What is Cigarette Smoke Doing to Your Baby? 

Research shows babies exposed to smoke, before and after birth, are at a higher risk of SUDI and SIDS. Being around cigarette smoke when pregnant, also increases the risk of stillbirth.

But what exactly is smoke doing to your baby? 

Red Nose knows that smoking or being around smokers during pregnancy increases the risk of stillbirth and SIDS.   

Mothers who smoke or who are around people who smoke, during their pregnancy are more likely to have premature babies, or babies of low birth weight.  

Babies exposed to smoke before and after birth do not wake as easily as babies who aren’t.  It is important that babies can easily wake from sleep. This works best when babies are placed to sleep on their backs in a smoke-free environment. 

What about passive smoke and babies? 

Babies are vulnerable to the poisons in smoke as their bodies continue to develop. Passive smoke can also lead to infections like croup, bronchitis and pneumonia; ear infections and childhood asthma. 

So how can you reduce your baby’s exposure to second-hand smoke? 

Don’t let anyone smoke near your baby. Make sure no one smokes where your baby spends time, including in the house and car.  

Encourage people you live with to quit smoking.   

We understand it can be hard to quit smoking, so ask for help.   

If you are around smokers, make sure they don’t touch your baby until after they have showered and changed their clothes. Smoke stays on the skin, hair and clothes, and can easily pass to your baby, even if the person hasn’t smoked around them. 

Remember, it is often hard to quit smoking so ask for help. Call the Quitline on 137 848 or ask your doctor or midwife for information and advice about quitting.