Are parents that smoke in cars with their children irrespsonsible?

Question

Ive just noticed that someone has asked the above question but its now closed for answers & I'm interested in what people think. My ex smokes in the car when he has my five year old son with him, he has always done it since my little boy was born. I've never been happy the situation. He says that if he has the window open when smoking and travelling it doesn't matter. What are other peopls views on this?

Answer 1

Yes it is irresponsible. In the car, in the house, inside anywhere with children. You want to poison yourself, go outside and do it, don't poison others that don't have a choice or the knowledge to make a choice.

Answer 2

Years ago, before everyone was so well informed about the dangers of smoking, it seemed like almost everyone smoked. My parents smoked and frequently smoked while we were in the car. I don't believe they were aware of the dangers of smoking or they wouldn't have done it.

With all the information available today on the dangers of smoking and "second-hand smoke", I would have to agree that it's "irresponsible" to smoke around children.

There's no reason why anyone should put the children's welfare "second" to their own desire to smoke. They can always smoke outside if they wish to have a cigarette. Even with the car windows open I still don't think it's a good idea. That's just my personal opinion.

If you aren't comfortable with your "ex" smoking in the car with your son, talk to him about it and ask him to refrain from smoking until he is able to do it without subjecting your son to second-hand smoke. Just because he's "always" done it doesn't make it alright and doesn't mean he should "continue" to do it.

Good luck with this one.

Answer 3

Well, people on here for the most part are very against smoking from what I have seen. I have to speak up and say that I am a smoker and I do have two kids and I smoke with the window down when I am on the interstate. I know not every bit of smoke escapes, but most of it does. I think people need to mind their business. My parents are smokers--everyone in my family smokes. I know it's bad, and I do want to quit...I don't agree that because I do this I am an irresponsible parent. I can see a non-smoker's point of view and agree to some extent. There are just so many things we come into contact with every day that are cancer-causing. I have also know people who have smoked their whole lives and lived to be very old, as well as people who never picked up a cigarette in their life who passed away from lung cancer. People--please hate the problem (habit) and not the people. Smoking is very addictive and hard to quit...just keep that in mind while placing your judgements.

Answer 4

Yes extremely irresponsible and selfish! Second hand smoke is worse then what he is ingesting. Babies should not be around smoke at all! In a car, which is a small confined space is even worse. Does he drive with the windows open when its raining or 30 degrees out? I doubt it and if he does that that is still not good for the child in the car!!!

Answer 5

My husband and I get so upset when we see parents smoking in a car or in a house with children. My parents smoked and all of us have asthma now. My younger brother was always in the hospital for breathing problems, and the doctors said that second hand smoke can lead to ear infections as well. Children can't just walk away from smoking parents, and I think that anyone who loves their child wouldn't do anything to harm them.

Answer 6

Totally irresponsible. I am surprised you had to ask. Sorry but have you not seen the health warnings about passive smoking????? Babies and smoking??? Who are you going to blame when he is diagnosed with asthma, or starts smoking age 9 because "daddy does it" and dies before you of cancer, or even gets a cold (if nothing worse) because he is being driven around during winter with the windows open? Your ex may think this response funny but there are so many levels on which this is wrong. Again who will you blame? Your ex for being so incredibly selfish or yourself for not stopping this sooner.

Answer 7

Second hand smoking is bad regardless, that's why they band it in bars and restaurants and even office buildings, any where you go and you are in a closed up are there is no smoking aloud.Why? because you can get other people sick from doing it around them especially if they are not smokers them self.So yes he is being extremely irresponsible, he is not putting your child's health first only his sick smoking habit. You should band him from smoking around the child, if doesn't care then you should. You carried this child for nine months plus labor and you know that was not a picnic,take care of your child and tell him that loving his child comes before his smoking.

Answer 8

Quite irresponsible.

It was rather likely that a contributing factor to my mother's asthma was the fact that her father smoked constantly with her in the car (without the windows open) and even in elevators. Of course, that was in the days before people truly knew how hazardous smoking was.

Answer 9

I will answer this as an adult whose mother smoked. The smoking never made me sick, other than the diseases which used to be regular , I was seldom sick as a child.

I remember being very small and asking her, begging, not to smoke. This haunted me when she got lung cancer at 59 years old and died of it just after she turned 60. After she was diagnosed and started radiation treatment, she quit. She had tried to quit many times, many ways prior. She was proud of having quit, but it was too late.

I miss my mother every day, and if she could still be here, I wouldn't mind if she still smoked. The fact is that my mother-in-law died of cancer just under a year ago. She, too, was a lifelong smoker.

Whatever evidence there is or isn't for second-hand smoke, it cuts smokers lives short and we can only miss them. That's why I hate smoking and my daughter smokes and I am just as helpless to stop her.

Answer 10

That is bad... Still... Air has many elements in it, Air is not a solid where you can control its position... if he has the window open, the smoke may go in the car, or out... Depends on the wind... Also second hand smoke is equally as dangerous... Why dun just give the kid a smoke... -__-'' I cant believe there are such irresponsible parents out there...

Answer 11

My Opinion: Selfish AND irresponsible. If a smoker decides to slowly commit suicide, they don't have to take the rest of their family/friends with them. My cousin has been smoking since she was in high school, a fact I seem to forget, until she excuses herself to have a smoke outdoors! She never smokes in front of non-smokers nor her children, not in her car, not even in her own home. And I assume because she is always outdoors when she does smoke, she doesn't have the 'smoker' scent on her or her home. She understands the deadly results and will not put anyone else, especially kids, in that danger.