It's the nicotine that's the allergen - and this will stick to clothes and hair etc for about half an hour after they have smoked. My GP toldme this after I had Luke, and he developed asthma early on, and I was worried about folk smoking too. The best thing you can do is stop them smoking altogether if they're gonna be visiting etc, but I know this isn't alway possible, so I agree with the hand washing, and waiting a while before handling bubs. I used to smoke, but once I heard this I never touched them again!!!

well, my OH's parents smoked and i was only 16 and had no clue how to tell them not to smoke and then touch my little girl, but they smoked in their bedroom and finally one day i flipped out and told them they would never see my baby their grand-daughter ever again if they couldnt respect that she is a baby and shouldnt have to be around that!!! and they said to me well why didnt you say something we would have listened..................... to this day they see her less than once a month as well as the rest of my children....hopefully they listen to you better..... i like to use the one: we dont allow smoking on our property and would like you to respect that, could you please wait until you leave to have a cig

soap and water are a must though, make everyone wash their hands, most hospitals in canada make yo wash your hands before you hold baby for any reason and so do i

I'm going to have the same problem, my OH's dad, step mum and step sisters all smoke and they smoke everywhere in their house and car etc, we always leave stinking as they chain smoke too and if the step mum has family round they all smoke too. I used to but gave up and will never go back, but I also never smoked in my house or around non smoking friends, and a pack of 10 lasted me a week! I'm now have a strong aversion to the smell which helps me staying off them!

They wouldn't smoke in our house but how can I tell them what to do in their own house? I've already told OH we will never stay over there once bubs is born and if they did ask why I would tell them it's the smoke (they smoke upstairs too so the entire house smells). My FIL tho is a very difficult man and I know his reaction will be 'I smoked around all my kids and there's nothing wrong with them' and he'll probably be verbally abusive too (he used to be very violent to my OH mum and my OH is the only one of the 4 kids that has regular contact with him). I just don't want his smokey breath, hands anywhere near my little bubs, the worst of it will be my poor baby will stink of smoke everytime we visit

I am extremely worried about this too

No matter how much they wash their hands the toxins will stay on their clothes and hands for atleast 30 mins after their cigarette , my OH smokes his parents smoke and his sister does

It can cause SIDS and scares me shitless they are going to cause it with their smoking but i wont be having it, I will evern go to the extent if my OH doesnt quit before baby is born then i will ask him to leave and only come back once he has quit. Mean I know but it scares me

My feeling is - Who cares if they think you are irrational! There is no way I would let them be around my baby if the smell of cigs. Always easier said then done though. Good luck!

Oh dear, there are alot in the same boat

I don't want to offend them as they don't actually smoke in the house but they may expect to hold baby just after smoking one which i can't feel comfortable about.

D'you know i used to smoke as well, approaching 12 months quit time now and as stated by ttcbambino#1 i too have a strong aversion to the smell and it concerns me what he lingering smell does to a newborn baby whilst they are breathing the air a smoker breaths out in such close proximity.........

Don't know what OH will say but he does agree and said how he didn't like seeing the smoke smelling fingers near his neices mouth either............

I have to agree about smokers being incredibly defensive about smoking and what it does or doesn't do around other though............. cause i used to be one of them!!!!! How ironic is that..........

As an exsmoker I can understand your concern. I would have a hand sanitizer there for EVERYONE to use before touching the baby, even the non smokers. That way they don't feel singled out.

As for the smell, it isn't ever going to leave them, it is in their hair, their skin, their clothes everywhere, so unless you plan on never seeing them or ever letting them touch your baby there isn't much you can do on that point.

Maybe make them wait 20min after having a smoke before holding bub, so the smell settles a little and I would use the hand sanitizer. I have 3 sons and they are always out and about playing etc, so they are going to have to use the hand sanitizer before touching the twins.

I would just be honest, just say as a non smoking family you don't like the smell and you don't want your baby smelling of smoke. Be honest and upfront, if they think your being unreasonable they will get over it, but don't you back down. Just be poilte. I don't think what your asking is unreasonable at all.

My father in law smokes and there is no way he will be holding our baby after having a ciggy. I think the smell is disgusting and there is no way on this earth do I want my baby's hair and clothes smelling like stale smoke.
I used to be a smoker myself but I quit 5 years ago - so I'm one of those annoying anti smokers now!

Oh and my hubby agrees with me on him not holding our child so luckily I won't be the one having to tell him off. Hahaha!

I wouldn't like a smoker going anywhere near my baby until they had washed their hands at least. Could you act like you have gone a bit obsessive about cleanliness and are always washing your hands before touching the baby etc that way they wont feel like it's a personal thing, they will think you are like it with everyone and therefore shouldn't mind.