Children who are breastfed by a smoking mother are at risk because chemicals are found in the breast milk as well as in the air around them. Children who live in a house where someone smokes have more respiratory infections. Their symptoms are also worse and last longer than those of children who live in a smoke-free home. The effect of passive smoke is worse during the first 5 years of life when children spend most of their time with their parents. The more smokers there are in a household and the more they smoke, the worse a child's symptoms.
Passive smoking is especially harmful to children who have asthma or other lung disease.
Exposure to smoke causes more severe asthma attacks, more emergency room visits, and increased admissions to the hospital. These children are also less likely to outgrow their asthma. If needed, sign up for a stop smoking class or program. Not smoking is even more important if you are pregnant. Your unborn baby has twice the risk for pre-maturity and newborn problems if you smoke.