Family
Quit smoking and you’ll not only benefit yourself, but also the people you love. Your smoking can affect everyone around you – your children, your friends and your community.
Smoking and pregnancy
If you're planning a family, quitting smoking before you become pregnant will protect your baby from the negative effects of smoking during pregnancy. Quitting at any point during your pregnancy will reduce the health risks to both yourself and your baby.
Passive smoking and children
If you smoke, your children are at risk of being exposed to second-hand smoke. This is known as passive smoking. Children are particularly at risk of developing health problems as a result of inhaling second-hand smoke.
The evidence shows that children of parents who smoke may have an increased risk of developing:
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS or cot death)
- Respiratory infections, such as bronchitis, bronchiolitis and pneumonia
- Slower lung growth
- Wheezing, coughing and breathlessness
- Middle-ear diseases
You might think that smoking outside would reduce the risk of children being exposed to passive smoking. But reports have shown that nicotine levels in children's hair can still be high, even if their parents smoke outside. This may be due to:
- Windows or doors being left open.
- Smoke entering the house as the person who smokes steps inside.
- Children being exposed to clothes with smoke particles on them.
The only way to prevent your children from being exposed to the risks of passive smoking is for you to quit smoking altogether – and by quitting, you’ll be setting a good example for your children too.
Create a Quit plan that’s tailored to your lifestyle, offers ongoing support and helps you track your progress.