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Original poster

Co-sleeping and smoking

15 replies

hotcrumpets · 20/08/2007 20:23

I am currently co-sleeping with DS 3 days old and DP is on the sofa at nights.

We co-slept with DD until she was at least 1, but this was when DP had given up smoking, he is smoking again now and that is why he is not sleeping in bed with us. What I am wondering is if the advice not to co-sleep if you smoke literally means if you are smoking in the house/bed or if you smoke in general?

DP does not smoke in the house or anywhere near the lo's and washes his hands changes his top etc before he picks them up? But am I right in thinking that the fact that he is smoking at all, stops him from sleeping in with us?

OP posts:
beansprout · 20/08/2007 20:23

Yes.

Hulababy · 20/08/2007 20:27

Yes, advice is to not have a baby sleeping at all with a smoker.

ImBarryScott · 20/08/2007 20:33

Neither of you can smoke at all if you co-sleep, not even a cigarette outside the home. I believe it's thought that harmful chemicals from cigarettes stay in the lungs, and are then exhaled while you sleep. If your DS is in with you, then he would be inhaling these chemicals.

We very very rarely take DD into our bed. But just on the off-chance, neither DH nor I have smoked since she was born (well I stopped when pg but YKWIM). And it's bloody hard work not smoking!

Pixiefish · 20/08/2007 20:35

As a smoker he is more likely to smother the baby in his sleep. The way round this is to have the baby between you and the outside of the bed so that you are between your dp and the baby. Just double check that with your mw

Desiderata · 20/08/2007 20:36

Why is a smoker more likely to smother a baby?

divastrop · 20/08/2007 20:40

i thought it was because of the chemicals,i thought you were only more likely to smother baby if you had been drinking alcohol?(dont know havent done co-sleeping since ds1)

Hulababy · 20/08/2007 22:10

I haven't heard about the "more likely to smother" arguement. I also thought it was to do with the inhalation of smoke and related chemicals coming from the smoking parent.

Firepile · 20/08/2007 22:22

very interesting to see if anybody knows the answer to this, although it might be that scientists don't know why there is a higher risk of SIDS among babies who cosleep with smoking parents, just that there is, and that several studies have shown it...

Pixiefish · 20/08/2007 22:37

I don't know. Is it because a smoker sleeps deeper. I hadn't thought of the breathing chemicals thing but it could be that which is why I said to check with mw or hv.

Desiderata · 20/08/2007 22:45

I'm a smoker, and whilst the habit is indefensible, I do think that many scientists find the statistics that suit their argument. In the course of a lifetime, I've known five couples who suffered the agony of SIDS, and none of them were smokers.

I think you would have to have an intrinsically unhealthy baby for it to allegedly die by co-sleeping with a smoking couple.

I'm not arguing that's it's rubbish. To be honest, if the idea stops parents from smoking, then it's a good thing. But I would argue the science behind it. I doubt that it can be proven beyond doubt

divastrop · 20/08/2007 22:49

i doubt that a smoker sleeps deeper as nicotine is a stimulant.i cant sleep if i have a fag too near bedtime.(btw dp and i only smoke outside and dd3 doesnt sleep in our room).ive always wondered what the connection is,maybe its staistical evidence.

anyway,best to follow the advice no matter where it came from IMO.

paulaplumpbottom · 20/08/2007 22:50

If he smokes he shouldn't be co -sleeping

emkana · 20/08/2007 22:54

I will stick my neck out a bit here and admit that dh also is a "garden smoker", he smokes about 3 cigarettes every night. I did let him sleep in the same bed as me and ds, but ds was next to me, not between us. I figured that that way there couldn't be that many chemicals reaching him could there? Also dh always came to bed at least 30 mins after smoking last cigarette.

I didn't feel happy about it, though.

meandmy · 20/08/2007 22:55

me and my dp occasionally co,sleep with dd (when she unwell/wakes in night)
and if dp has had a social smoke i tend to sill put her in our bed as just cause he had a smoke shouldnt mean im in out bed all night trying to get her back to sleep in cot (shes 14.5mo) and sleeps in our bed 1-3times a week it started whilst bf and has continued

Desiderata · 20/08/2007 23:31

I don't know. My ds is nearly three, we both smoke, and he sleeps with us every night.

What can I say? He's rather rudely healthy.

But yes, it's best to follow the advice.

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