Your opinions on smoking actual cigarettes vs. smoking vapor cigarettes

Nichole8787 · July 2014

My husband is a smoker. I hate it. He has promised me over and over that the day I go into labor he will quit smoking for good. I accepted this and have not nagged him about smoking. Last night he came home and declared that he had officially quit smoking. I was seriously surprised and proud of him....at first. I thought he had decided to just quit cold turkey and that even though it would be hard he would do it. No such luck. He bought a vapor cigarette and he loves it. He had tried some of our friends before and had thought of buying one. To him as long as he is smoking a vapor cigarette and not a real cigarette he has quit smoking. My opinion is that he is still a smoker since he's not using it to ween off of cigarettes but is simply replacing the habit. I think that he smokes it more often which actually increases his addiction to nicotine, increases the oral fixation, increases the habitual part of the addiction and it's still expensive. I also was a smoker for many years so I understand how hard it is to quit so that's why I haven't been to pushy about it. It's just with the new baby coming it's something we both said we didn't want him exposed to if we could help it.

So I guess my questions are:

-Do you believe that smoking vapor cigarettes qualifies as quitting smoking?

-Do you think it's acceptable to smoke a vapor cigarette in front of/around small children?

-Should I just accept this as him quitting or still nicely encourage/support him in quitting even the vapor cigarette or let it go?

cyndelgrace · July 2014

Nichole8787 said:

So I guess my questions are:

-Do you believe that smoking vapor cigarettes qualifies as quitting smoking?
-Do you think it's acceptable to smoke a vapor cigarette in front of/around small children?
-Should I just accept this as him quitting or still nicely encourage/support him in quitting even the vapor cigarette or let it go?

I would consider quitting the habit entirely to be quitting but I think this is a very good step in the right direction, especially as this cuts a great deal of the increased risk of SIDS to your baby.

I think e-cigs should be used in smoking areas, like real cigarettes. It's nice of people not to smoke around my children but it's one of those things that is around and you have to approach it with your children... I would want him to only use them where he used a normal cigarette.

I would make it clear to him that you feel the habit should still be broken and give him your reasons why. Set boundaries for what is ok around you and the baby in the meantime and if he's perceptive to it, help him set a goal. If not, approach it again when life settles down. Good luck!

SuperTinkerham · July 2014

No to all 3 of your questions. I'm a former smoker and quitting was hard. Subbing out vapor cigarettes isn't really quitting, and since there's no regulation as to what he's smoking that freaks me the eff out. i don't think it is acceptable to do it around little kids or me or in other public places that you can't light up an actual cigarette.

melissaquinn106 · July 2014

In my opinion it is obviously was better for him, you, and baby if he doesn't smoke at all. But the vapor cigg is better than a regular one. I would still insist on him going outside with it though as I find those vapors do have some type of odor. If you let him vaporize whenever he wants wherever he wants he'll prob do it way more then smoking ciggs and then never quit. If you say he can't do it in the house, or infront of the baby it may motivate him to quit quicker. Good luck!

Nichole8787 · July 2014

Thank you ladies. Every single one of you seems to have exactly the same thoughts about it that I do. I feel validated! Thank you!

TurtleMonsters · July 2014

I wouldn't count it as quitting but what is the end you're wishing to reach? not having smoke around your child, not having the habit around your child, or having your DH healthier by not having nicotine in his body?

I would say, it's healthier for little one, what he's doing. and if he's planning to wean off those, having him do it around LO for the first year won't make a lasting impression. Once your child is around 1-2, they start copying everything, that would be less cool with me, but still honors not having smoke around them- and wouldn't exacerbate asthma or whatever being on clothes.

