Thirdhand smoke query

[bedjolly]

Hi Everyone,

I'm going to have my first baby soon and I'm quite anxious about something. Me and my SO live in his grandparents house who used to smoke. However, it hasn't been smoked in in over a year. We've painted all the walls and are going to put fresh carpet down and new blinds... is this enough? I just wanted to move because I was much too anxious about DS being in the house incase of SIDS. However, the only houses me and my SO like are at least an hour away from our families. They say thirdhand smoke is just as bad for babies as someone holding them that smokes. I thought if we replaced everything then it would be okay but apparently toxins can stay on the walls and harm your baby. They say there's no resurrecting a smokers house sometimes, I'm really scared and looking for some answers if anyone knows anything about it.

Thank you

Wow erm. Ok.

Your baby will not be harmed by living in a house people smoked in a year ago.

Your anxiety might need checking with the GP.

Thanks for the reply. Maybe I should speak to my midwife surrounding my worries.

Yes you need to speak to your midwife.

Please do speak to midwife, this is not a normal level of worry!

In the meantime would it help to open the windows daily and scrub down furniture,
Door frames, walls etc?

It's natural to worry, especially pre first born but if you're worrying this much about the fact someone used to smoke in a house you. If he really struggle with other stuff that comes later

They mean thirdhand smoke in a different way than you're thinking.

First hand is what the smoker gets whilst smoking

Second hand is what anyone else in the room or immediate vicinity gets if someone else is smoking

Thirdhand is if someone has smoked, put it out and no 'smoke' remains but it sticks to their clothes etc. So no, you wouldn't want someone who has just had a smoke ten/twenty/thirty minutes ago holding a baby as it's still on their breath/hair/clothes.

A house that someone smoked in over a year ago is not a risk. A person that smoked a day ago and has showered and changed their clothes is also not a risk.

Even third hand smoke from someone who'd smoked an hour ago or whatever (whilst I wouldn't personally allow it because the smell is gross) is highly highly unlikely to be a problem.

Please do see you midwife about anxiety, I get the first time mum worry but this is quite an extreme concern.

Thank you for all your replies I will speak to my midwife I feel like I worry too much sometimes! There has been lots of websites saying smoke dust stays in vents and on walls and such and it really scared me. I feel like as long as the vents are properly cleaned and carpets are changed with painted walls it should be ok. But I'm not a professional so I don't know.

Living in a house that people smoked in a year ago poses absolutely no harm to your baby whatsoever. Definitely speak to your midwife.

Honestly please don't worry about this. Have you had a look at The Lullaby Trust's website? They are the safe sleep charity. Familiarise yourself with the safe sleep guidelines - main ones being that baby sleeps in your room for six months, in appropriate bedding/clothes for the temperature in a clear cot - and follow them and you'll be fine.

Luckily, these days if the guidelines are followed the risk of SIDS is vanishingly small. Tragically it does happen, but it is very rare.

I'll have to have a look, thank you. I'm constantly paranoid that he's somehow going to be in harms way to the point where I can't picture not being around him. I've always struggled with anxiety but now that I'm having a baby it's really bad. It's supposed to be a happy time but I can't enjoy it due to how scared I am. SIDS is very rare thankfully. I bought him a SnuzPod so he can sleep beside me. I know lots of children even grow up with smokers and are fine I'm just being overly paranoid.