Am I exposing my baby to second hand smoke?

Question

Me, my husband, and our four month old live in a duplex. We just had some neighbors move in to the unit next to us who smoke. They are not allowed to smoke in the home only outside away from it. I am worried they smoke inside. From my expirience most people who smoke do not understand how negative the effects of it can be so they smoke whereever reguardless. I have never smelled smoke in our home before. If they are smoking inside could the toxins still travel through the walls even though I dont smell the smoke? I am just concerned about my little boy. What do you think?

Answer 1

Smoke travels no matter what. The smoke travels through walls,vents,windows,the air in general,etc. Yes you could be exposing your child to second hand smoke,in fact,when you walk outdoors,you are getting the second hand smoke that is left in the air from their cigarettes. You "could" talk to your Landlord about your concerns,along with the neighbors,or without the neighbors. They carry the second hand smoke in their hair,hands,on clothing,shoes,etc. Is your baby's room near the walls to their duplex? Have the landlord check the airvents in your side of duplex to see if there are any residue from the smoking in them,that will tell if they are indeed smoking inside duplex. Also the Landlord can just "stop by" and make a routine check as well,since they already were notified that there is NO smoking allowed,and would give just cause to make a "check" without getting Landlord into trouble. Good luck I would invest in an air purifier if I were you,just for safety of your child,as well as yourselves. Second hand smoke has been proven to cause Asthma in children,check with your child's Dr.

Answer 2

You are right to be concerned. Second hand smoke is worse than smoking it your self. It can cause ear infections, sinus infections, lung infections, and increase the risk of asthma. Not to mention the increased risk of lung cancer later on in life. My daughter has chronic lung disease and I will not let anyone smoke around her. And your right most people who smoke don't realize or believe what they are doing to others. Their clothes, hair, bedding, everything smells like smoke. And it will rub off on others. I am not sure about traveling through walls. i think I would get an air purifier just to be safe. We have Fresh Air by Ecoquest. It works wonders on any smells/odors. And it even sanitizes.

Answer 3

To be honest I am not sure about the smoke from the duplex next to you but I think it should be safe... if you are still really concerned you should go and buy a air purifier for your duplex and that should clean your air and make you feel better... good luck !!!!

Answer 4

Yes I feel the baby is being exposed to second hand smoke .I would talk to the neighbors and then to the landlord .Good luck

Answer 5

As long as they are not smoking in your house or directly around your baby, Such as if they were holding him or cooing at him It is none of your Business what they do. Relax. It is good that you don't want smoke around your baby but there is an extreme on the other end too, and you are getting close

Answer 6

i live in a duplex and they are consider two seperate houses that share a wall but the wall is doubled so you live in two seperate dwellings so the toxins should not travel into your house and i think you are alittle to concerned about your neighbhors they have there own house.

Answer 7

I think your little one is exposed to a lot more dangerous things in the air when out and about. Car/Truck/Bus exhausts, factory smoke billowing about, even charcoal grills that emit smoke.

Answer 8

I think if you're not smelling the smoke they might not be smoking in their apartment. I'd say if you think they are you should ask them to kindly stop since they're not supposed to be anyways and if they don't, tell the land lord

Answer 9

You need to talk to your neighbors, be up front with your concerns or go to your landlord

Answer 10

Let me tell ya somethin, My mother smoked with me when I was in her belly, and around me when I was growing up and I myself smoked when I turned 17, I quit about 3 years ago, But I am perfectly healthy.. I read a study that was done in TX and they found out that most people there got lung cancer from pollution, not From cigarette smoke.. Don't worry about your little one unless he's allergic to smoke. He needs to experience these things anyway so he can build up a tolerance for it b/c when he gets older you can't protect him from everything.. Good luck!!