I am a smoker and would really like to make people aware of the damage we are causing our children, this is why I have decided to write this advice.......

         Children of parents who smoke;

n     

n      They have reduced lung capacity

n      They suffer bronchitis more often

n      They have more ear infections

n      They make more trips to the hospital

n      They are more likely to develop asthma

         According to research, it has been proven if a mother smokes before and after child birth, the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) increases......

        Smoking during pregnancy causes problems to the baby

These problems include;

n      Smaller babies

n      Miscarriage

n      Premature birth or still born

Some of the immediate effects of passive smoking include;

n      Eye irritation

n      Headache

n      Cough

n      Sore throat

n      Dizziness

 Just 30 minutes of exposure is enough to reduce heart blood flow.

    Children who are exposed to passive smoking in their home or any enclosed places eg; cars---Risk developing heart disease and lung cancer.

    Children of mothers who smoke during pregnancy are said to be more likely to have behavioural problems.

     Practical steps that could be taken to minimise our children’s exposure to tobacco smoke are;

n      To smoke only outside. If you must smoke inside limit this to 1 room and make sure this room has good ventilation

n      Never smoke in a child’s bedroom

n      Do not allow your visitors to smoke in your house

n      Do not smoke while washing, dressing or playing with your children

n      Never smoke in the car with the windows shut, never smoke in them when children are present

           When I had my first set of children this awareness was not as well documented and it was very common for most smokers to smoke in their home, in their cars and around their children. My children both suffered the severity of this action Charlotte developed Asthma and Brendan had Severe Bronchitis. When Brendan’s bronchitis would not clear after 2 months, I woke up to myself and realised that it was my smoking that was keeping him sick, by then it was already to late. Both my children suffered because of my non education to the fact that passive smoking was causing them so much damage.

          This is why I think that there can never be enough written on this subject.

      I, for the last 16 yrs have followed these strict rules;

 *  No smoking in the house

 *  No smoking around the children

 *  No smoking in the car when the children are in it.

       I think we should all educate ourselves as much as possible on the damage that passive smoking causes in our children.....

   I hope this helps......