1st baby on the way and MIL's smoking

S1976

LOL, There was some experiment I remember reading about, it involved taking a puff not inhaling hold it in mouth for some seconds maybe a min and blowing through a white tissue, this left a brown stain on the tissue (the tar) then take another puff this time inhale the smoke, and then blow through a clean tissue, this left no brown mark. The idea was to show smokers how the tar would sit on their lungs.

I also hope you sort this out soon OP and everyones happy, good luck with the next few months and the birth.

jellyhead

Creditcruncher wrote: »

I would have kept smoking and told you to find yourself another [STRIKE]mug[/STRIKE] babysitter.:)

That's fine, everyone's happy then

Toothfairy4

Errata wrote: »

Unfortunately things aren't as simple as asking a smoker to wash their hands, face, suck a mint before they get close to a new born baby. If a smoker breathes into a clean white handkerchief an hour after they've had a cigarette a brown deposit will be left on it. That's what they will constantly be breathing out when they are near a baby.

Is this for real? It's like one of those stories you'd hear on the playground at school... did you know you can also get pregnant by sitting on a toilet a boy has sat on... true story! :rotfl::rotfl:

vaio

Toothfairy4 wrote: »

Is this for real? It's like one of those stories you'd hear on the playground at school... did you know you can also get pregnant by sitting on a toilet a boy has sat on... true story! :rotfl::rotfl:

I thought it was "sitting on a toilet that a boy is sitting on"

Curious_George_2

putting the health issue aside for a moment (and the frankly ridiculous handkerchief experiment claims)

i think its the smell that most people object too... babies are tiny, clean, gorgeous smelling things and smoking is seen as dirty and disgusting and wether you like it or not it does leave a lingering smell

when i had DS my dad (who smokes at least 30 - 40 a day and has the brown fingers and house buried under a thick layer of ash to prove it) would come round for a visit and a hold and when he had gone we would have to change the babies clothes as he stank,
you could even tell where he had sat by doing a smell test.

we see dad regularly but never went to his house, he always came here and would only smoke in the garden, having to change the bubbas clothing after he left was a lot less hassle than telling him he was dirty and had to wash / change before handling the kid... i cant imagine the grief that would have come with that conversation!

and before anyone starts on me, i was once a very happy smoker, it was my favourite thing and i did it with a smile on my face 20 times a day for 15 years... but i gave up just over 3 years ago for the sake of my OH and our kids (id still snap any one of you for a fag... but now i can smell it as a non smoker i have to admit it smells FOUL!)

Curious_George_2

just thought - we also have to wash any presents that come from him or any of OHs family as you can smell the smoke on them too,

i did mention that to dad once though, i asked if he wanted to keep this gorgeous bear he bought DS at our house as it would really pick up the smell of smoke round his... he sheepishly asked if we could smell it on other gifts and i told him him the truth... he seemed a little miffed but the problem is now sorted.

when OHs family send a parcel for birthdays / christmas etc you can smell its from them before you even open it properly, all clothes have to go in the wash straight away as they reek!

isitenough

I can totally understand where you're coming from. My FIL smokes like a chimney (even after 2 heart attacks and a bypass last year! His lungs are shot). We love them dearly, both FIL and MIL as they're lovely people, but I really don't like going to theirs (small park home) as it smells of smoke and he lights up one after the other. I am anti smoking even though I grew up with a mum who smoked (and she didn't like the smell of smoke strangely enough! house was always smoke smell and stain free). We've mentioned to FIL (and other people have) to just cut it down or stop while we're there (he walks dog so can smoke then which he does). Yes, it's his house but it's our lungs and our 2 childrens health. Like poster above everything has to be washed as reeks of smoke and clothes are in the washbin straight after a visit.
Tell your MIL your concerns, reasons and what you would like and make it clear.
A smoker doesn't really get the smell I think.

JBD

I'm an ex smoker and to be honest I'm not as sensitive to the smell as many people seem to be. I can smell it on my son sometimes if he has just put one out [before coming in] but I can never smell it in his car [where I know he smokes]. There again I'm older, when I was young people used to smoke pretty much anywhere ,I can't remember being bothered by the smell before I started either. Maybe people are becoming more sensitive to the smell as it becomes more unusual. [Just an observation, not taking sides]

Crab

OP, I feel exactly the same as you, and I don't think you are over-reacting. If my MIL smoked, I'd have no qualms telling her she wasn't touching my precious baby until she quit. Seriously, none. I've read up on the third-hand smoke, and I think it's a risk, and one I am not going to expose my child to. Hope you manage to get it sorted.

kegg_2

I cant really see the problem as long as mil respects your wishes and doesn't smoke around the baby or in your home.
You cant really expect her to have a complete change of clothes and full scrub down before entering, well you could ask but i personally feel that would be going too far.

What you going to do when you take the baby outside? as apart from any stay smokers you might pass the world is full of traffic fumes and the average pram is the same sort of height as all those nasty exhaust fumes.