If it's having a healthy DH, then I'd have a conversation geared at using them to "wean" but I'm not sure that is the best way. I used to smoke, the only way I was successful (and it varies per person) was cold turkey. pregnancy has worked wonders for that...and somewhere after I quit the first time, I had friends over one night and smoked and started up again. I now will have one, the one time a year we see those friends and it's very hard not to have 2, 3 4...my point being, it's the hardest thing to do, but It's so worth the health and $$$ saved. However, I'd tread easily and cut him some slack, because it is VERY hard being so addictive in so many ways.

Nichole8787 · July 2014

TurtleMonsters said:

I wouldn't count it as quitting but what is the end you're wishing to reach? not having smoke around your child, not having the habit around your child, or having your DH healthier by not having nicotine in his body?

I too quit cold turkey when I quit. It was the only way that worked for me. I did smoke socially after a few drinks before I got pregnant and I'm sure I will have one or two in my future. The overall goal is to have a healthier dh, healthier son, not having the habit around our son to model after, and simply not having the addiction.

abrazz · July 2014

I'm in the camp that it's better than smoking but is still a bad habit. He can wean down the nicotine content till there is none in it so there is hope of him completely quitting. My sister and brother both have quit smoking cigarettes. My sister uses an e-cig and my brother has a vape pen. He gets his "juice" from Virgin Vapes. It's organic (I know, sounds crazy) and you can ask for more or less nicotine. My BIL uses one as well and he has no nicotine in his. He smokes it when he would normally have a cigarette. If you don't want him using it around the baby then tell him. He should just be able to go outside like he would normally would.

I was worried about them using these so I searched high and low for studies but there weren't any out there that I would consider reputable. The ingredient lists are shorter than cigarettes and the contents were things I recognized so IMO they may be a little better for him but not better than completely quitting.

Nichole8787 · July 2014

MSUDucks said:

IMO, Smoking vapor cigarettes is still smoking. So no he hasn't quit. I can't honestly say that I think they are much safer either. 1. The liquid is not at all regulated so you don't know what's in that. 2. There have been many small child poisonings due to the liquid (so scary). 3. Those vapor cigarettes can actually explode in your face! https://www.cbsnews.com/news/electronic-cigarette-explodes-in-mans-mouth-causes-serious-injuries/ https://abcnews.go.com/Health/e-cigarette-poisoning-is-on-the-rise-cdc-says/blogEntry?id=23180517

Omg! Thank you for the links! I hadn't even thought of the poisonous factor!

rattlecanqueen · July 2014

I think it's a step in the right direction. They make vapors with different levels of nicotine in them from 0-i think like 30 nanograms. So he could step down.

BPer · July 2014

I wouldn't count it as quitting, and as to whether or not it is safer/healthier, I guess that depends on how much he uses it.
Our friend "quit" and switched to an ecig, but still smokes the equivalent of roughly a pack a day, and he's been using the ecig for several years now. So it could be a step in the right direction, or not if he has no intention of weaning himself off of it.

brooklynesque · July 2014

I think vaping is a lot better than smoking regular cigarettes (no tar, etc.) but some of the nicotine can theoretically still vaporize and hang in the air so I wouldn't do it around young kids. Plus as long as he's still on the nicotine it's easier to justify having real cigarettes now and then when he's out. It becomes a slippery slope.

What worked for me (and it's been years now, so it really worked) was hypnosis. I was skeptical but it's the only thing that got me to really stop, after years of being on and off the patch etc.

Nichole8787 · July 2014

@TheAnne I completely agree that it'a better alternative. I mean if nothing else but the fact that he doesn't reek of cigarettes! It's just I still want him to completely quit....but you are right it is a step in the right direction and a better alternative.

Prncesta · July 2014

I agree it's a step in the right direction. Give him credit for trying to do something positive. I would continue to encourage a complete quitting of all cigarette smoking regardless of what kind.

sbevann26 · July 2014

I smoked for 10 years myself, and then I got a vapor cigarette. I smoked that for a year and then slowly stopped
Smoking it. I have now been cigarette and vapor free for a year! I think it's a great way to quit. Plus it's also a lot better for you. I immediately noticed a change in my breathing and overall health.

