My dad smokes, advice please?

[katzen]

Hi

My DS is now 10wks and we are visiting the out of town relatives in a few weeks.

Trouble is I am worried that as my dad smokes I am concerned for my DS to be around him as we will be staying with them when we visit.

My dad always goes into the back garden to light up, but when he comes back in the smell is on his breath, clothes etc. Their house smells of smoke; and when we come back home our visits our clothes always smell of smoke too.

I'm worried as I will be in my parents house so dont want to tell them what to do, but am worried about the toxins in smoke being on his clothes, and in my DS moses basket... and the SIDS worry.

Any advice how to deal with this tactfully?

If the house smells of smoke I presume he smokes inside when you're not there? If he always smoked in the garden the house would NOT smell. If he's going to smoke outside the whole time you're there I wouldn't worry about your ds as the third-hand smoke will only be on your dad, it won't circulate and be in the atmosphere to a great enough extent to increase SIDS risk.

If he smokes outside I'm not sure what else you want him to do.

he smokes outside? your just going to have to put up with the stinky smell i think! its his house, i doubt hes going to light up right in front of your child?

third hand smoke is unlikely to have any effect, just as psychoveggie has said.. maybe your over reacting slightly??

dont see the problem at all, sorry

I think I would also be unhappy for my dc to stay in a house that smells of cigarette smoke. I don't know where I read this but I am sure that a smoker exhales carbon monoxide for 30 mins after their last cigarette and should not hold a baby for that length of time. I hate it when I am on the bus and someone gets on who has just taken their last drag before dropping their cigarette to get on the bus. Even worse when they sit next to me. Even if they haven't just had a cigarette you can still smell it and I agree that it can't be the best environment for a baby. But what is your alternative? Can you possibly not stay there?

I can see where you are coming from as I am in a similar position. You can ask your Dad to wash his hands before holding the baby and perhaps wear a coat to smoke outside in so his clothes aren't smoky.

But...presumably your Dad smoked when you yourself were a child and you survived? You can take steps to limit the exposure your baby has to cigarette smoke but I think you are worrying just a little too much.

My mum and dad smoked and later on my two sisters smoked. I hated it hated it hated it.

I think most of the others are right though, it's not permanent, it's only for a short while, and if he smokes outside it's not a problem. Could you rbing your own sheets for the baby? Maybe make sure you open the window in the bedroom?

I don't think you are overreacting and I do feel for you, but it's only for a short while.