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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

My partners mum is a heavy smoker

61 replies

Marie1988 · 08/11/2024 21:55

So my partners mum is a heavy smoker and I'm worried that when the baby is born we will have to visit her with the baby but she smokes in her living room, she has done for years. I've voiced my concern to my partner by maybe going into the lounge when we are her house visiting instead of the living room but he said it's full of crap there's nowhere to sit she will smoke outside and light candles and spray the room ect and I said to him the room will still be toxic to the baby but he doesn't want to voice it to his mum because she will basically just say I've had babies in the house before and I've smoked outside and sprayed the room before visits, my partner said he's stuck between a rock and a hard place I know it's her house but surely I don't want to be bringing my newborn baby into a smoky room whether she's sprayed or not it doesn't matter, am I being too much or am I being reasonable?? It's caused an argument between us now I'm really fed up tbh, I've even suggested she visits us and my bf pick her up but then he said she will question why we aren't visiting and I said we'll just tell her why then, I've gave loads of alternatives like use the other room when we visit, maybe she could not smoke in the living room on the day of the visit.
I need others opinions please.

Tia

OP posts:
Fraaahnces · 09/11/2024 07:22

Sprays and candles are just about as toxic for babies as cigarette smoke too. Not going to cut the mustard.

Haroldwilson · 09/11/2024 07:27

You both need to see each other's perspectives. She probably raised kids smoking around them the whole time. They survived.

I'm sure she knew it wasn't good for them, but to accept your rules might feel like accepting she needlessly put them at risk, and was a bad mother. That's a very hard thing to take on.

Smoking is awful for babies and I wouldn't let mine near it either, but there are lots of risks around (eg air pollution from cars, risk of driving accidents) and some you'll accept, some you won't. They're risks, not sure-fire death sentences.

A baby who is around smoke for an hour or put to sleep on their front etc will probably be fine, but the risk will be higher and it's not a risk worth taking.

So try to see it from her perspective and make it less personal, that you're following current advice rather than you think she's horrible.

blippitybloppitybloo · 09/11/2024 07:37

I had this same issue with my MIL. She smokes in every room of her house and it stinks. Before I had kids I used to have to change my clothes and wash my hair after visiting.

My two kids, now 3 and 5, have never been in her house. Instead she comes to ours and smokes outside.

I think it is unreasonable for you to be expected to take a baby into that environment. Not just because of the fumes/lungs issue, but as soon as you leave you will have to change the baby and give them a bath just so they don't smell like an ashtray. How can anyone expect you to allow your child to lose their wonderful baby smell, even for a short time, so they can smell like an ashtray? It's a nope for me, and I'm honestly a pretty relaxed mum.

Also, we were honest with my MIL. It's her habit so she needs to face the consequences. It shouldn't be a surprise, she can't smoke in cafes or restaurants, so why would she expect to be supported to bring a baby into that environment. We said if she wanted us to bring our kids to her place then she needs to quit, (and probably repaint her place), or come to us.

user1471505356 · 09/11/2024 08:45

Passive smoking is a known risk but short visits with some restrictions will not harm your baby.

allaboutsign · 09/11/2024 10:36

FfsBrian · 08/11/2024 22:13

Try and relax. I was like this with my ex mil and it gave me so much anxiety - but in the long run it will play out ok.

For the first few weeks you can camp out at yours and invite mil over. Get in a routine of inviting her on a set day or going out for a walk & coffee with the pram. Suggest she tries a vape. Buy her one.

If you have to go round on the odd occasion get your partner to open the windows and air the room out and don’t stay too long.

Im three kids in and learned to pick my battles - mine was her driving in the car smoking with my kids IN IT.

I know how protective you feel and how precious you feel this baby is but don’t start WW3 over something that might actually pan out ok. Just wait and see how it goes. You’re worrying over something that hasn’t even happened yet.

Your partner might actually come to the same conclusion himself when baby is here so no point arguing about it now

The MIL was smoke in the car whilst driving her grandchildren?!

Box24L · 09/11/2024 10:44

DivorcedAndDelighted · 08/11/2024 23:38

What a shame for your son, to have obstacles put in the way of his grandmother being involved in his life. This should be an important relationship for him. I think you are vastly overestimating the risks from a brief visit, especially with mitigation by opening windows etc.

Not overestimated at all. Look at the recent research. They would be increasing their child’s risk of SIDS by taking it into a smoke filled house.

Box24L · 09/11/2024 10:44

user1471505356 · 09/11/2024 08:45

Passive smoking is a known risk but short visits with some restrictions will not harm your baby.

It is still risky.

Box24L · 09/11/2024 10:46

OP, my MIL was the same. Luckily, my husband was on my side. I just never took my baby to her house. She came to us. We had no discussion, it’s just how it panned out.

She always changed her clothes before visiting us.

halloumidippers · 09/11/2024 15:32

Marie1988 · 08/11/2024 22:19

I'm literally so stressed out to be honest, does anyone have any suggestions on what we can tell her to do? Awkward it's her house but I don't want the baby visiting there I said can she start smoking outside so the house becomes smoke free for the baby when it's born and he said yea but she will just moan about having to keep getting up as she got a bad hip ect 🙄 I basically told him if she's not willing to change in the slightest regarding her smoking habit around her grandkid then she's selfish and I will feel differently towards her she's one of those people where she's old fashioned in a sense like "I've had babies in the house before bla bla" she will think I'm over reacting and a control freak, fu*ked off is an understatement

It's unreasonable to ask her to do this in her own home.
But it's your choice to visit her there.
Just don't.

DirtyDuchess · 09/11/2024 15:45

I suggest you bring this up with your midwife whilst your husband is there and get him to listen to her advice first hand so he doesn't think it's you overreacting. He may then have the courage to relay the information to his mother and stand firm.

BettyBardMacDonald · 09/11/2024 16:01

Cuppaor2 · 08/11/2024 22:22

Who cares what she thinks? Especially at the expense of your wee baby’s lungs

This.

Your partner needs to grow a spine.

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