Your smoking does affect your child’s lungs and his risk for asthma. Don’t fool yourself into believing otherwise.

Consider these facts:

• Maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with increased wheezing during infancy, cautions the AAAAI.
• Children are more susceptible to the effects of secondhand smoke because their lungs are still developing.
• Children who breathe secondhand smoke are more likely to suffer from bronchitis and pneumonia, ear infections, coughing and wheezing and more frequent and severe asthma attacks.

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It is essential that children with any history of asthma (no matter how well controlled) should not be exposed to secondhand smoke – not in their own home or anywhere else. 

How to keep your home smoke free (Tips from the AAAAI)

• Choose not to smoke in your home. Do not permit others to smoke in your home.
• Choose not to smoke if any children are present, especially children younger than six years. They are especially vulnerable to the effects of secondhand smoke.
• Do not allow babysitters or others who work in your home to smoke in the house or near young children.
• If you must smoke, choose to smoke outside. Moving to another room or opening a window is not enough to protect your children.   

Read more:
Moms' Smoking May Lead to Baby's Asthma
Smoking outside doesn’t shield kids

National Asthma Education Programme (NAEP)
Allergy Society of South Africa (ALLSA)
 

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