Cigarette smoke around a 2 month old baby?

My husband and I have a smoke free house and feel its important to keep our new baby away from the smell. I have nothing against smokers and don't really care where they do it but last Friday my mother in-law came to visit and now I'm tired of it. She goes outside and smokes on our porch and then comes back in and plays with our baby. Besides her hands smelling gross- Are there any health reasons why I should make her wash her hands before handel? She takes offense SO easily...

Suggestion: Have a friend come over while your mother in law is there and hold the baby and then say playfully, "Of my goodness, you smell like smoke! Have you been smoking little baby? It's not healthy for you to be around smokers!". You mom will subtely get the hint and not blame you. Sneaky... but sometimes you have to be as a mom for the best interest of your kids!

Not unless the baby sucks on her fingers, then No, there really isnt a hazard with this situation. Sorry.

Keep calm and just suggest she wash her hands prior to playing with the baby Be thankful that she smokes outside

yea because he could get tobaco in his system

Tobacco smoking, often refered to as "smoking", is an addictive habit in which dried leaves of the tobacco plant are burnt and the consequent smoke is inhaled. The practice was common to many extinct Native American cultures and was introduced to the rest of the world by sailors following European exploration of the Americas.

Tobacco smoke contains nicotine, a stimulant which temporarily improves alertness and memory, but also forms a strong physical and psychological chemical dependence (addiction). Medical research has determined that smoking is a major contributing factor towards many health problems, particularly lung cancer, emphysema, and cardiovascular disease. Many countries regulate or restrict tobacco sales and advertising and require warnings be placed prominently on the product packaging. Many municipalities now ban smoking in a variety of public venues due to health impacts on non-smokers breathing second-hand smoke.

While smoking is on the decline in many industrial nations due in part to these initiatives, smoking in less restrictive developing countries is on the rise and worldwide production and usage of tobacco continues to increase.

i don't think her cigarettey hands are harmful the baby.. :)

tell her its your baby and you want to keep him safe and happy. i think shell understand

Actually there are health reasons - the toxins in the cigs can stick to clothes, hands, etc. I am unsure of whether it is just as bad as sitting there around the smoke though.

Just remember this is your child and what you say goes!

So she gets offended. That is disgusting and your baby should be your primary concern, not hurting the feelings of a woman who is too ignorant to wash her hands before handling a baby.

No matter how much she washes her hands, they will still smell. I smoked 1/2 pack a day for several years, and no amount of lemon juice, soap, or vinegar would get rid of it. Honestly, I think I'd just stick with the "I'm glad that she at least smokes outside" line... Maybe get her a "smoking jacket" that she wears while lighting up, and leave that next to her ashtray. That may keep some of the odor off her clothing. But unless your baby has severe asthma or something, there's no health risk for occasional contact with smelly old ladies... especially if it's only for a week.

I would be concerned also. Ask her to use hand sanitizer or wash her hands before she plays with the baby. Before u ask her say "no offense.....but I would feel much better if................." and then finish asking her.

Just ask her kindly to please wash her hands after she smokes if she's going to touch the baby. It's not necessarily dangerous, but the smell transfers to the baby.

Even though your mother is smoking outside (thank goodness) she still enters your house with the tobacco ON her. This means that the baby (who is extremely sensitive to smells) can inhale the smoke from your mother's clothes and fingers. This is definitely not good for the baby.

Some parents go the extra length to get an air purifier just to keep dust out of the baby's room. If even dust is bad for the baby to inhale, imagine how bad the smoke residue is.

She needs to wash her hands. Would also be a good idea--just because of the smell--for her to take a mint or gum before she gets in the baby's face. I used to smoke and I would ALWAYS wash my hands and chew gum before I would touch any baby. Cigarettes of not----you should always wash your hands with baby's. ALWAYS. To heck with her being sensitive. It's YOUR child and she has to respect your wishes. Just stand up to her--nicely.

i just had my baby 3 monthes ago , and i smoke. i just put on a swaeter, go outside and then take it off when i come in........and before i mess with the babt i wash my hand so i ddont smell like smoke you should let her know how you feel and do the same thing i do.

you are talking about the health of your baby!she should not take offense to that. by all means ask her to wash her hands,second hand smoke is very bad. that baby can smell it. come on babies stick every thing in their mouth. what does it hurt to take a few seconds to wash your hands, you want to be careful regardless if she smokes or not. what about all the other germs. do not be afaid to ask. protect your child!

She needs to wash her hands. Chemicals can go through the baby's young skin depending on where she touches. I know the residue is bad enough to make fish sick if you put your hand in a fish tank. Also tar and nicotine are on the part of the cigarette that you hold and gets concentrated as you smoke it down. You are not being wrong for wanting her to wash her hands. Even if your mother in law touches her own eyes or a delicate spot she probably would feel some irritation. So what if she gets offended. Tell her its not that you don't like her, just the cigarettes. If she can't wash her hands or take you serious don't invite her for a couple of weeks and see if that does the trick. It is your baby after all.

In-law how to...
The easiest way to make her wash her hands... and by the way everyone around the baby really should anyway... is to tell her during the child's' last visit to the doctor, the doctor told you that your child had a somewhat weak immune system and was susceptible to infections and germs... and that "the doctor" recommended that everyone handling the child wash their hands prior to doing so... This should get the point across without causing any offense... You should casually tell her this in a phone conversation and then remind her again when she shows up for a visit... Your problems should be solved... and your child just may skip a few infections as well...

You're doing the right thing by keeping a smoke free environment from your baby. However, smoke goes wherever air goes. Even if your MIL goes out to smoke she will bring some of that toxic air in with her. I would ask anyone who holds and plays with your baby to wash their hands because a baby's immune system is not fully developed and will be susceptible to picking up anything. You can be assertive with you MIL and ask in a nice way, "Mom, until "baby" is a little older, I would like for you and everyone to wash their hands before they hold him/her." And you can give the above reasons, but you don't really need a reason for them, it is YOUR wishes and YOUR baby. If she gets offended, she'll get over it, trust me. Have a healthy and happy life.