2nd/3rd hand smoke

nurseclare9 · July 2013

That last thread about smoking reminded me of this issue that I have been stressing about!!
I am so disgusted by cigarette smoke. My FIL is a heavy smoker and drinks cheap beer like it is water, just the other day I was cleaning a bit outside and found FOUR beer cans that he had stashed cigarette butts in that had I am guessing blown away and were missed , and now were hiding under bushes (he was up visiting a month ago). He smokes outside, but will seriously stand by the door and continue talking with us as it blows inside. It makes me so angry that people are SO inconsiderate when it comes to smoking. Like they are so completely unaware of how disgusting it is and how the smoke/smell/residue gets EVERYWHERE. My entire house smells of it when they are here. They gave us a bunch of baby clothes, and they had all picked up the smell from sitting in their tiny house. My brother smokes as well but not nearly as heavily and I have no problem making him keep it away from baby and follow my rules. I just hope my husband will SERIOUSLY talk with his dad about smoking rules around here. I am planning on no smoking except at the very back of the property, wear a "smoke" jacket, wash hands after (my husband thought it would be "too much" to expect him to wash his face each time too...). I may sound paranoid but the smell bothers me so much anyways, I don't want my baby anywhere near it, especially with all the risks it causes. I am really dreading ever taking baby to visit them in their smoke filled house.

Do any of you have family members who smoke and what are you doing to keep it from baby?

LEMSA · July 2013

No advice on the family.

But could you go to American Cancer Association, The great American smoke out, etc sites and print out materials stating the risks of second hand smoke? Obviously it won't help him stop but it may make him more considerate.

Hand washing and changing clothes will help alot. Parents of my asthmatic pts almost ways smoke and I can't stress enough how bad they are hurting their kids. It's so sad.

Stick to your guns and good luck.

ELauren88 · July 2013

My dad and his wife smoke. Along with my brother and SIL. MH and I are former smokers, and hopefully will not pick back up the habit.

That being said, no, I'm not keeping anyone away from my LO. I have a nephew, and they know the "change your shirt, wash your hands" deal. But, I'm not making them walk a mile to have a smoke, and I don't freak out about cigarette butts in my yard. Then again, they would never blow smoke in my house.

girlmama83 · July 2013

If their house is smoke filled, then you don't take LO there. Simple solution!

My dad smokes but I do know he has the sense not to smoke around the baby.

carlieanddanwedding · July 2013

That's super inconsiderate.

My mom, dad, and sister all smoke (mom and sister both very heavily) but they are extremely considerate about it. I'm actually the only one in my generation who never picked up smoking, all of my cousins and my sister all smoke except one, and the one who doesn't only quit when she got pregnant. My DH is SUPER allergic to smoke (of any kind - cigarettes, pot, wildfires, it all makes him miserable) and my family is SO awesome and aware of it, I have zero concerns about it with LO. Actually when my cousin got pregnant (she's really more like a sister to me/daughter to my mom), my mom and sister started voluntarily smoking outside or in the garage of their OWN HOUSE because they wanted the house to be pregnancy/baby friendly! They have no problem with smoking outside on my porch when they visit, wearing a "smoking shirt" each time that they take off, and washing hands/face after.

sfeebs13 · July 2013

My father is a lung doctor/critical care doctor. He has been for 30 years now. He is one of the top ten doctors in central florida and I asked him his thoughts on second and third hand smoke.
Third hand smoke has been blown wayyyy out of proportion. As in non-existent as far as the damage it may cause, anyone for that matter.
NOTHING is as bad as first hand smoke!!!!!!! Not second hand smoke, not third hand... nothing compares to inhaling the smoke into your own lungs!

ETA although it is nasty and stinky and perhaps he's being inconsiderate as far as what it might do to you or your LO other than be disgusting.. its very minimal. Tell him to shout through the closed window when he wants to talk to you.

Melissabride09 · July 2013

slusk13 said:
My father is a lung doctor/critical care doctor. He has been for 30 years now. He is one of the top ten doctors in central florida and I asked him his thoughts on second and third hand smoke.
Third hand smoke has been blown wayyyy out of proportion. As in non-existent as far as the damage it may cause, anyone for that matter.
NOTHING is as bad as first hand smoke!!!!!!! Not second hand smoke, not third hand... nothing compares to inhaling the smoke into your own lungs!

ETA although it is nasty and stinky and perhaps he's being inconsiderate as far as what it might do to you or your LO other than be disgusting.. its very minimal. Tell him to shout through the closed window when he wants to talk to you.