Nichole8787 · July 2014

@tundrabunny I agree it is a slippery slope. I had quit smoking completely for over a year before I let myself have one or two when I was out having drinks. It's been years since I quit and I've never had an issue with just smoking one after a few drinks. I agree though for most it is dangerous.

sekis · July 2014

Did the word VAPOR not register in your head?? It's NOT SMOKE! When people start out with an e-cig they go hog wild a lot of the time. Trying to substitute a habit is hard work. From what I've noticed (I formerly worked in a head shop that sold e-cigs/vapes) people do tend to "smoke" the ecig a lot more frequently than a real cigarette in the beginning. They are getting used to the transition. Once they have transitioned to being used to the e-cig they tend to slow down and eventually cut so far back that they don't need the e-cig anymore. The option of lowering the nicotine content is wonderful so eventually your husband could be vaping 0 nicotine juice.

If I were you, I would be happy that he came up with this plan without being nagged to death. I don't think the vapor is going to harm your child, or any child for that matter.

aimeepigott · July 2014

My DH is a smoker and we DO NOT allow ANY smoking in our household. He has no inclination of quitting and I know there is no point in "forcing or nagging" him. My mom has done it with my father for years and it's never worked. DH does not smoke around DS1 at all and we don't allow other family members to do so either. When DS1 was born and my inlaws came over they had to wash thoroughly before holding DS. It's hard with the inlaws because they all 1. Smoke and 2. Smoked during pregnancy ( I do not condone that but we aren't around them much anyways). Use your mommy judgement. All I can say is as long as he is not holding baby while smoking the vapor cig you should be good. If he continues with that and even begins wheening down his dosage of nicotine maybe designate a room he does it in. It's def one of those things where you have to pick your battle. Good luck and hope you find some middle ground!

cookiemomma14 · July 2014

sekis said:
I don't think the vapor is going to harm your child, or any child for that matter.

And you know this for sure? These have not been thoroughly studied and are not regulated which is why they are now required to be with other smokers and not allowed to be used inside public places. People have every right to protect their children.

ETA: words are hard on mobile

Gordonnoir · July 2014

I stopped smoking for the same reason you want your husband to. I currently use an ecig and my wife couldn't be happier. I'm slowly but surely getting less of an urge to use it but I still do. I read that some think you should go outside but that would be pointless. A room where the baby isn't makes more sense because of course this stuff hasn't been studied throughly to take any risk. As far as smoking with other smokers that's not smart because your around real cigarettes which is what you need to stay away from because you quit and the smell alone could draw you to smoking a "real" one. I've done research and you really have to just chose the juice wisely because some are awful for you and some are more "natural" like water based and flavor.

Nichole8787 · July 2014

@Gordonnoir‌ Thank you so much. It's good to hear some feedback from someone going through the same tHing. I actually ha
dn't thought about the being tempted by other smokers.

Nichole8787 · July 2014

@sekis‌ while I appreciate your opinion, you're rude. Your delivery was rude. Work on that.

Lhalliburton · July 2014

@sekis‌ Also, who are you?

cuntasaurusrex · July 2014

My husband went from smoking to vaping, and has gone from 24mg to a mix of 6mg and 0mg over my pregnancy. I don't care how long he keeps this up because it doesn't stink and doesn't bother me, but he says he doesn't want our son to see him doing that, either, so he's got his own plans on when to make the transition final. Works for me

JEChester · July 2014

I agree with many others that is a great tool to step down and eventually quit everything. My husband bought an ecig last month and has already given up 3-4 daily cigs. It also does not bother me when he vapes around me and I am not too concerned if he has to do it occasionally in the car around our baby. I even told him if he has to vape at the hospital to do so as long as he doesn't have to leave my side!

Your opinions on smoking actual cigarettes vs. smoking vapor cigarettes

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