I just had a baby a few weeks ago and my mother in law who chews tobacco is always wanting to hold my daughter and when my daughter is with her she chews the tobacco right in front of her and i know tobacco it self is not safe for anyone to be around let alone a baby. I ask her not to do it around her but she neglects to listen and tells me its fine cuz its not smoke. Im worried for my daughters health and i just want to know if it's alright for my daughter to be around that..? please let me know so i can straighten this out with her.
2007-01-17 04:49:00 · 10 answers · asked by simpLy_puRe 1 in Health ➔ Other - Health
The dangers of chewing tobacco (also referred to as smokeless tobacco) arise from the use of that tobacco -- oral cancer, gum disease, tooth loss, and nicotine addiction. There is no danger from "second hand chewing tobacco" as there is from "second hand smoke." You can't get cancer from being around the smell of it, or from touching it. In that, your mother in law is correct.
However, the smell of it is still offensive and you're well within your rights to want to keep it away from your child. Further, depending on how your mother in law discards the used wads of tobacco (which I'm sure are a real pleasure to look at!), I would be concerned about a baby picking up the tobacco and putting it in her mouth; it's not that I'd worry that one time use would give my baby cancer, but it presents a choking hazard.
In addition, as your child gets older, the tobacco use might inadvertently teach your child that chewing tobacco is a safe and acceptable alternative to cigars/cigarettes/pipes. That's not a lesson you want her to learn, because aside from whether you think it's gross or not, the dangers of chewing tobacco are very real....for the person chewing it.
All that being said, if you really want her to stop using it around your baby and she just won't listen to you, tell her your daughter's pediatrician has told you it shouldn't be used around the baby. That usually works. I've "blamed the doctor" more than once for things, rather than getting into useless arguments when the bottom line is, you're the parent, if you don't want the product around your baby others should listen, period.
And (I'm almost done, I promise!) insist that your mother in law wash her hands and brush her teeth before holding and kissing your daughter -- that smell will permeate everything otherwise. That might also have a secondary effect of making her cut down a bit (although it might really piss her off, but then, as I said...you're the parent). Good luck.
Hope that helps.
2007-01-17 05:00:21 · answer #1 · answered by ljb 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are no 'second hand' effects from chewing tobacco for your baby or anyone else..the tobacco is confined to your mother-in-law. It is more important for your baby to be held by someone who loves her..you can always make your feelings about the tobacco known to your daughter as she grows up. Trust me you will cause more problems than it is worth to your family's peace about this. Most tobacco users are so addicted that they will become very defensive about restrictons. If she were smoking it would be different but for now try to not make an issue of it no matter how disgusting it seems to you.
2016-03-14 07:06:43 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think your baby will be just fine. My grandmother raised me and she chewed tobacco, and I'm fine. Don't worry its not like she is smoking around your baby.
2007-01-17 04:54:27 · answer #3 · answered by B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is safe. It's not like she's smoking around your baby so she'll be fine. Just don't let her give your baby any! LOL But seriously, there's no problem with it. It's a gross thing to wathc but she's fine.
2007-01-17 05:02:42 · answer #4 · answered by tantalizin1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
...it's safe. It's the second-hand smoke that is unsafe about cigarettes...chewing tobacco is fine. Disgusting, but won't hurt your baby.
2007-01-17 04:53:52 · answer #5 · answered by Captain Jack 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Grandma is not sharing her chew with the baby so I don't see a problem
2007-01-17 04:58:40 · answer #6 · answered by mangoretheogre 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's your child and you are responsible for her well being, even if you tell her not to chew gum she should oblige and that's the end of that. Remember they can't speak for themselves and that's why we as parents and ADULTS have to protect them.
2007-01-17 04:54:11 · answer #7 · answered by co2vinny 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes....it's not smoke. Let Grandma chew. It's not like she is spitting on her.
2007-01-17 04:56:32 · answer #8 · answered by Shari 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No! She can get cancer by osmosis....LOL!!
It's fine.
2007-01-17 05:03:14 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Uh, as long as the baby is NOT in the spitoon, it should be OK
2007-01-17 05:05:24 · answer #10 · answered by redsoxfan11x 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