Do you think smoking around children should be considered child abuse? if so do you smoke?

Answer 1

Yes, I do feel there are grounds for abuse.

If you want to ruin your heath--go for it but don't ruin your children's health along the way. I think it's very selfish for any adult to smoke indoors and in vehicles in this day and age where we KNOW what happens. It really just disgusts me.

Unfortunately, I am a smoker but would never subject my son to that. I've been on ten hour flights with layovers where I could've smoked. No way, no how would I go into one of those rooms with a child.

For the people who don't feel it is abuse here's a question. There is an anorexic parent. She feels that she can't eat during the day so she doesn't allow her children to eat either. That's grounds for abuse and neglect charges. So, how is that any different then damaging, neglecting, and creating potential health issues with your child?

Answer 2

I am REALLY anti-smoking. My sister died of lung cancer (took her final, painful breath while I was there) and my dad lived for 30 years with emphysema. So I have never smoked and if my child does, I will whack him.

Because of this, I have always kept him away from smoking people - WHATEVER they were smoking - and even if it caused a problem with my husband's family members. I'd rather look like a b%^& than expose my child to possible danger even once. So the net of all this is that I feel strongly that people shouldn't smoke around their children.

BUT - having said that - my answer to whether this should be regulated as child abuse is NO, NO, NO. We need EDUCATION not REGULATION.

There are two kinds of people in the world - responsible and irresponsible. Responsible people, who care about their children, just need to know that second hand smoke could kill their children, or at least diminish their health. If they are convinced of this, they will smoke outside - and if they don't, responsible people around them, who care about them, will put social pressure on them to comply.

Irresponsible people are going to do whatever the heck they want, regardless of social pressure or laws.

As a parent, I am so tired of other people thinking that they get to decide what I can and cannot do to raise my child. Nobody CARES about my kid more than I do. Nobody KNOWS my kid better than I do. And nobody's RESPONSIBLE for my kid more than I am - both morally and financially. So why does some government bureaucrat get to interfere in this relationship?

The honest truth is that there is a small group of people who are so irresponsible - with themselves and their children - that they will break ALL the rules. They will drink too much when they are pregnant. They will smoke and do drugs around their children. They will drive irresponsibly. No new law 'making' this child abuse is going to help - there are laws on the books today to handle all the things they do.

Putting a new law on the books will just put one more stupid interference into the lives of the rest of the well meaning people who already have more government interference in their lives than they need. Parenting is hard enough - don't let the nanny state make it even harder.

Answer 3

Look, I HATE smoking so bad... that I wish I can go to the Smoking Factory and business company related to smoking and being the terrorist. Explosive, plane or even cut off the electricity.. Beside, every person I didn't know smoke walking by me, I just glare at them and gave them "I don't want to die!!!...P.S, I know where you live!!! :) I want the smoking ban from the U.S but case of the child abuse if you smoke while children are in the car with you is very good start. It is like killing your own child but slowly... I wil even tell the leader that I would plan the petition if you want. I just want he drugs removed from the U.s so tha the people could have healthy lives!!!

Answer 4

I dont think its child abuse but its just plain irresponisable and rude. Keep the smoke far away from your children. It will only cause problems for them. Yes, I do smoke, but I go outside.

Answer 5

I used to smoke and when I did, I managed to keep it away from children. Besides the child reeking of cigarette smoke and getting sick more often, there is no real evidence that there has been damage done to the child. However, later with all of the 2nd hand smoke problems that we know about now....technically harm is being been done, it is just internal. Also, the child is more likely to smoke having parents that smoke. I guess it should be considered abuse....

Answer 6

Abuse is harsh but neglectful and harmful yes. I feel like it always depends on the situation. A friend has an asthmatic child and when her and her husband divorced every time she went to dad's she came home ill because he refused to smoke outside. The Judge took away his visitation rights in his home until he learned responsibility. So the judge obviously saw the harm in the situation.
I don not smoke and I do not allow others to smoke in my home or car.

Answer 7

Abuse....Depends. If it's a baby who's unable to walk or you're in an area where your child cannot get away (like a car) then yes. But if you're in your backyard and you're kids can run around and play then no. I am a smoker and I take EXTRA care to make sure my second hand smoke doesn't fill their tiny lungs. They don't need to suffer for my addiction.

Answer 8

as long as you are smoking away from you child its fine. we go to the garage or out side. never in the car or anywhere where ourdaughter is. I think it is absolutely wrong to smoke in an area with you children where they cannot get fresh air. second hand smoke should be someone choice to be around. I wouldnt call it abuse, but its def wrong. Its not fair to give kids bad lungs without their "permission".

Answer 9

I am a mom of 3 and a smoker. I do not consider it child abuse, however my husband and I choose to smoke outdoors and we dont smoke in our vehicles. People who chose to smoke should really take it outside for the childrens sake, along with the nasty smell it leaves in your home.

Answer 10

I don't know that I would consider it to be child abuse, I think it's selfish and inconsiderate. I am a smoker, in restaurants, I don't smoke if there is a child near by, if I'm outside, I don't smoke where it will go in a child's path. They don't need to inhale my second hand poison, and for you the first person to answer this question, you don't know squat about me, so how can you assume that I am stupid. I'm actually quite intelligent. However, I am human and weak. So please keep your ignorance to yourself.