Smoking around babies & children

[kayleigh]

Mumsnetters help needed !!
I had a problem some time ago with my mother-in-laws smoking. Although when she visited us she would only smoke out in the garden the smoke was still on her breath, clothes etc when she came back in the house.
When I had my ds2 I had a pregnancy book that stated smokers had smoke in their lungs/airways for something like 30 mins after a cigarette and it explained how cigarette smoke could cause all manner of problems with babies/small children. When I showed her this and explained that I didn't want her to hold the baby if she had just had a cigarette she was absolutely fine about it. But I felt if I hadn't had this "proof" she would have just thought I was being a neurotic mother.

Anyway a friend of mine is now pregnant with her second child and like me has a problem with family members (in-laws, cousins etc) smoking around her and her child. Unfortunately I no longer have my pregnancy books, as I do not intend needing them again, but would love to be able to find this information again as my friend also feels that, by showing her family the written proof, it will have a better impact.

The statement was in one of two books. I think the first was the "What to expect in the First Year" book. And the second was a book that had a sort of reddish cover with a pregnant woman on the front. Sorry I know that isn't much to go on !
Maybe someone out there can tell me which book it was in, along with author etc so that my friend can then buy the book. Or if any of you have any other book where this fact is stated that would be great. I have already googled but have not been able to come up with anything.

I have just checked in 'What to Expect ...' and it wasn't in there. I hope you find it. Nothing worse ....

Message withdrawn

Kayleigh, I remember reading the eaxct same thing. It was in the free A4 book that I got from my midwives at one of my antenatal appointments.

HTH

Ready Steady Baby???

Kayleigh - hello I might be able to help - have a stack of baby books - will look through for you

Oooooh Northerner. It could have been in there that I read it and not the books. I also received a big A4 book when I left hospital with ds1. It was called something like From Birth to Five. Is that the one ? Am at work so will check it out tonight.
Thank you.

The Birth To Five book says (on p21) "If you, or anyone else who looks after your baby, smoke then don't smoke anywhere near the baby. It would be even better if everyone could make an effort to give up completely. Smoke is present in the air that is breathed out for a considerable time after smoking has taken place."

The book also tells about the risk of asthma etc from smoking, so that should be enough proof/support for anyone! HTH

sorry kayleigh, I've just got nothing better to do than endless 'research'!!! Now if I could only find a work from home job that utilises my 'skills'........

I have read this "somewhere" too, but can't remember where

I've just done a Google search but can't find anything about it, although I have just read that according to a Poll carried out, some people think smoking in another room from the baby is good enough - apparently it isn't!

I have a similar problem with my SIL who insists on smoking around everyone, regardless of the fact that I have asthma and suffer regularly from bronchitus which is aggravated by cigarette smoke. As I write, I am waiting for results of chest x-rays carried out last week.

So in the meantime, I have to avoid smoky environments (no SIL HURRAH!) but also means no going out for a drink etc. Fortunately my 2 fave restaurants have banned smoking on the premises, so at least I can go out for a meal

wobblymum you are a star ! That will do nicely.
Thanks to you all who have been frantically flicking through your books

and meant to say that i hope your chest x-rays come back clear. What a very thoughtless SIL you have.

I checked when i got home and northerner it is that book so thanks so much. wobblymum your research was only half complete !! On page 20 it does actually say "Don't let anyone have contact with your baby if they have smoked in the last 30-60 minutes as smoke is present in the expired air.
As this is is under the heading "Reducing the risk of cot death" I can't see how anyone can think we are just being neurotic mothers when we ask them not to hold our babies after they have been smoking.
Mission accomplished

kayleigh - don't want to be awkward but I couldn't find that anywhere on p20. When was your book published? Mine was 2001, so I'd be interested to know if it's in one edition but not another.

I think my research is ok, and my book is lacking!!!!

wobblymum - i got my book with ds1 (what i'll only do for a free book!) and he is 5 now. So would have been 1998. Must be a different edition. Hope my friend has the same one as me. Thanks for letting me know.

...and please accept my apology for casting aspertions on your research skills

Don't apologise, I'm just wondering why - in a more up-to-date book, they've taken that bit out? Surely they couldn't have found that it's wrong? There must still be medical evidence that smoke stays around after you've smoked, and so you still shouldn't go near a baby.

IMO, I find that worrying that they've taken something like that out (or am I just going OTT?)

wobblymum - they've probably taken it out as they didn't have an enormous amount of evidence for it in the first place.

There is evidence that some chemicals remain on your breath after smoking, yes. But as far as I know, there has been no study on babies who were held occasionally by people who had recently had a fag and cot death.

There is of course lots of evidence that actual passive smoking is bad for babies, but the other stuff is (I think) a bit on the anti-smoking propaganda side.

I hope that doesn't sound patronising - I just thought I'd add a few thoughts from the other side to this thread! I think people can get carried away worrying about the risks of one small thing and that in itself can be a danger.