Cosleeping and smoking

[EVC]

Dh, dd, and I have been sharing a bed since she was born and we are all very happy with the arrangement. However, dh is a smoker who is unable/unwilling to quit right now due to stress (and he really is under a lot of stress right now, so I can understand that). Of course, he never smokes around the baby, much less in bed.

I have recently been reading up on SIDS since dd has recently entered the age group where it most frequently occurs, and one of the articles I read suggested that cosleeping with a smoker raises the risk of SIDS.

Does anyone have any more information about this? I would hate to have to end cosleeping since it is working well for us, but obviously I don't want to endanger my child in any way. Any advice?

[alegna]

It's the smoking endagering her more than the co-sleeping. A huge percentage of SIDS deaths have a smoker in the house. In your shoes I would ask dh to shower before bed and not smoke after and I would keep babe next to me, not in the middle next to him.

good luck!

-Angela

[CuriousLion]

I remember reading something about the chemicals clinging to the smoker and that is the danger. So, yeah...have him shower, or at least wash his hands and face and change to fresh clothing before bed. Good luck!

[Caryliz]

I'm in the same boat - we co-sleep and dh is a smoker. He's been trying to quit since I got pregnant (ds is now 8 mos), but has not yet been successful. However, our dr noted that it is the living with secondhand smoke coupled with the smoke/chemicals that cling to the smoker that represent a threat to the babe. So dh only smokes outside, and he washes up and gargles (or brushes teeth or chews gum or eats a tic-tac) after every cigarette. Also, his smoky clothes go in the hamper (which is NOT in the bedroom) before he comes to bed, and he never smokes in his pjs. He doesn't have any hair, so smoke clinging to his head is not an issue! :p

I would think that doing any or all of this would make a difference.

:Peace

[EVC]

Thanks for the responses--I will definitely make dh take shower/wash up well before bed. I hate to even think about it, of course, but if something were to ever happen.... :( So I hope this is enough.

[phathui5]

I would sleep in between him and the baby, so that he's not breathing on her at night.

[tigerlilytexas]

I worried about this so much during our first 4 months. Dh has ALWAYS smoked outside adn washed up afterwards...
but he's still a lazy guy.
our pediatrician said "wear a smoking jacket"
but he never has.
(i think i'm venting my frustration)
i instituted several policies thinking that if it were difficult for him, maybe he woudl reconsdier tryign to quit.
but it didnt' work.
i know smokers must quit on their own, but maybe we need a discussion among us about how to help / motivate...

[pinklucy]

My friend is a smoker and we were talking about this the other day. Apparantly one of the main risks is that smokers breathe out carbon monoxide which is dangerous especially to babies. The levels lower half and hour after smoking so if you could encourage dh not to smoke for half and hour before getting into bed that would help.

[aprilushka]

Thanks for the responses--I will definitely make dh take shower/wash up well before bed. I hate to even think about it, of course, but if something were to ever happen.... :( So I hope this is enough.

Heh, well you know I'm in the same boat (although mine smokes only when drinking fortunately). I don't let him even get in bed with me until he takes a shower, I can't stand the smell-- I think that's the main thing, and no smoking in the house EVER (something DH knows better than to even try). The only other issue is in the summer sometimes it wafts back into the bedroom if the windows are open-- so I'll be vigilant about that when the next one is here.