How can I get my family to not smoke in the house or around my baby?

Question

I live with my mom and dad and have a 1 month old baby. My husband and I don't have any problems going outside to smoke, but my family says that it is their house and no one will tell them they can't smoke in their house. The only thing I have been able to get them to do is go into another room to smoke. My husband and I are trying to find another place to live, but until we get the money and find an affordable place to live we're stuck here. So how do I get them to smoke outside?

Answer 1

These ideas are likely to cause some conflict but are worth it in my mind

1. Explain that it is only short term and for their grandchild not for you

2.Go online - research and print graphic pictures with info that show what smoking does to young infants and leave them every where in the house. If they throw them out do it again leave them on the fridge, taped to doors and the tv etc etc GO NUTS!!!!

3. Use a pin to put holes in the filter of their smokes so they enjoy them less and have to buy more. Deny it till black and blue in the face if they say anything. (financial incentive but not a solution I know)

4. For every smoke they have remove one from the packet and flush it down the loo.

5. Put pictures of sick babies in the plastic sleeve of their smoke packets

6. GUILT them out every time they light up. - rug up bub (cos its cold out esp at night) and tell them how sad it is that you should have to take bub outside just so they can have a smoke

7. Tell them when you move they will have limited contact with their grandvhild since they have been so unwilling to make a small sacrifice for their grand child. After-all your not asking them to quit jus to smoke outside for the short while you are living there for the sake of their grandchilds health

8. Hardest of all try to quit ur self and lead by example. They will prob throw it all in ur face since u smoke esp if u smoked whilst preg.

Answer 2

Have your doctor "tell" you that the baby has asthma and cant be around smoke. I know its a lie but its a good way to get them to keep from smoking around the baby. Hope I helped.

Answer 3

tell them that it is not for you or for your husband but for the baby.. The baby might inhale the smokes and that is not great.. Tell them as soon as you find a houe you will move far away from them and that they can do what ever they want to do .. Ask them in a nice way.. You don't want your baby to learn smoking do you? it is best for you to quit smoking when your baby reach 4 years old that way your baby won't learn that addiction..

Answer 4

Just sit down and be honest with them, I'm in a similar situation.  Although I am the aunt and I have been trying to get through to my sister and parents about my sisters little girl.  Not only did they smoke in the house, they smoked in the car with her, or in the car with her car seat in there.  People don't realize how much it pollutes the little lungs!   They may not realize it, it really is a health hazard to the child.  I know you are a good parent just by being concerned.  I would look on the internet and print off some stuff and show what smoking does to babies.  That's what I did. I argued and argued as best I could.  I finally got the everyone smokes outside rule, but they don't wash their hands or change their shirts(or have a smoke jacket) so it's a change just still some work to do.  Now at 22 months old, we go in at 6 in the morning to have tubes put in her ears.  Due to all the cigarette smoke she has had at least 10 ear infections since she was born, pneumonia twice, and RSV.  You and your husband should try to stop!!  Not only is it not good for the little one, but you guys either.  And think of how much money you could save!!!  Good luck!  

Answer 5

Please do not take the advice of "Proud Mum" she has nothing to be proud of! The evidence that smoking is linked to SIDS and serious health problems is very real and very conclusive. The fact that her poor innocent children haven't contracted lung cancer yet is not enough to over rule all of the scientists research into the effects of cancer. Remember our governments can make money from tobacco and yet even they tell us its bad for our health - it really must be!

Your parents are putting their own desires above your child's health maybe even its life! Is there anyone else you can stay with? I would be getting out of there so fast and not letting such selfish people (sorry, I know they're your parents) anywhere near my precious infant ever again!  

Answer 6

Oh h**l no! I would seriously take the cigarettes every time they bought them and throw them away, broken in half. Tell them you know they don't care about their own health, but they should at least try to give a d**n about whether or not they are inflicting asthma and who knows what else on their grandchild. Not to mention S.I.D.s. They are risking your baby's life and it is not a joke. Below is basically exactly what I just said, but written by an actual doctor, lol...

(Exposure to secondhand smoke has been strongly linked with a higher incidence of asthma, respiratory infections (including pneumonia), and ear infections in children. Children exposed to passive smoke are hospitalized more frequently, and have a higher chance of dying from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).)

**Why on Earth would you put a thumbs down??? Do you like infant death and suffering? Guess so.

Answer 7

How selfish of them to smoke around a baby! I don't even know what to tell you, because I don't know anyone that would not respect my wishes to not have smoking around my kids.

Answer 8

look here i had the same problem with my mom when i lived with her and my boys were real little like that i told her that i would rather not have my babies around it and if she could please step out the door for her smoke,she told me the same as your parents tell you this is my house and i'll do as i d**n well please so you know what i said i said either you smoke outside away from my kids or i will leave and you won't see them and to tell you that about broke her heart but i ended up leaving because she kept smoking inside and i found a friend to stay with until i found my own place....maybe that's what you should do maybe find someone that will let you stay until you find your own place..

Answer 9

You need to take the baby to another room when they do this. It is very rude that they would do this around their grandchild. I would continue to ask them not to though!

Answer 10

Move...  Seriously it's their house and they can do what they want. Don't like than move or suck it up.

Answer 11

move.  secondhand smoke can kill your baby.

http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statisti...

it would probably be better to live in your car than to live in a house with smokers.  maybe if you were that firm in your committment, your parents would stop being selfish @ssholes and put your baby's life ahead of their convenience.

Answer 12

Wow, I'm so sorry you have to deal with that.  I don't have any advice, I can't believe anyone would act like that, especially about their own grandchild!  Sad....

(((hugs))) I hope you can find a place soon and get out of there.

Answer 13

The fact that they aren't respecting the health of this baby is awfully disturbing. Move to another room while they are smoking. If they are going to be stubborn and be that lazy to not take a few steps outside, just avoid them.

And move out as soon as you get the money!!

Answer 14

They are right, you are wrong.

The house is theirs, not yours.

The baby is your, not theirs.

Have a house of yours, not others'.

If you don't, you do have to compromise till you don't...  

Answer 15

They are right, it is their house. They can do as they please. If you want to go outside, feel free. A little tip for you.

My sister and I didn't die from second hand smoke. My sister's kids didn't, and neither have mine. That's all a farce. Parents have smoked around their kids for years. Their was no concern, or no harm done.

Your baby will be fine. If you are still paranoid about it, you'll have to move. Grandma and Grandpa have every right to smoke in their own house. Way to go Grandparents.

Prove them right by staying, or make fools out of yourself by moving.

It's your choice.

Answer 16

Have them look up the links between smoke exposure to an infant and SIDS. It's a very CLEAR link.

Answer 17

You really can't tell them they can't smoke in their house! Ya it sucks and just try to get a house as soon as possible, but don't ruin your relationship with them over it.

Answer 18

Try these telling them this:

-When your baby breathes second-hand tobacco smoke all day, the effect is the same as smoking two to three cigarettes per day.

-Second-hand smoke can cause infants to cough and wheeze more, to have more colds, ear and lung infections.

-They may be hospitalized due to illness in their first year of life.

-Babies who are around second hand smoke are twice as likely to die of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

If that doesnt get too them then try to make 1 room with a door and window the smoking room. Open window put a fan in it to suck some of the smoke out.

Good luck!