people with strong smell (sorry this is stupid)

lbarrera86

I hope I don't mean to sound like a *b*..but do you let other people who wear strong perfume hold your LO?? I'm just asking because MIL, who is always here, sprays really, really strong perfume on herself(you can literally smell her from another room if the door is open). I have asked DH to ask her to not spray so much because 1)i get really nauseous, and 2)i don't know if it affects LO's respiratory system. I do know that strong perfumes/odors is a factor in asthma (and we have a big family history of asthma).  Today, I literally gagged because it was so strong (after being in the same room with her for 30 minutes) and DH has not said anything to her about it (even though he knows it's strong too) and I don't want to offend her if I have to tell her myself. Plus it sticks to LO's hair and clothes. Has anyone ever hand off LO to others who have strong smells and did it affect his/her breathing??

Sorry this is so stupid but I would like some input.

hawkins79

I haven't had to deal with this however, I might say to her politely that you are trying to keep LO away from any fragrances because it could be harmful to her breathing and her skin.  Mention how you wash all of her clothing in fragrance free detergent and that while it is an inconvenience, would she mind not putting on perfume when she comes to visit your LO.  This way you don't mention the fact that it is obnoxious to begin with, but just the fact that she is wearing any at all is not good for LO.

JayandJack

I have been lucky and it hasn't been an issue yet. With it becoming winter it might start to happen though.

Personally I would say something but I'm a b****. I can't stand that myself and I wouldn't want LO having a reaction to it. I won't even hold LO after I spray mine unless I really have to but I usually only spray it right as I'm leaving the house and LO is already in his carseat. 

KatieGraceB

SO has a couple of relatives that also wear really REALLY strong perfume, and it always rubs off on DS. Like so strong that if I don't change him and give him a bath it lingers for hours. I just had SO, since it is HIS family after all, kindly spread the word that DS might have sensitive skin/nose and possible allergies, and if we could just be careful about perfumes/lotions/sanitizers around him that would be great. I think maybe if you put it that way, as a general announcement to all family members about any strong scented product, it might be less offensive to her. And after that if she's still bathing in it before holding LO it would be appropriate to call her out on it nicely. "Oh, remember about LO's sensitive skin? We're still trying to keep him/her away from anything scented." Or you could say that your pedi told you to keep him/her away from said stuff because he/she was having a stuffy nose or something. Not that I'm all about making stuff up or anything, but it would take the pressure off you and really, who would know better besides you and DH?

MarshMop

My house smells like my MIL for a week after they leave... I didn't notice any problems with LOs breathing when she was around.

OctoberBabyH

Such a coincidence that you're posting this. Took V to meet my gran today & she smelled like her throat-burning perfume 'til we got her home for a bath.