I'm moving into my mom's house, and she smokes. I'm going to be having a baby in a few weeks...what to do?

Question

She says she'll smoke outside, or cut back which is nice of her...BUT! She's gotta acutally stick to her word, and she smokes in her room, and that room is RIGHT next door to the room the baby is going to sleep in. I'm going to be sleeping in the basement, and I'm starting to wonder if I should just set his crib up downstairs with me; because my mom doesn't really smoke down there. Plus its going to be getting REALLY hot out soon, and the basement is cooler. I already bought an air purifier for the baby room, but it can't fix the second hand smoke problem. I'm only going to be living there for a year or so, so that's good, but until then what would you suggest I do?

Answer 1

This is a tough one. The smoke, even the smell of it on furniture and clothes is so bad for you and baby. I would definitely set his crib up where you are. I'm going to send you a link about a study they just released that describes what second-hand smoke does to babies.

http://health.yahoo.com/news/176537

Answer 2

just take the baby down there with you...if you have it a flight of steps away, your gonna get pretty tired very soon! lol..and the further away from the basement the better! especially because of second hand smoking. Now, also remember,if your room is far from the baby,you might not always hear him/her cry unless you have a monitor..and keep the air purifier in the basement with you and the baby!

Answer 3

Yea if i was u i would definitly want the baby with you. You will feel lost with out the baby probably I did. I have been through this 2. I am just wanting to let you kno that if u r mom cares bout you and this baby she will go outside. My parents still go outside when my kids go to there house and stay the night. My sister has a baby 2 so they keep all the smoke outside it is so much better. It will all work out in the end. Just remember that u wont be there for long u will be able to get through this. After i had my two babies i didnt want to leave there site. I was really attached to them and i am sure you will 2. Well hope everything works out for you. Goood Luck

Answer 4

You are not going to want a new baby a flight of stairs away from you any way, so move the baby into the basement with you. Still try to keep you mom from smoking in the house if you can, better yet, ask her to quit so she can see her grand child graduate college and get married and hold her great-grandchildren.

Answer 5

I would definately bring the baby down to the basement. Although it may be cool, it would be better than second hand smoke for the baby. Second hand smoke can be extremely dangerous for a newborn, so I wouldn't risk any inhalation.

Answer 6

Put the baby's crib in the basement with you---why would you put it anywhere else.
Oh, yes--your Mom needs to still go outside and smoke.

Answer 7

your mother more than anybody should understand the importance of not smoking around a baby but if you dont trust that shes goin to keep her word jus move the crib down with you..it'll be easier anyway for feedings and stuff so you wont have to go up and down the stairs in the middle of the night

Answer 8

I'm no doctor but I am a speech-language pathologist and although it might sound like there's nothing I would know about smoking and babies, let me tell you something honey. I know its a touchy situation. I was in college when I had my first son and living at home (I was engaged to his daddy to whom I'm now married but preferred to live at home). My parents both smoked and I insisted they take it outside. They'd just remodeled their home which made it an easy call but I was probably a complete jerk about it. Now looking back I'm glad I was.

Getting to my first statement about being an SLP - when any person is exposed to 2nd hand smoke or any allergen for that matter, lots of things happen in our bodies. What I'm getting at is what happens to your throat. It usually feels tight and scratchy...slightly tight? Our tissues swell in our throats because we're not supposed to be breating it. In most people it causes their throats to swell and sometimes it pinches off your eustachian tubes (which drain fluid and aerate your middle ear cavity). In babies their little tiny throat tissues swell and pinch their ETs also and elimate them from draining or aerating their middle ear cavities. When this happens, negative pressure is in the middle ear cavity and poof, you have an ear infection. I have worked with countless children exposed to cigarette smoke daily that have been around it for many years who have middle ear problems leading to significant hearing loss to speech-language problems to other developmental disabilites such as balance issues and physical delays. I think some of which could have been avoided if they weren't around cigarette smoke. As a child of the late 70s when everyone smoked, I will tell you that when you're the asthmatic little kid that can't get away from the smoke in the car or at home and its your parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles who smoke, you wish someone were there to say something on your behalf. Be that someone for your child. Please.

Answer 9

this is hard you can voice your opinion as you have and just really see how it goes, i mean you are in her home...i was in the same situation as you...my mom listened and she never smokes around them..so i think your mom knows what's right only time will tell..and yes you should also keep the lil one next to you anyway for safety and easy access when she/he awakes at 2a.m. good luck!

Answer 10

You're right to be concerned. that second-hand smoke can be bad for your baby, even before it's born.