that your ds smells of smoke, and as such want to understand where that is coming from. No need to be confrontational, just be clear about your concerns.

It is illegal for a CM to smoke in the Childminded place, or in front of the Childminded child.

She is suppose to have a NO SMOKING sign up.

Ask to see her Smoking Policy, she is suppose to have one.

It's illegal for anyone to smoke in the childminders workplace IF it is solely a workplace - but if it is shared with the house then she must make sure it is well ventilated before she uses it for childcare

funnypeculiar, i agree, i wouldn't be comfortable with someone smoking around DS, and when previously the house smelt a little and he didn't i could deal with it. But now that he's starting to smell i need to say something. Even DH has noticed!
Thanks, i'm coming to the conclusion i have to say something and be prepared to move ds if necessary. Its just a shame as she's absolutely perfect in every other way.

KatyMac, thats exactly how it was before, like someone had been smoking but that the house had been well ventilated.

My DH smokes, outside in the rain, whether the children aer here or not, you cant get rid of the smell in the house, I don't feel. Plus I dont want my clothes to smell of it nor to breathe in his smoke at anytime.

Sorry but if a CM is smoking in the house then I would go else where. I am a childminder myself and my DH smokes but NEVER in the house and NEVER anywhere near any mindees.

I completely agree with chloemegjess' post, could have written it myself.