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Smoking and SIDS

There is a dramatic relationship between smoking and SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, also called cot or crib death). The risk of SIDS is strikingly higher for babies who smoke passively.

The guidelines are clear:

Do not smoke during pregnancy (mothers ànd fathers)

Never smoke or let anyone smoke near your baby

Never smoke or let anyone smoke in a room where your baby stays

Any of these make your baby smoke passively and increase her SIDS risk significantly.

Smoking during pregnancy and after birth also increases the risk for a low birth weight (another risk factor for SIDS).

Baby will also be more prone to colds and airway infections, have an increased chance to develop asthma and other diseases.

Also, the risk of cot death when co-sleeping is further increased when either of the parents smoke - even if they do not smoke in bed. So if you do smoke, do not consider co-sleeping at all.

Quit smoking?

Knowing you shouldn't smoke during pregnancy or around your baby is one thing. To quit smoking is another ...

As much as you want to take care of your baby's health, to get rid of that cigarette can still be extremely hard.

Depending on your personal situation, a pregnancy can be a difficult time and smoking may be one of your ways to try and deal with that.

On the other hand, your baby's health may be a good motivation to quit smoking during pregnancy.

A few tips:

Remind yourself of your baby's health constantly as a motivation to quit smoking during pregnancy.

Ask for your partner's support, and join forces to quit smoking together (both mother and father's smoking harms baby during pregnancy and after birth).

Find help. To quit smoking is even harder if you have to do it alone. Ask your local health service for advice and support, it can really work!

Visitor smoking and SIDS

Don't hesitate to ask visitors not to smoke near your baby. This may be a bit uncomfortable in some situations but it's worth the discomfort.

Anyone who respects and cares about baby's life will naturally agree.

Some families put up fun slogans to remind their visitors, e.g. at the baby shower.

My vote would be to simply ask. If that doesn't work out, a subtle no-smoking sign can work wonders too.

Avoid visiting smoky places with your baby, where you have no control over whether one smokes or not.

Together with the other guidelines to reduce the risk of cot death, the no-smoking policy can save many baby lives.

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