smoking and children Since I do smoke cigarettes and I like to keep lo near me let me ask some questions.

Personally when I did smoke I almost always waited until kiddo was down for a nap/bed for the night. That way I could go outside, smoke then go in and change my clothes/shower and brush my teeth and wash my hands. If I felt like I had to have one right then I would box off a safe area inside that I could see through the glass door, and still go outside to smoke and again go inside and change clothes, wash hands brush teeth etc. Its a nasty thing but I love it. Although I'm seriously going to try not to go back to it again like I did after ds1 quit nursing (currently nursing ds2)

I know you need to be 15 feet away from most government buildings to smoke around here. Not sure why 15, or if there is a science behind it, but it's apparently something about being far enough away so that the smoke doesn't get sucked into the building.

It's best to do it somewhere your LO won't be crawling or running around one day. Third hand smoke is the residue left on furniture, floors, clothes, your body from the smoke. It's just as bad as second hand smoke. Often it's colorless but it can yellow certain fabrics or walls depending on the amount you smoke and the length of time. It transfers in contact though so baby can get covered in it.

Always wash your hands. Consider smoking in a shirt or jacket that you can take off afterwards that always remains outside. That way, you reduce the residue that gets on your clothes and is transferred to the baby when you hold them later. Brushing your teeth afterwards is just good hygiene.

After you smoke you exhale the chemicals for atleast 45 minutes. You should always change clothes, scrub hands up to elbows, wash face and brush teeth. Even then baby will still be exposed to what lingers on your hair and such but minimize as much as you can it's so important

The toxins are all over you, so in your hair, on your clothes, your skin. Brushing your teeth and washing your hands may help a bit, but you are still exposing them. Yes, smoke will go through an open door. I think smokers don't realize how much the smoke permeates through everything because you can't smell it.

Solution: stop smoking

I usually shut my door leave the screen door open my lo doesn't crawl yet though. I'd put the lo in a pack n play or crib long enough for a smoke and yes I wash my hands and brush my teeth. I didn't know about changing the clothes though.

Jbowe

Thank you! I know I'm not a perfect parent but I try really hard. I hate that I started smoking again. I commend people who've been able to quit.

In.tbe UK we say seven Steps away from the door :)

My parents smoke and I hate taking my kids over there.... I would suggest leaving him by a window like a pp said, shutting your door and being as far away as possible while still being able to set lo. I'm so glad you're asking these questions mhb! You're doing the right thing boo, keep that baby safe from the smoke by all means!

@ tdokes thanks for the link!

So do you leave your door open? Do you wash your hands, brush your teeth as soon as you come in the house? Does the smoke get inside if you do leave your door open. We don't have a screen door and I hate coming inside and still smelling smoke.

Before I got pregnant, I took precautions around my niece since I had her every other week. I would smoke outside in the backyard while she played. I always stayed 20+ feet away when smoking. After I finished smoking I would hang outside & play for 15-20 minutes to let my clothes air out. Then when we went inside I would wash my hands, and then use mouthwash, mints, or gum.

If it's cold, I would make sure someone else was home to watch her. I had a specific bathrobe I would wear so it would smell like smoke, & not my clothes.

I personally was able to hide that I was a smoker from my family for almost 3 years. Fabreeze, hand sanitizer, lotion, and mouthwash always stayed in my car lol.

Yes to all of it and when I do some I smoke outside by the front door.

I'm not sure how far away, but the answer is yes to all three of your last questions.

Change your clothes. Wash your hands. Brush your teeth.

Third hand smoke (the smoke residue that clings to you) exposure is just as dangerous.

All those are really important! I don't have a recommendation about how far to be, but it is important to change your clothes, wash your hands and so forth after smoking and being near baby. It's called third hand smoke and that is when the baby can get all this nasty toxins in from yours clothes and hands even if baby isn't in direct contact with the smoke! It's just a dangerous as second hand smoke! Good luck!