One of the top ten doctors in central Florida?! Well why didn't you say so? To think, all the time I've wasted listening to doctors and researchers from the Mayo Clinic or Harvard, who say it is a big deal and the risks are very real.

sfeebs13 · July 2013

Melissabride09 said:

My father is a lung doctor/critical care doctor. He has been for 30 years now. He is one of the top ten doctors in central florida and I asked him his thoughts on second and third hand smoke.
Third hand smoke has been blown wayyyy out of proportion. As in non-existent as far as the damage it may cause, anyone for that matter.
NOTHING is as bad as first hand smoke!!!!!!! Not second hand smoke, not third hand... nothing compares to inhaling the smoke into your own lungs!

ETA although it is nasty and stinky and perhaps he's being inconsiderate as far as what it might do to you or your LO other than be disgusting.. its very minimal. Tell him to shout through the closed window when he wants to talk to you.
One of the top ten doctors in central Florida?! Well why didn't you say so? To think, all the time I've wasted listening to doctors and researchers from the Mayo Clinic or Harvard, who say it is a big deal and the risks are very real.

I certainly didn't mean it to sound snoody or whatever you might think. He has done and still does work with research clinics all over the country. He teaches for them.
The point is that even when they come up with 6th hand smoke.. it's just to put fear in people that's not really necessary. The fear and concern needs to be instilled in those that are inhaling FIRST hand smoke.

henderson1026 · July 2013

slusk13 said:

Melissabride09 said:

My father is a lung doctor/critical care doctor. He has been for 30 years now. He is one of the top ten doctors in central florida and I asked him his thoughts on second and third hand smoke.
Third hand smoke has been blown wayyyy out of proportion. As in non-existent as far as the damage it may cause, anyone for that matter.
NOTHING is as bad as first hand smoke!!!!!!! Not second hand smoke, not third hand... nothing compares to inhaling the smoke into your own lungs!

ETA although it is nasty and stinky and perhaps he's being inconsiderate as far as what it might do to you or your LO other than be disgusting.. its very minimal. Tell him to shout through the closed window when he wants to talk to you.
One of the top ten doctors in central Florida?! Well why didn't you say so? To think, all the time I've wasted listening to doctors and researchers from the Mayo Clinic or Harvard, who say it is a big deal and the risks are very real.

I certainly didn't mean it to sound snoody or whatever you might think. He has done and still does work with research clinics all over the country. He teaches for them.
The point is that even when they come up with 6th hand smoke.. it's just to put fear in people that's not really necessary. The fear and concern needs to be instilled in those that are inhaling FIRST hand smoke.

Second hand smoke is still pretty bad - how else do you explain my asthma attacks when in a smoker's home?

Melissabride09 · July 2013

Sorry if that came off too snarky, not trying to downplay your dads career or anything. I just think it's important to note that while obviously the most serious side effects impact the actual smoker, there are still extemely dangerous effects on the health of those exposed to their smoke, like asthma, SIDS, and even cancer.

lydsyjane · July 2013

JNL$LSM said:
Your baby your rules.

Exactly this. Don't compromise your babies health just because you're worried about what someone may think.

rooftop · July 2013

slusk13 said:

My father is a lung doctor/critical care doctor. He has been for 30 years now. He is one of the top ten doctors in central florida and I asked him his thoughts on second and third hand smoke.
Third hand smoke has been blown wayyyy out of proportion. As in non-existent as far as the damage it may cause, anyone for that matter.
NOTHING is as bad as first hand smoke!!!!!!! Not second hand smoke, not third hand... nothing compares to inhaling the smoke into your own lungs!

ETA although it is nasty and stinky and perhaps he's being inconsiderate as far as what it might do to you or your LO other than be disgusting.. its very minimal. Tell him to shout through the closed window when he wants to talk to you.

3rd hand might be a "non-existent" issue for your lungs (if you're not allergic or predisposed to asthma) but that doesn't mean it's not still a carcinogen which in a family filled with a history of cancers is a VERY big deal to me.

ETA https://www.mayoclinic.com/health/third-hand-smoke/AN01985

zora51 · July 2013

I also disagree with PP, trying to say that only First-hand smoke is a big deal.... First off, you can't FORCE anyone to stop smoking and to be honest, most people (especially our parents+ ages) KNOW the risks of smoking by this point!! Second, 2nd hand smoke IS a big deal.. it can trigger asthma attacks, I have close friends who coughed like smokers as kids, because of SECOND hand smoke.. guarantee their lungs aren't the healthiest!! And as for third-hand smoke...I'm EXTREMELY sensitive (respiratory wise) to cigarette smoke on people or in their houses. To the point of not breathing well in that area. I believe my body is trying to tell me something... it wouldn't react so negatively if there was absolutely nothing wrong, no big deal... Of COURSE it's the worst to actually inhale it from the cigarette, but that isn't really the issue in this post or for most of us with our babies... we're more concerned about 2nd or 3rd hand smoke, which to ME, IMHO, ARE a big deal.

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